Frustration is the main feeling so far  in the Donegal League Div 2 - Brendan Doherty

The raft of postponements due to the recent bad weather is the main talking point among those involved in the various GAA All County Leagues in Donegal over the past few weeks and Naomh Columba manager, Brendan Doherty, is hoping for a change soon.

"Frustration is the word I would use but it's nobody's fault. We just cannot pin the blame on anyone. We have just the one game played and that was three weeks ago against Bundoran. Because of that I cannot answer the question as to how we are going. We got a good enough win in Bundoran but it is so long ago now, it's hard to gauge.

"We cannot get any momentum going at all," said Doherty, who is one of a number of managers who have only one game under their belts after three weeks. Milford, Gaeil Fhánada and Bundoran are the other three clubs with just one game played to date, due to the ongoing weather and pitch issues over the past couple of weekends.

Downings and Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin are the only two clubs in the Division with three games played.

"It is very frustrating, especially what happened last weekend. We were nearly on the way (to Fanad); the Reserves were on their way to the game. The weather has been disastrous. There is pressure, especially the likes of ourselves with just one field, there really is pressure coming on. Everybody is trying to get training done and you need to rest the field.

"But we have to get on with it; it's nobody's fault," says Doherty, who led his team to the Holy Grail last year in winning the Donegal Intermediate Championship after a number of frustrating years.


Naomh Columba manager Brendan Doherty

Asked what he was looking forward to this year, he laughs. "I'm looking forward to getting a bit of momentum; looking to get games on game. I'm hoping that this bad spell is nearly over. I'm not looking past Saturday's game where we have Milford at home."

Doherty said at the start of the year he felt Cloughaneely might struggle but he felt they had got their act together and they have won their first two games against tough opposition in Downings and Killybegs.

"Naomh Muire came from nowhere to get promoted last year so who's to say Cloughaneely don't do the same. We are always talking about teams losing players but there are teams getting players back as well. Blake McGarvey, I don't think he played last year, and he's back this year."

Doherty says he has no targets set, just to try and win every game. "At the end of the day we all know what the target was last year, winning the Intermediate Championship. This year we have to prepare for every game as it comes and see where it takes us. As I always say, the league table, it never lies. Wherever you are at the end of the year, that's where you deserve to be."

For Naomh Columba it is never easy with a big number of their panel working in Dublin. "Training  is never easy with about seven or eight seniors and then gathering them at the weekend. Geographically, the way we are it is never easy, but it is not an excuse. We have to make the best of the situation we have," said Doherty.

"It starts on Saturday with the home game against Milford. As you all know the most frustrating thing is not getting to play, so hopefully things will improve. It's all about playing."

All County Division 2

Sat, 18 Apr, Malin V St. Patrick's Uisce Caoin 18:45 Martin McCormick

Sat, 18 Apr Red Hughs V Ardara 18:45 Patrick Barrett

Sat, 18 Apr, Killybegs V Fanada Gaels 18:45 Greg Mc Groary

Sat, 18 Apr,  N Columba  V Milford 18:45 Marc Brown

Sun, 19 Apr, Buncrana GAA V Bundoran 15:00 Martin McCormick

Sun, 19 Apr, Burt V Cloich Cheann Fhaola 15:00 Charlie Creevy

Sun, 19 Apr, Downings V Carndonagh 15:00  Anthony Finn

All County Division 2B 

Sat, 18 Apr, Malin V St. Patrick's Uisce Caoin 17:15 Paul Clifford

Sat, 18 Apr, Killybegs V Fanad Gaels 17:15 Kevin McGinley

Sat, 18 Apr, Red Hughs V Ardara 17:15  Mark McGlinchey

Sat, 18 Apr,  N Columba V Milford 17:15  John Ward

Sun, 19 Apr, Downings V Carndonagh 13:00 Hugh McGarvey

Sun, 19 Apr, Burt V Cloich Cheann Fhaola 13:30 Ronnie Hylands


Division 2 table