Donegal and Jim McGuinness's great league record in Ballyshannon

Donegal and Jim McGuinness put their excellent league record in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon on the line again this Sunday with the visit of neighbours Derry.

Not since 2009 - and a reversal by two points against Dublin - have Donegal lost at the venue, which has been upgraded in recent years and as Jim McGuinness said after the Galway game in Pearse Stadium on Sunday last “is a very important venue for supporters in the south of the county.”

Derry were last here in the halcyon days of 1990 when the rivalry between the counties was at its peak - Donegal would go on to win the All-Ireland in 1992 and Derry a year later.

Donegal would be happy with the same result this weekend come the full-time hooter. Donegal won that game convincingly by 0-11 to 0-3. Declan Bonner hit 0-4; James McHugh 0-3; Brian Murray 0-2 with Donal Reid and Charlie Mulgrew getting 0-1 each.

But given the arrival of the 40m arc and two pointers one suspects that 0-11 will not be sufficient to get all three points. That tally will be a target for both halves.

That meeting between Donegal and Derry in Ballyshannon in 1990 came just a week before the never-to-be-forgotten trip to Cork and the game that didn't take place with 1,000 Donegal fans left high and dry.

Like his unbeaten record in the league and championship in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey, Jim McGuinness is also unbeaten in Ballyshannon in the League. He has managed Donegal at the Fr Tierney Park for four league games and he is four from four so far having won against Antrim in 2011; Mayo in 2012 and Louth in 2014 and last year 2024.

The full Donegal League record in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon since the turn of the new millennium (courtesy of Fr Seán) is as follows.

Sunday will be Donegal's 28th game in Ballyshannon since 2000

1 2000 Div 1A Ciarraí 2-16 Dún na nGall 0-14

2 2000 Div 1A Dún na nGall 2-14 Lú 1-10

3 2001 Div 1A Baile Á Cliath 0-11 Dún na nGall 0-8

4 2002 Div 1A Gaillimh 0-9 Dún na nGall 0-7

5 2002 Div 1A Dún na nGall 1-12 Corcaigh 0-9

6 2003 Div 1A Baile Á Cliath 1-10 Dún na nGall 0-9

7 2003 Div 1A Ciarraí 1-12 Dún na nGall 0-8

8 2004 Div 2A Dún na nGall 3-6 Muineachán 1-11

9 2004 Div 2A Dún na nGall 3-15 Ceatharlach 0-5

10. 2005 Div 1A Uibh Fháilí 1-11 Dún na nGall 0-13
11. 2005 Div 1A Dún na nGall 3-11 Corcaigh 1-7
12. 2006 Div 2A Dún na nGall 0-11 Liatroim 1-8
13. 2006 Div 2A Dún na nGall 3-16 Longfort 0-9
14. 2007 Div 1A Dún na nGall 0-9 Baile Á Cliath 0-5
15. 2008 Div 1 Dún na nGall 1-14 Laois 2-8
16. 2009 Div 1 Baile Á Cliath 0-13 Dún na nGall 1-8
17. 2010 Div 2 Dún na nGall 3-11 Laois 0-5
18. 2011 Div 2 Dún na nGall 1-17 Aontroim 1-8
19. 2012 Div 1 Dún na nGall 0-17 Maigh Eo 1-7
20. 2014 Div 2 Dún na nGall 1-19 Lú 3-7
21. 2015 Div 1 Dún na nGall 0-12 Corcaigh 0-11
22. 2016 Div 1 Dún na nGall 2-14 Corcaigh 1-7
23. 2017 Div 1 Dún na nGall 1-11 Muineachán 1-11
24. 2018 Div 1 Dún na nGall 1-15 Cill Dara 3-7
25. 2019 Div 2 Dún na nGall 1-20 Cill Dara 0-10
26. 2020 Div 1 Dún na nGall 2-12 Muineachán 0-8
27. 2024 Div 2 Dún na nGall 1-17 An Lú 0-15
28. 2025 Div 1 Dún na nGall v  Doire?

Played: 27. Dún na nGall won: 18 (66.6%). Lost: 7. Drew: 2