Naomh Columba and Red Hughs in the driving seat in IFC - Sean Clerkin

The winner takes all from now on in the Michael Murphy Sports Donegal IFC as the championship reaches the quarter-final stage.

Naomh Columba were the form team in the group stages of the championship and took top spot in the final tables with four wins from as many outings.

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They are followed closely by Red Hughs and Milford, both of whom are on six points from three wins and one defeat each.

They were eventually separated by score difference with Red Hughs in second place and Milford in third position.

Last year’s JFC winners Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin, are in fifth place following their two wins and one draw.

Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses, the pre-championship favourites, are back in sixth place with Bundoran and Buncrana completing the top-eight shake-up.

Burt, Gaeil Fhanada, Cloughaneely and Na Rossa make up the bottom four and are all locked in a battle to fight for their intermediate championship status.

Former Donegal Ulster minor-winning manager and Buncrana club man Sean Clerkin, going on form in the group stages, says the championship is a two-horse race.

“Naomh Columba and Red Hughs are the form teams headed into the serious business,” he explained. “They both beat a fancied Naomh Muire, on their own patch.

“Naomh Muire were the fancied team going into the championship. They had a very good Division 2 league campaign and beat Downings – who are in the preliminary senior championship quarter-final.

“Naomh Columba have been knocking on the door for the last four to five years. They have been beaten in a couple of finals and semi-finals so they have served their time as it were.

“Red Hughs followed that victory in Naomh Muire with a big win last weekend over Na Rossa. And I know Na Rossa have lost a number to emigration and were short a few other regulars.

“But to go to Dooey and score 4-20, regardless of the strength of the opposition, is impressive.

“At this stage, if the draw keeps them apart, I see Naomh Columba and Red Hughs as the final too.

“But I would not write off Naomh Muire just yet. I’m not sure if they were at full strength against Naomh Columba and Red Hughs.

“They may have picked up some injuries and may have been nursing players for bigger battles.

“Danny O’Donnell has been around the block for a good few years and has a huge knowledge of club football in Donegal. That’s potent.

“He is a good coach and a shrewd operator as well. If Naomh Muire have a fully fit squad, they will have a big say in the championship before it is all over.

“Milford only lost one game and will also fancy their chances now that it has reached the knockout stage. And in a one-off game, they will feel they will be more than a match for anyone.

“Bundoran, Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin, Malin and Buncrana have the players to challenge but having a level of consistency is a problem for those teams.

“But any of them that get a win this weekend in the quarter-final, they all have the capacity to go on a run and God knows where it could take them.

“That is why the intermediate championship is so competitive and a hard championship to win.”

Saturday

Malin v Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin
The Scarvey, Buncrana

This Inishowen derby promises to be a really close game. They drew when they met earlier in the championship and I expect Saturday evening’s game to be another close encounter.

Naomh Padraig lost to Burt last weekend, but they were without Jonny Toye. I expect he will be back for Saturday night.

Malin are a seasoned championship team and have been seen as contenders for the championship for a number of years. I think the tight pitch will suit Malin more than Naomh Padraig.

VERDICT: Malin

Red Hughs v Bundoran
Tír Chonaill Park, 1pm

Stephen McMenamin versus Jamie Brennan are the two big names on either side in this one. They are two very important players for their respective sides.

The form book says Red Hughs, though Bundoran have the championship pedigree to upset the form book.

Again, a lack of consistency seems to be their Achilles’ heel in recent seasons. They are also the type of team that if they got a win on Sunday, it could lift off their season. I just like the look of Red Hughs this season with Jonny Carlin also back in tow.

VERDICT: Red Hughs

Naomh Muire v Milford
The Bridge, Dunfanaghy, 1pm

Naomh Muire were the early-season favourites for the championship on the back of a good Division 2 run and a play-off victory over Downings to win promotion to Division 1.

Milford won three of their four group games, including a win over Red Hughs in Killygordon, the only game Darren O’Leary’s team lost.

Just a point separated Naomh Muire and Milford when they met earlier in the league in Milford.
Despite those defeats by Naomh Columba and Red Hughs, I still fancy Naomh Muire to have a little more in attack to get the result.

VERDICT: Naomh Muire

Buncrana v Naomh Columba
Donegal GAA Centre, 1pm

Naomh Columba, as I have alluded to already, are one of the championship favourites and come into the quarter-final as one of the form teams.

Aaron Doherty and company have been putting up big scores and it is going to take a good team to stop them.

Buncrana just scraped into the last eight ahead of Burt on score difference and are struggling for form and consistency.

Kevin Jordan has returned from Finn Harps and is a big addition up front. Caolan McGonagle has been playing well and scoring well. This could be a real cracker but Naomh Columba’s know-how just tips the scales.

VERDICT: Naomh Columba

Relegation play-offs

Burt v Na Rossa
Donegal GAA Centre, 1pm

Burt just missed out on a quarter-final place on score difference to Buncrana. They go into the game on the back of a good win over Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin, last weekend.

Na Rossa have really struggled in the championship. They have lost a lot of players to emigration and it’s going to be very hard to pull the nose back up on that.

VERDICT: Burt

Cloughaneely v Gaeil Fhanada
The Burn Road, 1pm

Two recent winners of the Intermediate Championship now find themselves locked in serious relegation bother.

The loss of Jason McGee was a huge blow for Cloughaneely and one that’s left them extremely vulnerable.

I watched Fanad last weekend against Buncrana and they gave Buncrana a run for their money. For that reason, the hat tip goes to them.

VERDICT: Gaeil Fhanada