St Catherine’s annual seven-a-side competition shaping up to be a real cracker 

The St Catherine’s Annual Sevens competition returns this Saturday, August 12, with some brilliant action lined up at Emerald Park. 

There are 12 teams in this year’s tournament and the participating clubs span counties Donegal, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Dublin and Sligo.

The Killybegs club has, over the years, produced some amazing local talent. Current Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman. Coleman signed for Sligo Rovers from the club in 2006, and arrived at Everton in January 2009 where he now also skippers the Toffees. 

Countless great players have worn the green and white over the course of the last 125 years - from Daniel Campbell and Tommy Dorrian to Charlie McBrearty; Lochlann O’Rourke, Barry McGowan and Pat Byrne to the late great Paul ‘Feet’ Murrin. 

Declan Boyle was the first Saint to go overseas when he signed for Celtic in 1995 alongside a stellar League of Ireland career with Finn Harps, Derry City and Sligo Rovers and is the current under-19 coach at the Showgrounds. 

He succeeded club legend and Brian ‘Dinky’ Dorrian in that role, who led the Saints to the double in 2015 and now works for the FAI as a high performance coach. 

Shaun Kelly began his professional career at Scottish giants Hearts before a stellar League of Ireland spell saw him line out for Dundalk, Galway United, Derry City and Limerick FC. 

Jason Noctor (Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps), David Conwell (Finn Harps) and Shane O’Rourke (Salthill Devon) all graduated to League of Ireland football in their careers.

Teams from across the country have once again  flocked to take part in the legendary competition and this year the likes of Coolock Village, Dublin; Carbury FC, Sligo; St Patrick’s, Tyrone; Orchard Farm, Fermanagh and Strathroy Harps, Tyrone will all make the journey to Killybegs. 

Group A
Donegal Town, Illies Celtic, Ballybofey United, Carbury FC (Sligo)

Group B 
St Catherine’s, Dunkineely Celtic, Keadue Rovers, St Patrick’s FC (Tyrone)

Group C
Castlefin Celtic, Coolock Village (Dublin), Orchard Farm (Fermanagh), Strathroy Harps (Tyrone)

Fixtures

10am St Catherines FC v Dunkineely Celtic 

10.20am Keadue Rovers v St Patrick's FC 

10.40am Donegal Town v Illies Celtic 

11.00am Ballybofey Utd v Carbury FC 

11.20am Castlefinn Celtic v Coolock Village 

11.40am Orchard Farm v Strathroy Harps 

12noon St Catherines FC v Keadue Rovers 

12.20pm Dunkineely Celtic v St Patrick's FC 

12.40pm Donegal Town v Ballybofey Utd. 

1pm Illies Celtic v Carbury FC 

1.20pm Castlefinn Celtic v Orchard Farm 

1.40pm Coolock Village v Strathroy Harps 

2pm St Catherines FC v St Patrick's FC 

2.20pm Dunkineely Celtic v Keadue Rovers 

2.40pm Donegal Town v Carbury FC 

3pm Illies Celtic v Ballybofey Utd 3.20pm

3.20pm Castlefin Celtic v Strathroy Harps 

3.40pm Coolock Village v Orchard Farm

Semi Finals 

4.20pm Group A (winner) v Group C (winner) 

4.40pm Group B (winner) V 5.00pm Best Runner-up in all groups 

5pm St Catherine's U-9s/U-10s exhibition games  

Final 5pm