Clerkin opts for Termon and Dungloe to reach IFC final

Four and possibly five teams can win this year’s Donegal IFC according to a two-time winner of the competition.

Sean Clerkin guided Buncrana to the club’s first intermediate championship success in 1995 and nine years later patrolled the sidelines when the Inishowen claimed the Cathal McLaughlin Cup for a second time.

“The teams we all said would come through Dungloe, Termon, Naomh Columba, Downings, Buncrana and Fanad came through,” he said this week. “Red Hughs and Naomh Muire have also come through with Naomh Muire a big surprise.

“Red Hughs were always in with a chance but Naomh Muire are the real surprise most people had Malin, Burt and Naomh Brid ahead of them. But Danny O’Donnell has done a good job with Naomh Muire and they got the win against Malin and drew with Fanad to qualify.

“Malin had a very disappointing championship after their great run in the league and promotion to Division 1. Along with Downings they were the two form teams going to the championship. But they suffered a few injuries and their season just fell apart.”

Dungloe won all four group games - the only team to do so - and topped the 12-team table. They will face eighth placed team Naomh Muire in the quarter-final.

Termon finished in second place on the back of three wins and a draw and they will meet Red Hughs in the last eight. Naomh Columba against Buncrana, as well as Downings taking on Gaeil Fhánada are the two remaining quarter-final ties.

“It really is a very open championship and you can make a case for any one of five teams - Dungloe, Termon, Naomh Columba, Buncrana and Downings,” said Clerkin, who managed Donegal to the Ulster Minor Championship in 2006.

“Downings are the form team all season. They won promotion and won the Division 2 final and although Buncrana beat them well a couple of weeks ago I still think they are a good side. They have two class forwards in Lorcan Connor and Johnny McGroddy.

“They won the Junior A championship last year and had a good run in Ulster. They beat my home club Sean McDermotts from Monaghan in the semi-final before losing to Denn of Cavan in the final.

“I just wonder if they can go from winning the Junior championship to winning the intermediate the following year. That really is the big question mark over them.”

Two of the heavyweights and fancied sides in the form of Naomh Columba and Buncrana will meet having played as recently as last Saturday.

Naomh Columba were comfortable six point winners, 2-16 to 1-13, over Buncrana last weekend, in the last of the group games. This was a big result for Naomh Columba who suffered a heavy 1-15 to 0-9 defeat away to Downings in the previous round.

“Buncrana have a point to prove against Naomh Columba after last Sunday’s defeat,” Clerkin added. “I don’t know what it is but Buncrana always seems to struggle against Naomh Columba.

“Naomh Columba are an up and down team too. After watching Downings against Buncrana, I expected Naomh Columba to beat Downings. But instead Downings gave them a right good trimming and beat them by nine points.

“But whoever comes through that quarter-final will be in the mix. Overall though I think if Dungloe and Termon, who expect to make it through the quarter-finals, avoid each other in the semi-final then they will be the final pairing.

“Dungloe, beaten finalists last year after a replay by Cloughaneely are bound to be hurting and that hurt could take them a long way. They have a lot of quality footballers and they have tradition.

“Termon had a tough year in the league and only won one game albeit it was in Division 1. But they were close in a lot of their league games and the experience of playing at a higher level. They also have a good deal of senior championship experience and they have a number of good young players coming through. I think when you boil it all down Dungloe and Termon are the teams to beat and the title is between those two.”