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06 Sept 2025

In Pictures: Glencolumbkille junior team of 1974 celebrated at 50th reunion

The junior team became the first winning team from the club at adult level and was the forerunner to the emergence of Naomh Columba

In Pictures: Glencolumbkille junior team of 1974 celebrated at 50th anniversary reunion

The 1974 Glencolumbkille team pictured at the reunion in John Eoinin's on Saturday night Pictures Erin Cunningham

The junior championship success of 1974 by Glencolumbkille was celebrated on Saturday night in the Glen Head Tavern (John Eoinin's) with a reunion and presentation to the players involved.

It was a major breakthrough for the south-west and the club which then became Naomh Columba became one of the strongest in the county.

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.

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 when they defeated Falcarragh by 1-5 to 0-3.

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 was manager.

USE ARROWS TO TOGGLE PICS --

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