Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC round one
SATURDAY
St Eunan’s v Kilcar (4.30pm)
Kilcar’s Ryan McHugh will miss today’s crunch clash against St Eunan’s in O’Donnell Park as he is on honeymoon.
There are also doubts about Ciaran McGinley and Conor Doherty for the south-western club, who are celebrating their centenary year.
Enigmatic St Eunan’s lost a county final to Naomh Conaill in 2022 and have not kicked on since that reversal. They are powered by Niall, Shane and Conor O’Donnell and should have too much firepower for the visitors.
Cloughaneely v Naomh Conaill (5pm)
Naomh Conaill are going for their third county title on the trot as they make the trip to Pairc Naomh Fionnan.
And they are warmly fancied to get two points with the Thompson brothers, Brendan McDyer, Leo McLoone and the Dohertys to the fore.
Jason McGee (if fit), John Fitzgerald and Darren McGeever are key figures for the home side, who face a most formidable task.
St Michael’s v Killybegs (7pm)
This could be a very close affair between two sides who have been struggling in recent years.
The home side welcome back the free-scoring Michael Langan, while Colin McFadden and Carlus O’ Reilly are also major figures.
The return of Hugh McFadden and Eoghan Ban Gallagher is a boost for the visitors and Jack McSharry can be a potent figure-but a home win looks likely.
St Naul’s v Glenswilly (7pm)
This could be a real cracker, given the number of close encounters between the sides in recent years.
Naul’s will have Brendan McCole and Peadar Mogan back in action and that is a major fililip.
But Glenswilly still has the formidable Michael Murphy, Gary McFadden and a host of U21 stars coming through, including the promising Jack Gallagher, to boost their efforts.
SUNDAY
Four Masters v Gaoth Dobhair (2pm)
Youthful Four Masters have taken huge strides at underage level but it might take a year or two before they reap the full benefits of this revival.
Richard O’Rourke, Senan Carr and Killian Faulkner are key performers and they are a very pacey side.
Gaoth Dobhair have a reservoir of underage talent as well and are current U21 champions, as well as last year’s beaten senior finalists.
Eamon and Neil McGee soldier on, while Daire O’Baoill is again available and they should win.
Glenfin v Dungloe (2pm)
Glenfin are always hard to beat at Pairc Taobhoige as visiting Dungloe could find out.
Frank McGlynn is still soldiering for the home side along with a few clan members.
In recent times, Shaun Ward and Luke McGlynn have also become major figures against a side who are spurred by Mark Curran, Daire Gallagher and Oisin Bonner.
Dungloe are always good championship battlers but Glenfin get a slight nod.
Sean MacCumhaill’s v Ardara (4pm)
THE home side had a very good league campaign and will be even more formidable with the return of the gifted Oisin Gallen.
They have a good mix of youth and experience with Jamie Keegan and Kevin McCormick as top strikers in a team who have ambition.
Opponents Ardara have had a patchy time and Conor Classon, Paddy McGrath and Garet Concarrar are still major figures, but it looks like a home win.
Aodh Ruadh v Downings (4pm)
THE Ballyshannon boys have been relegated to Division Two and their goal could be to retain senior championship football.
Maurice McLaughlin took over recently as manager in a turbulent year for a club, who are powered by Eamon McGrath, Diarmaid McInerney and Cian Dolan.
It’s a long trip for Maxi Curran’s Cloughaneely, who have an exciting talent in Paddy McElwee up front, while Lorcan Connor and Johnny McGroddy are also free-scoring figures.
Home advantage might give the locals a slight edge, but it could end up all square.
