First silverware up for grabs as league finals set to be decided 

Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair’s All-County League Division 1 decider will take place this Saturday in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, with a 4.30pm throw-in. 

Martin Regan is now into his tenth straight term as Glenties boss - landing five SFC titles in that timeframe as well as losing three deciders along the way. It’s a quite amazing feat. 

Almost just as impressive as that has been Regan’s ability to not just replenish his squad with one or two new diamonds each term but to also hold onto his golden cluster of vintage nuggets. 

Anthony Thompson, Brendan McDyer, Leo McLoone and Marty Boyle, survivors from 2005’s original breakthrough, are all still there as is another veteran Dermot Molloy. 

With Donegal’s interest in the All-Ireland SFC title now over, Naomh Conaill will now have the undivided attentions of Ciaran Thompson, Jeaic McCeallbhuí, Odhran Doherty, Kevin McGettigan and Charlie McGuinness from this point on. 

“It’s been an enjoyable league campaign,” said Regan.  “At the start of the year, truth be told, we didn’t expect to find ourselves in a final. 

“With five lads up at county, Ethan O’Donnell and Eunan Doherty away, we’re down a lot of bodies from last year. 

“We’d to win the last three games to actually make the final. We dug in and it was a really pleasing end in that sense”.

In terms of replenishment, Finnbarr Roarty and Tiernan Ward have progressed up from minor level. 

“It’s not by design really,” explained Regan. “When good players come through, bang on the door, it’s hard to ignore. Needs must this year too with so many lads absent so we needed others to step up. 

“The likes of Leo Dunphy, Conor Roarty and Neil Francis Boyle as well - they’ve been about for a wee while but you can really see them coming along now. And a full round of league games has been hugely beneficial. 

“We’ve missed Leo McLoone for most of the campaign, he’s been carrying an injury and Tony has been out the last while too.  So lads have got a chance. Long-term, that’ll hopefully help”.

Naomh Conaill get the defence of their Dr Maguire crown off the mark away to Cloughaneely before welcoming main rivals St Eunan’s to Davy Brennan Park in Round 2. 

A big boost for Regan and, perhaps even Jim McGuinness ahead of 2025, is that Ethan O’Donnell will be back in blue come championship. 

“Ethan is coming back and that’ll happen in and around the Cloughaneely game,” Regan confirmed.  

On Gaoth Dobhair, he added: “They’ve lost a lot of players going back to that 2018 Ulster winning team but the U-21 sides they’ve been producing, that’s been a big help. 

Also, Kieran Gillespie is back and, after the terrible run of injuries he had, that’s great to see. Danny Curran is another experienced head that will be a big help to them. Daire Ó Baoill will come back in too so they’re still very formidable”.  

Gaoth Dobhair boss Ronan MacNiallias might have inherited a moving landscape in Magheragallon last year with legendary figures like Neil and Eamonn McGee coming towards the end while a large chunk of established stars also decided to spread their wings.

But he’s got on with it and there is no doubt Gaoth Dobhair, and this next crop, are ahead of schedule.  

“When we came in last year we knew what we were dealing with,” said MacNiallais. “We knew Odhran was going away, Cian Mulligan and Micheal Carroll as well. We still had a lot of belief that there was talent coming through in Gaoth Dobhair. 

“We’d U-21 sides that had done well and the underage structure in the club has been strong. And in all fairness, they really stepped up in impressive fashion last season and again, so far, this year. 

“The results on the pitch are a reflection of the work they’re putting in. Reaching the county final, it probably was a little bit of a reality check in-so-far as the level we want to get to down the line. 

“But they’ve come back in this year and I can see the bit is between the teeth - they’ve lifted efforts again and want to progress. 

“The early signs, a league final, are good. Coincidently enough, the barometer there again is Naomh Conaill”. 

Daire Ó Baoill as well as Domhnall MacGiolla Bhride and Daithi Roberts were all involved with Donegal this term so that experience, for the latter two especially, will hopefully benefit Gaoth Dobhair now the serious business starts. 

Gaoth Dobhair open their SFC account with a home tie against Four Masters and an away shot at Glenfin. 

“We had the two younger lads for a good bit but the experience of them being up there with Donegal, that’s brilliant exposure. It’s a high-quality environment and it’s great for us.”

Division 2 decider  

The Division 2 showpiece between Four Masters and Buncrana will take place in MacCumhaill Park, also on Saturday, with an 8pm start. 

The Donegal Town outfit have reemerged from the doldrums and possess one of the most youthful and exciting crop of youngsters inside the county.  

Kevin Sinclair has done really well in managing that transition from all-conquering underage starlets to established senior footballers. 

“It’s lovely to be looking forward to a final and, more importantly, getting back up to Division 1. 

“I’m delighted for the young fellas and the club. We’ve only lost one game in the league so it’s been an enjoyable campaign. 

“Buncrana are an excellent team and they’ll have Caolan McGonagle back in who has been amazing for Donegal this year. 

“There is a buzz there right now and this group are on the verge, next season, of getting back to the top level in league football in the county. 

“I mean, when I took over we’d to win two games to stay out of Division 4, that was before the reforming of the leagues. 

“That’s how bad it had got. My first game in charge was against Pettigo at the tail end of the 2021 season. So these lads have come in and it’s been a great turnaround. 

“But, I have to say, without the Dylan Kennedys, Caolan Loughneys, the Reid lads and Sean McKiernan and so on; they have really driven the thing on. They’ve sort of set the platform and allowed the young lads come in and, together, help make that improvement”. 

Opposite number Gary Duffy is also excited to be looking forward to top-flight league football once more. Ahead of an IFC tilt, a Division 2 title would certainly buoy belief ahead of that target. 

“Our league game was close - Masters ended up winning by four in the end. Conditions were really tough that evening so hopefully the weekend is kinder. You can only admire their underage work in recent times. 

“For us, Buncrana really needed to find themselves back in Division 1 football if they wanted to compete and develop as a senior side. We’ve kinda been on a similar trajectory as Masters in recent times. 

“We were in Division 3 together and now we’re both on our way to Division 1 which is interesting. 

“Four Masters also beat us in the minor final last year. Seven of those lads will be on show for us at the weekend.”

Buncrana are welcoming three intercounty stars back into the mix with hurlers Jack O’Loughlin and Oisin Grant giving matters a real push in the last number of regulation games. 

But their T-Rex, their bona fide star is, without a doubt, Caolan McGonagle, whose reputation was further enhanced this term with an absolutely brilliant season under Jim McGuinness at senior intercounty level. 

“With the blending in of those lads, it's been massive already down the stretch with Jack and Oisin. Caolan, he’s every bit as good a person as he is a player. 

“He’s done his best to remain in and around the periphery of the squad and just to encourage the rest of the lads on. So he’s been a consistent presence within the group.

“Anyone in a final at the weekend, across the All-County board, it’s a chance to land silverware. You don’t turn that down when it’s on the table. It’s not the ‘be all’ and ‘end all’, either way. 

“But you want to really throw everything at it. It would be great momentum for either ourselves or Masters. It is also that final experience, just the day. That’s something that is of real benefit to our young lads. 

Meanwhile, the Division 3 showpiece will be contested by St Mary’s of Convoy and Carndonagh, in Burt, at 3.30pm, also on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the relegation/promotion ties are pencilled in for Sunday with the Division 1/Division 2 battle between Aodh Ruadh and Termon fixed for midday at Davy Brennan Memorial Park, Glenties. 

The Division 2/Division 3 play-off sees Cloughaneely and Naomh Brid meet in Glenfin on Sunday, also at noon. 

The full list of league finals for the weekend is as follows: 

Saturday July 20

Division 3 final

Carndonagh v St Mary’s, Convoy, 3.30pm, Burt 

Division 3B final

Carndonagh v Naomh Brid, 1.30 pm, Burt

Division 1 final  

Naomh Conaill v Gaoth Dobhair, 4.30pm, O’Donnell Park, Letterkrenny 

Division 1B final 

Naomh Conaill v McCumhaills, 2.30pm, O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny 

Division 2 final

Four Masters v Buncrana,8 pm, MacCumhaill Park

Division 2B final

Four Masters v Termon, 6.15pm, MacCumhaill Park

Sunday, July 31

Relegation Playoffs

Div1/Div 2

Aodh Ruadh v Termon, midday, Davy Brennan Memorial Park, Glenties 

Div 2/Div 3

Cloughaneely v Naomh Brid, midday, Glenfin