Draw between Donegal and Galway suits family who had divided loyalties on the day

Perhaps a draw in Letterkenny was something that suited everyone best.

On Sunday at O’Donnell Park, Donegal and Galway played out a 1-9 to 1-9 draw in Division 1 of the Allianz League in springtime sunshine.  One Donegal family who had divided loyalties on the day were present, with family members lining out for Galway. 

Sean Kelly captained Galway on Sunday and to the All-Ireland final last year and his brothers Eoghan and Paul are all playing under Padraig Joyce. They are nephews of Philomena Friel, the former Principal at Scoil Mhuire, Ramelton.

Philomena is the sister of former Galway great Padraig 'Dandy' Kelly, who sadly passed away at 40 in 2001, having won five Connacht SFC medals during his inter-county career, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987.

The Kelly brothers played alongside their cousin Seamus Friel from Ramelton, who was in goals for Moycullen as they defeated Mountbellew Moylough by 2-12 to 1-11 in Pearse Stadium, Salthill, to lift their first ever Galway SFC crown in 2020.

Ramelton native Friel is a teacher at Clarin College, Athenry, and was part of the St Eunan’s College team who won the MacLarnon Cup in 2000, playing right half-forward alongside the likes of Colm McFadden, Rory Kavanagh and Neil Gallagher.

He played underage football for Moycullen, where he spent his summers, and played football locally for Swilly Rovers, alongside his brother Damien, who won an FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Senior Cup in 2004.

“We have a lot of connections in Ramelton,” Eoghan Kelly told DonegalLive afterwards. “There’s a good connection in football with Swilly Rovers and Milford. It’s good to see the family and maybe the draw means everyone can go home happy.”