All to play for in the final round of the Intermediate Championship

With the final games of the Intermediate championship taking place on Sunday, most teams have something at stake and placing is important.

Naomh Columba lead the way as the only team to win all three games, while Naomh Pádraig, Muff, and Malin are yet to lose.

The top eight go into the quarter-finals, with first playing eighth, second against seventh and so forth, while the bottom four go into the relegation semi-finals.

Five teams are on four points and that yet may not be enough for one team, as Buncrana and Burt in eighth and ninth can both win and move on to four.

Gaeil Fhánada, Cloughaneely and Na Rossa have their fate no longer in their hands, and a win for the previously mentioned Inishowen two would consign all three to the relegation play-offs.

Sunday, September 7

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin v Burt, Maurice McMenamin Memorial Park, 2pm

Another Inishowen derby for the home side, the Muff men are one of just two teams still unbeaten and despite being second in the table and already through to the last eight, they haven’t had it easy.

Away wins over Realt na Mara and Buncrana along with a home draw against Malin, Daniel McCauley’s sides haven't had more than two points in it. The Ulster Junior champions have settled into the second tier well and the new rules have certainly suited them, hitting nine two pointers in their three games.

County star Caolan McColgan has been in fine form, as has his cousin Cormac. Johnny Toye is once again showing his class, while county U-20 man Kevin Lynch made a return against Buncrana. 

Burt began with a win over Gaeil Fhánada, but defeats to Buncrana and Realt na Mara since have them scrambling for points and it is a must win match for the Hibernian Park men if they want to avoid the bottom four and the relegation semi-final.

A win mightn’t be enough for Burt however, but thanks to a decent score difference, they could sneak into the top eight with a win, although the hosts will be favourites.

VERDICT: Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin

Realt na Mara v Malin, Gaelic Park, 2pm

Malin have to make one of the longest trips of the season in Donegal when they go to Gaelic Park in search of two points.

The Connolly Park side remain unbeaten, but are below Sunday’s opponents on score difference as both teams have four points.

Paul Gallagher’s men got off to a flyer against Buncrana but have drawn with Naomh Pádraig and Gaeil Fhánada when in promising positions coming down the stretch, sides which Bundoran lost and won against respectively.

Jamie Brennan has hit 1-17 for his side and the Gaelic Park men will fancy their chances with home advantage but a stubborn Malin won’t be keen to let their unbeaten run end as both sides aren’t necessarily guaranteed a top eight spot, but a draw would give both a path into the quarters.

VERDICT: Draw

Gaeil Fhánada v Buncrana, Páirc Uí Shiadhail, 2pm

Gaeil Fhánada suffered defeat in their first two games which left them a mountain to climb and while they took an impressive draw away to Malin, it has left their fate out of their hands.

They can overtake two teams and one of them is Buncrana, but a Burt win would guarantee they finish in the bottom four and into the relegation spots.

It hasn’t been an easy ride for them this year, but they look more than strong enough to stay up.

Buncrana haven’t lived up to what many expected after battling well in Division 1, but they were handed a difficult draw, losing out to Malin and Muff either side of a win over Burt.

The Fanad side did upset the odds when the pair met in the quarter-finals two years ago in a neutral venue, but there looks to be more between the sides now.

VERDICT: Buncrana

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Naomh Muire, Íochtar Na Rosann v Naomh Columba, The Banks, 2pm

The match at the Banks looks like the tie of the round as third place plays first. Both sides reached the final four of last season’s competition, the Annagry men losing out to Termon in the semis as the Glen men lost the decider to the Burn Road outfit.

Naomh Columba are the only side with a 100% record and have been free scoring, hitting ten goals and 48 points, and are impressing from front to back.

Naomh Muire also took two big wins on either side of a defeat to Red Hughs and should be secure in the top eight, but with it not guaranteed, they will be out for a win.

It should be the toughest test yet for the Glen side, but they will look to keep their unbeaten record intact.

VERDICT: Naomh Columba

Na Rossa v Red Hughs, Dooey, 2pm

Na Rossa struggled all season in Division 3 and things haven’t improved in the championship. Oisin Caulfield is back in, but Cillian Bonner is in America and they have been beaten by nine or more in every game so far. Red Hughs carried momentum from Division 3 into the championship, and while they did lose to Milford in round three, they have one foot in the quarter-finals. Jonny Carlin and Stephen McMenamin are showing well and Jack Gillespie has been on form from placed balls, and they will be looking for a win against the Leitir men to finish as high up the table as they can.

VERDICT: Red Hughs

Milford v Cloughaneely, Moyle View Park, 2pm

Milford were well beaten by Naomh Columba in the first game but have recovered well and their win against Red Hughs leaves them in a good position.

Cloughaneely are in a similar situation to Na Rossa and they looked doomed to compete in the relegation play-off, but they won’t go down without a fight in their final group game, with teenage star Donnachadh Ó Baoighill putting up good numbers.

Milford’s injury woes haven’t helped them, with the Coll brothers, Finn and Conor both being ruled out for the campaign, but Cathal McGettigan and the Blacks have been leading the way and they will be expecting to pick up the two points and leave them in a good position for the quarter-finals.

VERDICT: Milford