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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Ryan Bradley playing for Donegal in the 2011 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. Photo: Sportsfile
Inishowen is well represented on the Donegal squad ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Galway.
Indeed, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that three players from the peninsula – Caolan McGonagle, Conor O'Donnell and Caolan McColgan – could feature.
When McColgan played against Down in the 2023 Ulster SFC, he became only the 12th player from an Inishowen club to play senior championship football for Donegal.
Only five players from Inishowen clubs have previously played in All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
Des Newton was an Ulster SFC winner with Donegal in 1983 - his first year playing in the championship.
Newton played for Urris having relocated from his native Roscommon, with whom he won an All-Ireland U21 title in 1978.
Newton’s senior championship debut was in the Ulster semi-final win over Monaghan. He also played in the Ulster final win over Cavan and the All-Ireland semi-final loss to Galway. He played a total of eight SFC games between 1983 and 1987.
Buncrana's Paul McGonigle first emerged in a 2001 draw with Fermanagh. He played 18 times for Donegal in Championship football, including the 2002 All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin and the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final against Armagh.
Ryan Bradley from Buncrana scored a point against Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland final win over Mayo. Bradley was a transformed figure in the Donegal side under Jim McGuinness. His first SFC game was a 2005 loss to Armagh under Brian McEniff.
He played successive Championship campaigns with Brian McIver in 2007 and 2008. In all, Bradley played 18 SFC games for Donegal, including All-Ireland semi-finals in 2011 and 2012.
Declan Walsh of Malin started the first game of the 2012 Championship, a win over Cavan, and also started in that year’s Ulster final win over Down. He came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-finals in 2012 and 2014.
Buncrana forward Darach O’Connor was a shock inclusion for the 2014 Ulster opener against Derry in Celtic Park and he played six Championship games in 2014, including starts in the Ulster and All-Ireland finals. He came on as a substitute in the 2024 All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin.
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