Sun Aug 6- Connemara Gaels v Shannon Blues- Mens Intermediate Football Semi-Final

The Shannon Blues were victorious in their game against Connemara Gaels on Sunday. Though it was difficult to pick a winner in the first half, the Blues took over the second half and claimed their spot in next weekend's final. 

The Blues entered the deciding weekend with winning on their minds. Their tenacity was clear from the first whistle. The match got underway with points from Gaels' number 13, Oisin Mc Donagh, and Blues' number 13, Gearoid Hassett. Points bounced back and forth between the two teams before Gaels' number 10, Matthias Eoin Barrett set the tone with a sneaky goal that woke the blues up. Several points from their number 8, Lee Deignan, put them back on par with their green and white rivals. It was clear that they wanted a goal, which became even more urgent when Gaels' Barrett (10) struck another goal. James O'Donnell (1) however, was determined that the Blues would not get a goal and made several incredible saves. 

Barrett's (10) level of scoring was unmatched throughout the game. With about 5 minutes left in the first half, the Blues found themselves behind by three, and desperate to catch up. Their efforts came to fruition just before the whistle when number 10, Niall Feeney, sent the ball into the back of the net. 

Starting off the second half with an even score, both teams were determined to assert their dominance early on. Though the Gaels' looked lively, there was a different kind of hunger in the Blues' eyes that foreshadowed their win. They started off with a point from number 11, Niall Walsh, before Barrett (10) struck again with a goal, that snuck in behind O'Donnell (1).

Through hard work they pulled ahead by five points. The Gaels tried to get back into the swing of things but points from Barrett (10) Enda Kelly (15) and Liam Toye (22) were not enough to combat the slew of points from the Blues side. They knew a goal was their only hope of getting back in the game, but despite number 5, Eoin Clifford's effort, it was saved by the Blues' goalie. The match came to an end with a final score of Shannon Blues 3-16 and Connemara Gaels 2-13. 

The Blues will face-off with Donegal, in next week's Intermediate Football Final.  

Sun Aug 6- Donegal v McAnespie's- Men's Senior Football Semi-Final

 Donegal ran away with the game in their semi-final face-off with McAnespie's on Sunday. The last game of the day was the main event, drawing huge crowds who anxiously anticipated the outcome that would decide who the Connemara Gaels will face next Sunday in the Championship Final. 

Donegal wasted no time in racking up three points before McAnespie's could get their footing. A goal from David Garland (12) further asserted their dominance on the field. Points from numbers 11, Shane Carthy, and 13, Darragh Roche, followed. With Donegal banking 1-5 and McAnespie's still failing to secure a score, it was clear that the men in green and gold had the upper hand from the get go. Finally, Ruairi Scott (9) kicked a point that put something on the scoreboard for Mac's and lifted their spirits. 

Try as they might, McAnespie's could not seem to get their head in the game. Their confidence had taken a knock in the first 15 minutes and they struggled to regain it. They secured several points thanks to number 14, Iarla O'Sullivan who carried the scoring for his side. A failed goal attempt from Eoin Gormley (12) further frustrated McAnespie's. With every missed goal attempt, their management encouraged them to 'take their points', a strategy they began to adopt when it was already too late. At the half-time whistle, Donegal held a six-point lead. 

Mac's made hard work for themselves in the second half. Knowing they were at a disadvantage, they came back to the pitch with an increased pressure weighing on them. A point from number 11, Shane Pettit, put them five points behind, with lot's of time to bridge the gap and get back into the game. Donegal settled right into the second half and a goal from David Garland, (12) reaffirmed their spot in the lead. Number 10, Shane O'Donnell, had his own moment of glory with a third goal for the green and gold, that sent crowds into chaos. Now, Donegal's lead seemed secure. However, they were not letting up. Their defenders worked overtime to keep out the desperate Mac's whose attempts at goals were repeatedly deterred. 

The disadvantage was taking a toll on McAnespie's. It's likely that the pressure was to blame for their missed opportunities. Donegal continued to rally ahead at full speed. Another goal from Garland (12) put the final nail in the coffin. At this point, some of the McAnespie's team had accepted defeat while others allowed frustrations to rise and cause friction on the field. Donegal's goalie received a black card resulting from a toussle with a McAnespie's player. Confrontation was no use at this stage- the winner was clear. The semi-final came to a finish with a final score of Donegal 4-20 to McAnespie's 0-15. 

This win secured Donegal a spot in the Men's Senior Championship final, which will take place next Sunday August 13th at 5pm. 

Sun Aug 6- Cork v Donegal- Mens Intermediate Football Semi-Final

Similar to the other Intermediate Semi-Final, it was a close call between Donegal and Cork last Sunday. After the Blues took the victory in the first game of the day, crowds were excited to see who they would be facing next weekend in the Championship final. 

Cork looked the better of the teams in the first half. They bagged the first score of the game courtesy of number 12, Sean McDonnell. Donegal retaliated with one from number 13, Mark McFadden. Cork catapulted themselves into the lead with a surprise goal from number 13, Jack Kelliher, who took the lead on scoring for the boys in red and white. Points were aplenty for both sides. Donegal played it safe with points rather than goals, which seemed to work in their favor. Scoring from 13, and 5, Jack Mc Sharry, and Cork's 11, Jack Dillon, and 8, Kieran Costello, saw the first half finish with an even score. 

