Glencolumbkille to celebrate Junior success of 1974

The breakthrough for senior football in the Naomh Columba club arrived 50 years ago this year, winning the Donegal junior championship, and it was the springboard for some 30 years.

And tonight, Saturday, there will be a presentation night honouring the 1974 Junior County Championship winning team at John Eoinin's Bar at 8.30pm.

The club had been reformed in 1964 and had a couple of underage successes. But they were thwarted at adult level losing the junior finals of 1972 (to St Naul's - 0-9 to 0-7)) and 1973 (to Termon - 0-11 to 0-10) but it was third time lucky in 1974 when they overcame Falcarragh by 1-5 to 0-3 in the final in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

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They would go on to win the senior league two years later and became a force at senior level in a very competitive south-west area over a long number of years.

The final in 1974 was a low-scoring affair, played at the end of August. Indeed, it is interesting to note that Donegal senior player, Finian Ward, had to fit in junior championship games between winning the Ulster title with Donegal and an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Galway. Changed times; you wouldn't see that happening today.

In the final it was Finian Ward who opened the scoring for Glen but Ownie Coyle of Falcarragh levelled. In the midst of a series of wides Glen got the only goal of the game in the 9th minute when Sean Gara put in a shot that was blocked by the Falcarragh 'keeper but Seamus Carr seized on the rebound to score.

The only other score of the first half was an Ownie Coyle point to leave it 1-1 to 0-2 at half-time. Bernard McIntyre pointed from a free for Glen and Paddy McIntyre added another while Finian Ward made it 1-4 to 0-2 with just four minutes played in the second half.

Hugh Ferry replied for Falcarragh. Brian Hegarty had Glen's last point on 49 minutes. Falcarragh tried hard to close the gap but there were no further scores. The Democrat report hailed the Glen half-back line. It said James Hegarty played well at left
full-back. Brian Hegarty was the main man in attack and the report said that Finian Ward had a moderate game.

The undoubted star for Falcarragh was 'keeper Gerry Whoriskey. Eddie McGinley at half-back and Joe Friel at midfield were best of the rest.

The teams on the day were:
Glencolumbkille: Eamon Gillespie; Sean Burke, Francis Cunningham, James Hegarty; Brian McNelis, Michael McIntyre, John McLoughlin; Sean McGinley, Kevin McGinley; Paddy McIntyre, Finian Ward, Brian Hegarty; Bernard McIntyre, Sean Gara, Seamus Carr. Sub: Josie Gillespie for S Carr.

Falcarragh: Gerry Whoriskey; Saoirse Kelly, Dan Gallagher, Noel Duggan; Joe Mulvenna, Eddie McGinley, Anton Penrose; Brian Cannon, Joe Friel; Maurice Coyle, Paddy McBride, Owenie Coyle; Hugh Ferry, Hugh McBride, Seamus McGee. Subs: Hugh Doohan for N Duggan; Paddy McGinley for S McGee; Peter McGinley for H Doohan.
Referee: Dessie Kelly (Castlefin)

The other members of the Glencolumbkille panel on the day were:
Paddy Beag Gillespie, Conal Eamon Gillespie, Michael Breslin and Aiden Kennedy. Jimmy Beag Cunningham, Manager.

Of the Glen panel, all but three of the playing panel (Francis Cunningham, Michael Oliver McIntyre and Conal Eamon Gillespie and manager Jimmy Beag Cunningham) are still alive.