Saturday is D-Day in the Donegal IFC as group stages reach their climax

It is do or die in the Donegal IFC this Saturday for a number of teams in the final round of group games.

Going into the last of the series of games, quarter-final places are still up for grabs. And placings in the league table are still high on the agenda of a number of teams.

Buncrana, Dungloe, Termon Naomh Columba and Downings and Naomh Muire occupy the top six positions. All-County Football League Division 2 champions Downings defeated Red Hughs on Wednesday night on a 1-14 to 0-10 scoreline to move onto four points and seal a quarter-final spot.

Gaeil Fhánada - with two draws thus far - face Burt and St Mary’s, Convoy, take on Red Hughs with the winners of each putting themselves in the frame.

Malin, who topped the Division 2 table and were pipped for the league crown by dramatic last-gasp goal by Downings’ Johnny McGroddy, go into the final round pointless and along with Naomh Brid are looking down the barrel of relegation
“It is a very tight race and a very competitive championship,” said former Naomh Columba player and manager Pauric O’Donnell.

“Apart from Malin, the championship has gone along fairly predictable lines. Buncrana, Dungloe and Termon are the top three. Naomh Columba are in fourth place. They would be seen as contenders from the outset.

“It shows the league means very little when it comes to the championship. Malin topped the Division 2 league table and were promoted and lost out to Downings in sensational fashion in the final.

“Buncrana and Dungloe had up and down league campaigns in Division 2 and Termon played in Division One and only won one game and were relegated. On current form they are the three main contenders going into the final round of games. Buncrana have a good squad of players and Caolan McGonagle, Darach O’Connor and John Campbell are big players for them. O’Connor has had his problems with injuries but he is back this year and is scoring well for them.

“Dungloe have the Curran brothers and Daniel Ward and Oisin Bonner were very good for them last year. Dungloe also has a great championship tradition too. The thing about all these teams is they have good forwards. Termon have Daire McDaid and Enda McCormick.

“Downings are in that category too. They have Johnny McGroddy and Lorcan Connor. Naomh Columba are through to the last eight going into the final round. But he feels they have not really kicked into gear yet. They suffered a bad defeat away to Downings last weekend which was a poor result. After losing up there to Downings in the league I was expecting them to really come out all guns blazing against Downings.

“Naomh Columba need to beat Buncrana this weekend at home to kickstart their championship because they really haven’t really clicked into gear yet this year.”

Naomh Muire are the surprise team - they are currently in sixth place with three points. They are away to Dungloe this weekend but aren't through just yet.

“If they were playing Dungloe at the Banks, I would give them a chance but in Dungloe and in the form Dungloe are in it is hard to look past the home team,” O’Donnell added. “The three points should be enough to qualify in eighth place because the teams behind them Gaeil Fhánada and Burt, Red Hughs and Convoy playing each in the last round the winners of those ties will finish above them.

“Gaeil Fhánada and Burt, as well as Red Hughs and St Mary’s Convoy play each other this weekend. They are not only playing for a place in the quarter-finals they are also bidding to avoid being dragged in a four-team relegation playoff with Malin and Naomh Brid.

“This is a big weekend for a number of teams both at the top and the bottom,” O’Donnell said. “If you were to ask me to call the championship at this stage and pick a winner it would be really hard. There are a number of very good teams in contention. At this stage you have to say the champions will come from any one of the top three Buncrana, Dungloe or Termon are capable of winning it.”

Donegal IFC
Saturday
Termon V Malin 19:00
Naomh Bríd V Downings 19:00
Red Hughs V Convoy 19:00
Fanad Gaels V Burt 19:00
Naomh Columba V Buncrana 19:00
Dungloe V Naomh Muire 19:00