Declan Bonner looking forward to battle with old Harps comrade

Na Rossa team boss Declan Bonner will be locking horns with an old ex-Finn Harps comrade as they take on Moville in the Donegal Junior A Championship final in O’Donnell Park next Saturday. 

For he and the feisty John Quigg were playing on the left side of the Harps defence back in 1991. 

On Sunday, they will be in opposite camps, but the friendship and the banter has survived the years. 

“Yes, we are old team-mates and we have remained friends and John has done quite a bit of work with Derry City. 

“He is coaching Moville and is a good operator and we had some great days with Harps. 

“And of course, I looked after him when we both played for the Harps all those years ago as I was sweeping behind John,” he quipped. 

But that friendship will be put firmly on hold, as Bonner and Na Rossa go for their first Donegal title since 1999.  They won the Intermediate that year. 

Meanwhile, at the time of going to press, Bonner was hoping to have the red card given to his son Christian late on in the semi-final victory over Convoy rescinded. 

“It is up for discussion on Tuesday night, so we are just hoping for a favourable hearing.” 

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The last time that Na Rossa won a Junior county championship was in 1982 when they beat Gaoth Dobhair B and Bonner was a key player.

They took an Intermediate title when they beat Malin in 1999, and the last time they were in an Intermediate final was in 2008 when they lost to Sean MacCumhaill’s. 

Bonner managed Na Rossa that year after coming from managing neighbouring Gaoth Dobhair. 

So, 1999 is a long time without a trophy for one of Donegal’s smallest clubs. 

“I am back in this year and for a small area it is great, and we are getting ready for Moville who are a very good side. 

“Ciaran Diver is a huge player for them, and they have one of the top ‘keepers in the county in Dylan Doherty. 

“But they have some great scorers in Danny Murphy while Joshua Lafferty and Michael Barr are also key players. 

“I know they got through on penalties against Naomh Padraig, Muff but they are always hard to beat.” 

But Na Rossa has some formidable aces of their own in Bonner’s other son Cillian, who has been plagued with a long-term injury all season. 

Bonner is hopeful that he will be able to make some form of contribution. 

They also have ex Naomh Conaill and Dungloe aces in Johnny  Bonner and Adrian Sweeney to add experience to an attack where Aidan McHugh has been simply brilliant, while Adrian Hanlon is another big threat.

John McDyre is also a great warrior while Oisin Caulfield is also a major figure. 

“We had tough tests against Naomh Conaill and Convoy but the lads fought hard to the end and it really was a very good comeback against Naomh Conaill. 

“There are players stepping up to the mark and probably for the first time we have a squad and lads that can come off the bench and make a difference. 

“Cillian will need surgery at the end of the season but we are hopeful he will be able to make some contribution.”