MAC'S VIEW: County semi-finals went along expected lines at weekend

The predictions last week about the county semi-finals came to pass with Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair getting through to contest the decider.

Congratulations must go to both clubs, who have been at the top of the order for some years now. Gaoth Dobhair getting to the final was probably one that we didn’t see coming, but they have an experienced core of players and you only have to go back  a few years and they won an Ulster Club Championship, the first time it was done since St Joseph’s in the 1970s.

Naomh Conaill did what Naomh Conaill do. They ground out another big win and hardly put a foot wrong in their win over St Eunan’s. You would have to think that St. Eunan’s have more to offer than what they produced on Sunday. They are a bit like Ballyshannon,  they are not expressing themselves. St Eunan’s teams of the past were playing more open football and now they are trying to match the other defensive teams, which I think doesn’t suit them.

McShea's Say: 'The Donegal player of the year must be MacCumhaill’s Oisin Gallen'

Donegal's 1974 Ulster SFC winning captain Pauric McShea, in his weekly column, pays tribute to the SFC finalists Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair and stressed the player of the year is a man who missed out on a place in the final

But in saying that, Glenties must take huge congratulations. Getting to a seventh final in-a-row is setting the bar high for the future. It is a record similar to what the Dubs did recently in All-Ireland finals. And you wouldn’t bet against Naomh Conaill making it to 10 in-a-row.

They are a unique bunch of players, the likes of Leo McLoone, Marty Boyle, Brendan McDyer and Anthony Thompson have given some service. They have played a phenomenal amount of championship games yet come back year after year.

They will be strong favourites now for the final against Gaoth Dobhair, but they are playing a team that are steeped in Donegal club championship history. No doubt Gaoth Dobhair will not give up without a fight.

A word too on MacCumhaill’s for whom Oisin Gallen had another magnificent display. They have something to build on after getting to a semi-final. They are young and also have more underage talent coming through. It might take two or three years, but they should be challenging.

No more than Four Masters, who picked up another minor championship at the weekend. The Donegal Town senior team should be one to watch over the next few years.

Congratulations also to Cloughaneely who won the Division 2 minor title and they will have talent coming through at senior level.

INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIOR FINALS

This weekend we have the Intermediate and Junior Championship finals. I’m hearing that Christian Bonner failed in his appeal against a red card in the semi-finals and that is a blow to Na Rossa. However, if Adrian Hanlon is in the same scoring vein as he was against Convoy, then there could be celebrations in Leitirmacaward on Sunday night. But Moville will not go down easily. The best of luck to both teams.

The Intermediate decider on Sunday in O’Donnell Park will see Downings and Malin in opposition. This is a difficult one to call. Malin were very good against Bundoran in the preliminary quarter-final and got the better of Fanad Gaels in the semi-final.

Downings could be regarded as fortunate to have overcome Termon but they are also a seasoned team. Both were playing in Division 1 this year and there was only a kick of a ball between them last year when they met in the league. Downings won that with a late goal. It just might be Malin’s turn at championship success.

GREAT SUCCESS FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS

Our north Sligo neighbours, Grange Cliffoney are through to the Sligo senior championship final after beating their neighbours Drumcliffe-Rosses Point at the weekend, for whom our former ‘keeper Paul Durcan is goalkeeper.

There are many connections in the Bundoran area to the Grange-Cliffoney team with the Keaneys, Hoeys and Fallons to name just a few. On a sadder note, I would like to express my sympathy with the Hoey family on the death of Paddy last week. His brother, Dominic and family are strong supporters of the GAA Club in Bundoran and another brother, Matty, was a very good intercounty footballer with Sligo.

This coming weekend will be a big one for another neighbouring club, Melvin Gaels, when they take on Annaduff in the Intermediate final in Pairc Sean Mhic Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday. Gary Clancy, who played with Bundoran for many years, joined the Kinlough side and they have a Ballyshannon man, Aidan Murray, in as manager with his dad, Val, helping out on the line. They defeated Kiltubrid in the semi-final.

Good luck to all involved and hope they can bring the cup back to North Leitrim.

CASEMENT PARK

I see that the Euros for 2028 have been awarded to the UK and Ireland and that is probably good news for the development at Casement Park, which has been put forward as one of two venues in Ireland.

It was probably a mistake to close Casement 10 years ago but it would be good to see work start on the new stadium, not just for the Euro 28,  but to give Antrim GAA a home base once more. We must keep our fingers crossed that they get the funds to get it over the line now.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell