Molloy, ‘Rambo’, Shovlin and the McHughs - all Donegal titans says Jarlath Burns 

Jarlath Burns admits he was so looking forward to crossing paths once more with Donegal men he’s so often collided with, on the field, in years gone by. 

The GAA president was in south west  Donegal on Saturday as he paid special visits to the Ardara, Naomh Ultan and Kilcar clubs. 

And while it’s been over 30 years since they last crossed paths,  the Armagh man still broke into a huge grin as he once again laid eyes on Ardara pair Anthony Molloy and Martin ‘Rambo’ Gavigan.   

From Pearse Memorial Park, where he cut the ribbon on the new gym and astroturf facilities, it was onto Naomh Ultan to also mark the unveiling of new development in Dunkineely. 

Finally, the last port of call at the weekend was the Blue Haven as Kilcar celebrated their centenary. 

“It’s whistlestop but it’s still breath-taking being driven around the south west of this beautiful county,” he told Donegalive.  

“I have a special place in my heart for Donegal, it’s where I learned to speak Irish. I played my first ever NFL game against Donegal back in 1990. Anthony Molloy and Brian Murray were in the middle of the field for Donegal. 

“At the time, Derry had Anthony Tohill and Brian McGilligan in the middle of the field. It was a tight landscape for a young lad to come into. 

“I mean Martin Shovlin also from Naomh Ultan and the McHughs, Martin and James from Kilcar, it’s just great to be bumping into these lads again as opposed to be banging into them. 

“And that’s what the GAA is really all about. I just wish it wasn't as rushed but that’s just the way it’s fallen”. 

On his arrival in Pearse Memorial Park, Burns was presented with a Blackthorn stick by well-known Gaelic football follower Gerard Given but Burns quipped the gift was three decades too late!  

“I said it in my speech, I just wish I’d the same stick 35 years ago and I could have used it on Molloy and ‘Rambo’ back then! 

“Seriously though, I watched Anthony’s Laochra Gael programme - it was seriously powerful stuff. 

“And the word Laochra, it means hero and that’s what Anthony Molloy is to everyone in Donegal”.

Burns also praised Donegal GAA chairperson Mary Coughlan for the manner in which she’s steered Donegal back on course inside the boardroom. 

In fact, he suggested the Mountcharles woman could even slip into his shoes, down the line, if that was ever an ambition. 

“Mary Coughlan has been brilliant. She’s an outstanding individual - a very charismatic person. 

“Donegal is a very proud GAA county and there has been so much good work done over the last decade. The development in Convoy is a superb facility. 

“I remember Donegal only being a kick of a ball away in the Ulster final a few years back against Derry. 

“So Jim McGuinness coming in, and Jim being Jim, I wasn’t one bit surprised by that feat, winning Ulster, even if it was at the expense of Armagh”.