Ballyshannon man leads Sean McDermotts to All Britain Club final

Warwickshire champions Sean McDermotts reached the All Britain Club Championship final last weekend when they overcame Scottish champions Dunedin Connollys by 0-12 to 0-8 at Old  Bedians, Manchester.

Managed by former Aodh Ruadh and Donegal underage player, Charlie O’Donnell, McDermotts were just a point to the good at half-time, 0-4 to 0-3, in a game played in difficult conditions.

The winners came out strong in the third quarter and kicked four points in-a-row to put them on their way. 

They still needed two very good saves from their keeper to keep Dunedin at bay as they held on for a four point win.

Apart from manager O’Donnell, another connection on the Sean McDermotts team is corner-back Pearce McMenamin, son of club chairman, Noel McMenamin, who has strong Donegal links. Noel’s father, Michael McMenamin, who passed away in August, was originally from the Ballybofey area and is related to the Wards and McGlynns of Glenfin.

Sean McDermotts now play last year’s winners, Tara Gaels from London in the final. Tara Gaels hammered St Brendan’s, Manchester in the other semi-final, 2-14 to 0-9.

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McDermotts will be against it in the final with Tara Gaels strong favourites, but they will have home advantage as the match is being played in Pairc na hEireann in Solihull on Sunday week next, November 23rd.

Sean McDermotts haven’t won an All  Britain Club Championship since 1975. They have played 21 matches this year and have won them all. But this is the only one that counts now for O’Donnell and his squad.


Pearce McMenamin in possession for Sean McDermotts against Dunedin Connollys in the semi-final