No official request was made to delay start of club championships

With the Donegal Club Championships getting underway over the weekend, nine of Donegal’s All-Ireland final starting XV were absent. 

There were just 13 days between Donegal’s All-Ireland final defeat to Kerry and the beginning of the championship.

Many players were given the opportunity to go on holiday, while some were just rested for the first week.

Some affected managers had suggested, after the weekend, that the start of the club championships could have been delayed a week. 

However, DonegalLive understands no official request was received by the Donegal Competitions Controls Committee (CCC) to delay the start date. 

But had such a request been submitted, it would have been put to the county committee as the clubs retain the authority to make such an amendment, within reason, and if the scope exists to do so. 

From the team that started the All-Ireland final, six featured for their club sides, with St Naul’s pair Peadar Mogan and Brendan McCole, Killybegs’ Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher and Buncrana’s Caolan McGonagle playing full games, while Caolan McColgan started for Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin but came off injured and Conor O’Donnell was a second half substitute for Carndonagh.

From the five subs made in the final, three of them started for their clubs in Hugh McFadden, Patrick McBrearty, and Jamie Brennan.

For reigning champions St Eunan’s, all five senior panellists - Ciarán Moore, Niall and Shane O’Donnell, Shaun Patton and Caolan Ward - were absent, which was felt as they were defeated by Kilcar by 0-16 to 0-13 in O’Donnell Park.

The Towney men were led by their county men, with Paddy McBrearty and Eoin McHugh landing 10 points between them, although Ryan McHugh missed out with injury.

Another big team to fall to defeat were Naomh Conaill, who were missing some key players in Ciarán Thompson, Finnbarr Roarty, Jeaic MacCeallabhuí and Charles McGuinness, although they did have Odhran Doherty and Kevin and Eoghan McGettigan, with Eoghan top scoring with 1-5.

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But that wasn't enough for the Glenties-based side, as they were beaten by 2-12 to 1-14 against a Glenswilly side missing Michael Murphy, although panellist Jack Gallagher started but came off at the break.

St Naul’s didn’t have enough to defeat Four Masters as they lost by 0-12 to 0-9, despite their best efforts with their county trio of Mogan, who hit four points, McCole, and Gavin Mulreany all starting.

Killybegs duo Hugh McFadden and Gallagher helped them to defeat Termon by 1-12 to 0-8 as McFadden hit three points, while Mark Curran and Dungloe defeated Downings by 2-12 to 0-17, who were without the injured Keelan McGroddy.

Gaoth Dobhair just had enough to defeat Glenfin by 1-13 to 1-11, despite Dáire Ó Baoill and Odhrán McFadden-Ferry not being in the panel, the latter carrying an injury, although Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde came off the bench in the two-point win, with Luke McGlynn starting for the visitors.

And Sean MacCumhaill’s took an away win against St Michael’s by 0-18 to 1-13 , with both sides missing their key men in Oisin Gallen and Michael Langan.

In the Intermediate Championship, McColgan started but came off injured for Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin as they defeated Bundoran by 1-12 to 1-11, who had Jamie Brennan from the start as he hit 1-3.

Buncrana had McGonagle back, but they were beaten in an Inishowen derby against Malin, while Aaron Doherty starred for Naomh Columba in their 2-18 to 2-7 win over Milford.

Stephen McMenamin and Jonny Carlin also helped Red Hugh’s defeat Cloughaneely by 2-13 to 0-10, while Oisin Caulfield was a late arrival to Dooey as his Na Rossa side were beaten by 1-19 to 0-13 against Naomh Muire, Íochtar na Rosann.

And in the Junior ‘A’ Championship, Conor O’Donnell came off the bench and scored two points for Carndonagh in their 1-13 to 0-11 win over Naomh Ultan.