Gallery: Lost colleagues recalled as Donegal Junior League hosts end of season awards

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A night of celebration was tinged with sadness as some notable empty seats marked a difficult season for the Donegal Junior League.

The season just past saw the death of some stalwarts of Donegal soccer tragically.

At the annual presentation function on Friday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, their memories were honoured.

Martin Duffy, an executive member of the League, who served as the Lifford Area Rep, drowned while on a family holiday in Greece last August.

“We on the Executive have felt his passing in a manner more akin to the loss of a family member,” said the Donegal Junior League Chairperson John Joe McCafferty.

“Martin was a part of our League family. He is missed at our meetings, he is missed at matches and he is missed here. He may be gone from our table, but he will never be forgotten by us.”

Master of Ceremonies Nigel Ferry remembered Kieran McGrath of Letterkenny Rovers – who was also the curator of the Soccer Donegal Facebook page – and Bonagee United clubman Liam 'Gutcha' Haughey, who lost their lives on a haunting March evening in the Cathedral Town.

“They were two good lads and we miss them terribly,” Mr Ferry said.

It was a night to honour the winners from the season past and Kevin McGrath, nephew of the late Kieran, was one of the award winners, honoured as the Saturday Division One Player of the Year having inspired Oldtown to title glory.

Fanad United, the Premier Division champions, were big winners on the night with Arthur Lynch bagging the Manager of the Year crown and Edward O'Reilly collecting the Player of the Year gong.

The Dunkineely Celtic team who won the Premier Division in the 1997/98 season were honoured. The golden Dunkineely Celtic era included four Premier Division wins in five seasons.

John Kearney, Paul 'Feet' Murrin and George McMullin, who have since passed to their eternal reward, were recalled as Liam Kennedy, the player-manager 25 years ago, called his colleagues to accept their awards.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Lagan Harps' Ernie Pollock, Letterbarrow Celtic's Denis Gorman, Ballybofey United man Liam Lafferty and former referee Aidan Redican, all of whom have given lasting contributions to the game.

“It was a super year on the football front, but a particularly tough one too as we lost some colleagues,” Mr Ferry said.

Donegal League, 2022/23 Roll Of Honour

Player of the Year: Premier Division – Edward O'Reilly (Fanad United); Division One – Connor Gormley (Swilly Rovers); Division Two – Joe McCarron (Lagan Harps); Saturday Division One – Kevin McGrath (Oldtown Celtic); Saturday Division Two – Josh Cunningham (St Catherine's)

Top Goalscorers: Premier Division – Mark McAteer (Rathmullan Celtic); Division One – Kyle Black (Swilly Rovers); Division Two – Liam O'Donnell (Drumoghill FC); Saturday Division One – Sean Cleary (Oldtown Celtic); Saturday Division Two – Jason McConigley (Milford United Reserves)

Manager of the Year: Arthur Lynch (Fanad United)

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Ernic Pollock (Lagan Harps); Denis Gorman (Letterbarrow Celtic); Liam Lafferty (Ballybofey United); Aidan Redican (Donegal Referees Society)

Area Shield Winners: Kilmacrennan Celtic, Letterkenny Rovers, St Catherine's, Kildrum Tigers

Fair Play Award: Saturday League – Drumbar United; Sunday League – Gweedore Celtic

Team of 25 Years: Dunkineely Celtic

Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division: Winners – Fanad United; Runners-up – Kilmacrennan Celtic

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One: Winners – Swilly Rovers; Runners-up – Gweedore Celtic

Donegal Physiotheraphy & Performance Centre Division Two: Winners – Lagan Harps; Runners-up – Cranford United

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One: Winners – Oldtown Celtic; Runners-up – Kildrum Tigers Reserves

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two: Winners – St Catherine's Reserves; Runners-up – Fintown Harps

Brian McCormick Cup: Winners – Kilmacrennan Celtic; Runners-up – Letterkenny Rovers

Voodoo Venue Cup: Winners – Kildrum Tigers Reserves; Runners-up – Donegal Town Reserves