THE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS under the spotlight at the weekend with quarter-final wins for Naomh Colmcille, Gaeil Fhánada and Bundoran – and Donegal Sport Hub has selected a Team of the Week from the three games.
The quarter-final replay between Milford and Aodh Ruadh takes place this Saturday in Ballybofey.
Tony Blake (Naomh Colmcille)
THE former St Eunan’s and Donegal goalkeeper has been a fine recruit for Francie Martin’s team of late. It’s three wins from three with Blake in goal. He gives them a solid platform and his experience has shown to be a vital asset to Naomh Colmcille. Bar one wayward kickout on Friday night, he demonstrated that he still has plenty of big game nous.
Philip Doherty (Naomh Columba)
A COUNTY minor last year, Doherty showed just why he’s so highly rated with an excellent performance at corner-back. In addition to a tenacious defensive display, Doherty’s ball carrying was a feature of the Glen game.
John Fullerton (Naomh Colmcille)
DURING spells when Carndonagh were trying valliantly to come back into the game, Naomh Colmcille needed to hold firm. With Fullerton in fine form, they did just that. He’s made a place his own in the Naomh Colmcille backline. Still under-21, the heart-on-the-sleeve Fullerton has grown into his position.
Frank Sweeney (Gaeil Fhánada)
SWEENEY was steady from start to finish as Gaeil Fhánada got the better of Naomh Columba. His biggest contribution was a vital interception to thwart the Glencolmcille men when a comeback looked possible.
Michael Friel (Naomh Colmcille)
THE St Eunan’s College student has been thrown in at the deep end, but is quite at home in the Championship’s infested waters. The 18-year-old gives Naomh Colmcille a fine outlet with his attacking forays from the half-back line.
Stephen Jones (Naomh Columba)
JONES delivered a powerhouse display. The Naomh Columba wing-back combined his defensive duties with superb attacking bursts. He ensured that Naomh Columba were competitive to the end.
Mark Friel (Gaeil Fhánada)
WORKED tirelessly from start to finish. Friel covered every blade of Pairc Naomh Mhuire on Saturday evening. Friel scored a fine point in the second half and it was he who teed Marty McAteer up for their goal, unselfishly passing when he might well have been tempted to go for glory himself.
Michael Lynch (Naomh Colmcille)
LYNCH didn’t start, but was introduced when Ryan McErlean was forced off injured after only two minutes. Lynch was excellent from the moment he was sent on by Francie Martin. Scored a long-range free and converted a ’45 while his majestic fielding was a real highlight in Convoy.
Shaun McElwaine (Gaeil Fhánada)
HAS only recently been elevated to the Gaeil Fhánada senior team, but he won a lot of vital ball in a keenly contested midfield area and scored a vital point when the pressure was on to see his side over the line against Naomh Columba.
Diarmuid Spratt (Bundoran)
WHEN Bundoran started to take control against Naomh BrÃd, Spratt was at the hub of their activity. Spratt scored two fine second half points to compliment a busy display in which he helped his side avoid a banana skin.
Gary Clancy (Bundoran)
AT a stage in the first half when it seemed as if Naomh BrÃd were on course to upset the odds, Clancy was one of the few Bundoran players to keep a steady grip on things. The centre-forward had boomed over a brilliant long-range point in the opening exchanged and he bettered it with a splendid hit from out on the left touchline late in the first half.
Kevin McNern (Naomh Columba)
DISPLAY incredible work-rate and he never gave up as Naomh Columba battled to the last. McNern rolled his sleeves up when the going got tough and certainly wasn’t found wanting. Scored a point during a late purple patch, too.
Joe Donaghy (Naomh Colmcille, pictured above)
DONAGHY scored a stunning personal haul of 2-6 in Naomh Colmcille’s win against Carndonagh. Donaghy took his goals with expert precision and he hit some magnificent points. That aside, he provided the assists for the other goals, netted by Don Hegarty and Willie Gillespie, to cap a real five-star display.
Seamie Friel (Gaeil Fhánada)
THE former Donegal panellist entered Gaeil Fhánada’s clash with Naomh Columba nursing a flu’, but he was undetered. Friel landed seven frees and was involved in the build-up to Marty McAteer’s goal in the 43rd minute.
David Walsh (Naomh BrÃd)
WALSH scored 1-3 as Naomh BrÃd flirted with notions of a surprise win over Bundoran. Took his goal with real style in the 17th minute and he also hit two points in the opening period. His free was Naomh BrÃd’s only second half score. The Donegal player offered plenty of headaches for Bundoran.
Tags: