St Naul’s trio on county senior team - a record for the club

The parish of Inver holds a unique place in the history of the GAA with the first ever Co Board meeting held in McIntyre’s Commercial Hotel, Mountcharles in 1905. Very Rev. Dr Maguire, DD, Inver was elected President and the Dr Maguire Cup was named after his death in 1926 and became the biggest trophy available to club players  in the county.

The Gaelic Athletic Association has been active in the area since the early days but a new record was set on Sunday last when three players from the club donned the county jersey - and what’s more, all three got on the scoreboard.

Goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany joined his club colleagues Brendan McCole and Peadar Mogan in the starting line-up for the Allianz National Football League game against Cork in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey in what was a very special moment for the area.

McCole and Mogan have been regulars in the last three or four seasons and Mulreany got his chance to shine after regular ‘keeper, Shaun Patton, was suspended. The Inver man has long been on the county radar and now provides real competition for the No 1 jersey.

Both Mogan and McCole have already represented Donegal on the championship stage and a look through the history book of Fr Seán reveals that there were only seven other players from the St Naul’s club that have represented the county in championship.

The first was a Drimarone man, Mickey McGroarty, back in 1925, while since then Joe O’Neill, Denis Hegarty, Eddie Gallagher, Eamon Breslin, Andrew Gallagher and Stephen Griffin played championship (see full list at end of article).

But, of course, there are others from the parish who have worn the senior county jersey in league and Dr McKenna Cup.

I contacted Seamus Sheerin on Monday to see what other names would be on that list and we came up with the likes of Jimmy Kerrs in the 1940s, Cathal Campbell and Brendan McCready. They could also lay a strong claim to Pat James Burke from Frosses, who played for Donegal at all levels in the early 1950s, although he was listed as being from Donegal Town.

Stephen Griffin has his All-Ireland senior medal from 2012 while the only other All-Ireland medals in the parish were claimed by  Patrick McGroarty and John McGowan in the 1982 All-Ireland U-21 triumph; Rory O’Neill, who was on the first Donegal Vocational winning team in 1984;  Vincent Kennedy was on the 1995 All-Ireland VS winning panel; Liam and Paul McGroarty and Benny Quinn on 1996 All-Ireland winning VS panel and Barry Griffin and Lee McBrearty, who were part of the 2011 All-Ireland winning VS team.
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/1410602/an-alternative-view-can-donegal-press-their-way-to-success-under-jim-mcguinness.html

To have three men on a starting Donegal senior team left St Naul’s supporters very proud on Sunday.

“They also  had a good day at the office and the three of them scored, which is very, very unusual,” said Seamus Sheerin.

“It’s like buses, we were very,  very scarce of county players for a long time and now three come along together.

“We never had two, never mind three at the same time. Maybe Cathal Campbell and Eamon Breslin played together at the same time (back in the 1980s). Brendan McCready was around that time also,” said Sheerin.

The three are also members of a St Naul’s team that gained promotion from Division 3 last year, largely playing without the trio, which is something which is difficult for the club.

But it is also great for club morale.

“It is definitely a source of pride for the club. Gavin (Mulreany) is putting pressure on Shaun Patton and it’s good to have that. Patton’s kick-outs will probably still win the day but it’s a learning process for Gavin.

“I was studying it yesterday and Gavin didn’t have a lot of options for his kick outs. The options seem to appear for Shaun Patton, whether it is him or not. 

“Gavin will learn and his free taking is superior. He was top scorer in the McKenna Cup final,” laughs Sheerin.

Sheerin was really impressed by Donegal, especially in their second half display.

“The win on Sunday was a morale booster. I was expecting to be under pressure in the second half but when we got the first two points, I said this was good,” said Sheerin, who added that Ciaran Moore looks the part.

He also said McGuinness might use the ‘Rory Kavanagh’ treatment on Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, making him eat a few more steaks to beef out.

“They kicked on very well in the second half.

“I would have Caolan McGonagle as my man of the match. I thought he was awesome. There were some great displays. When they were under pressure, Caolan McGonagle stood up. He was a giant, and we are lacking that type of player at the minute. He has a big presence, a leadership presence.”

The St Naul’s trio provide a real boost for the club, especially in building at underage level, Sheerin feels.

“They should be used by the club at underage level. They are three lovely fellas, gentlemen.”

When it was put to him that Gavin Mulreany is probably the most outgoing of the three, Sheerin replied: “About 200%. He has a fantastic personality. In his spare time he does painting here for Anne Marie. He could turn his hand at anything. He always has a smile on his face.

“God rest his poor mother, she would be proud of him. She died so young.”

Peadar Mogan didn’t get much time to savour Sunday’s win as he was guest of honour at the Glenswilly underage presentation on Sunday evening.

Sheerin agreed that he is playing really well and the fact that he is teaching here in Donegal this year and not commuting from Liverpool is a huge factor.

“He can cover some ground,” says Sheerin.

St Naul’s championship players

1925: Mickey McGroarty No 5

v Fermanagh 3-6 to 0-1

v Cavan 0-2 to 3-6

1941: Joe O’Neill No 15

 v Cavan 0-7 to 1-6

1955: Denis Hegarty No 5

 v Monaghan 3-8 to 2-8

 v Cavan 1-6 to 2-5

1956: Denis Hegarty

 v Monaghan 1-5 to 0-14

1964: Eddie Gallagher (sub)

 v Fermanagh 1-10 to 0-7

1965: Eddie Gallagher No 7

v Cavan 1-8 to 1-8

v Cavan 0-14 to 1-11

v Cavan 0-8 to 0-9

1987: Eamon Breslin No 5

v Armagh 0-6 to 1-8

2001: Andrew Gallagher No 12

v Fermanagh 1-16 to 2-13

v Fermanagh 0-15 to 1-6

v Kildare 1-16 to 1-17

2008: Stephen Griffin No 13

v Roscommon 3-11 to 1-9

v Monaghan 0-15 to 0-16

2009: Stephen Griffin (sub)

v Cork 2-10 to 1-27

2012: Stephen Griffin (sub)

v Derry 2-13 to 0-9

1. 2019: Brendan McCole v Kerry (1-20 to 1-20) tbc
2. 2020: Peadar Mogan v Tyrone (1-13 to 1-11) tbc