The second half was as tight as the first. Both sides racked up a serious amount of points. A goal from Donegal's number 14, put them in a two-point lead once again. Numbers 12, Mc Donnell and 13, Kelliher, tried to close the gap in score with points for Cork. Donegal, determined to hang onto their advantage, made several attempts at a goal. Finally, success came in the form of number 9, Michael Winston, who punched the ball into the net. 

A sneaky goal from number McDonnell, allowed Cork to edge back in as the minutes ticked away, but they would still need another goal to put themselves in the lead. Points from Donegal's 15 and 22 made this less likely. Despite a last ditch effort by Mc Donnell, a goal could not save them. It was a three-point game at the final whistle, with a final score of 3-15 to Donegal, to 3-12 to Cork. 

Donegal will now go head to head with the Shannon Blues next Sunday, at 1pm. 

Sun July 30- McAnespie's v Donegal – Men's Senior Football Championship

 Donegal enjoyed an easy win over McAnespie’s on Sunday, pending their official face-off in the semi-finals next weekend. The game essentially acted as a dry run for this Sunday’s semi-final game between the teams. Many of the junior players got a run out in this game and enjoyed a relatively easy warm-up.   

McAnespie’s fell behind in scoring from the get-go. Donegal racked up a number of impressive scores, mostly from number 7, Jason McGee. Number 20, struck with a goal increasing their lead. McAnespie’s still could not manage to get a score on the board. Donegal certainly looked the better of the teams- it seemed their defenders were everywhere and any scoring chances McAnespie’s did have, went wide. At halftime, they held a 15-point lead.  

McAnespie’s scoring increased in the second half, thanks to number 8, Conan McCosker, and number 3, Aodhan O’Malley, but not by enough to make catching up a possibility. McAnespie’s keeper, Marc Kelliher, made several incredible saves that stopped Donegal from running away with the match altogether. Donegal’s Cian O’Grady’s (13) penalty attempt was blocked, and the rebound resulted in a point instead.  

Donegal secured an eighteen-point win, hoping to assert their dominance pending their meeting next weekend, in the Championship semi-finals. The final score of 2-20 to 1-5 not only proved Donegal’s ability but their hunger for victory.  

 

 

Donegal:  

1. Hugh Boyle 
2. Jason Noctor 
3. Sean Maloney 
4. Aidan Sullivan  
5. Jack O’Brien 
6. Sean Doherty 
7. Jason McGee 
8. Donal McBride 
9. Liam McCrea 
10. Shane O’Donnell  
11. James Newell  
12. Ashley Carr 
13. Cian O’Grady 

 

McAnespie’s:  

1. Marc Kelliher 
2. Padraig Dillon 
3. Aodhan O’Malley 
4. Rory Brolly 
5. Pat Darcy 
6. Colm O’Malley 
7. Steve Ward 
8. Conan McCosker 
9. Rory Scott 
10. Johnn McCarty 
11. Jude Campbell 
12. Stephen Montique  
13. Oisin McCormack  

 

 

Sun July 30- Donegal v Wolf Tones- Men's Intermediate Football Championship

 It was a close call between Donegal and the Wolf Tones’ intermediate teams at the weekend. The teams battled it out to secure their spot in the semi-final. After a hard fight, Donegal took a two-point win, kicking the Wolf Tones out of the championship.  

Donegal wasted no time with a run and goal attempt from number 5, Jack Mc Sharry, which was saved by the Tone’s goalie. Donegal put a few points on the scoreboard before the Tones had a chance to. The first point for the Tones came from number 12, Oisin Brady, whose performance this season has gotten the Wolf Tones to where they were. Donegal’s number 5, Mc Sharry, was not ready to give up on his goal dreams but missed once again with his second attempt hit the post. The Tones enjoyed a burst of scoring thanks to numbers 8, Barry O’Connell, and 10, Jax Hughes. Donegal finally got their goal, and it was matched seconds later by one from Tones’ Hughes (10).  

The Wolf Tones stole back the advantage that Donegal had been holding onto for most of the first half. Donegal, determined to get the game back, struck with a number of points. The two teams shuffled between an even score and a point behind for the remainder of the game. The Tones had two chances to pull ahead in the last five minutes but both points were wide. With Donegal up by two, a last-ditch effort led to fouling, fighting and black cards for the Tones’ goalie and Donegal’s number 19.  

The game finished with a final score of Donegal 1-16 to Wolf Tones 1-14.  

Donegal: 

1. Eoin McGing 
2. Jack Hamill 
3. Mark Canny 
4. Sean Donnelly 
5. Jack McSharry 
6. Ethan McDevitt 
7. Darren Grant 
8. Niall Murphy 
9. Sean Winston 
10. Ryan McMahon 
11. Jack Doyle 
12. Mark McFadden 
13. Donnacha Swinburre 

 

Wolf Tones: 

1. Ben Savage 
2. Tom McInnis 
3. Michael Kerr 
4. Sean Moore 
5. James O’Heir 
6. Joey Doyle 
7. Dylan Murtagh 
8. Barry O’Connell 
9. Barry McShea 
10. Jax Hughes 
11. Sean Ford 
12. Oisin Brady 
13. Cormac Joyce Power