St Catherine's aiming for progress as Donegal Junior League gets set to kick off

The 2023/24 Donegal Junior League season gets going this weekend with Premier Division champions Fanad United beginning the defence of their title away to Rathmullan Celtic. 

Elsewhere in the top flight this Sunday, Kildrum Tigers host Keadue Rovers, Kilmacrennan Celtic welcome Catlefin Celtic, Swilly Rovers entertain Milford United while Gweedore Celtic are home to St Catherine’s. 

Saints boss Shaun Kelly helped guide the Emerald Park side back to the top flight the term before last and was content enough to just consolidate that return with a sixth-placed finish. 

With a season of Premier Division football now under his young team’s belt the hope will be to build on that progress this time out. 

“This is my third season involved,” the former League of Ireland star explained. “Myself, Christopher Murrin and Daniel Breslin have enjoyed just trying to coax the squad along. It’s a young team really. 

“I’d been away quite a while so I didn’t actually know too many of the lads myself, just in the door at the time. ‘Mooner’ and Dan, who obviously played last year too, were a brilliant help. 

“Dan is now the club’s secretary so there is a big effort going in there.  Volunteering, it’s tough going. We’re all mixing work and family commitments on top of it all”. 

St Catherine’s, like many other Donegal League clubs, will be shy their GAA contingent with the respective club championships in the county also currently taking place. 

Six of last year’s squad are currently involved with Killybegs while the likes of Conor Doherty (Kilcar) and Eric Carr (Naomh Columba) are also absent for the time being. 

But with the St Catherine’s Saturday team winning the Old Orchard Inn last season, there will also be one or two promotions from those ranks. 

“Coming back up to Premier Division, we ended up sixth. But the truth is it was a real battle and it went down to the last game of the season to stay up. We certainly won’t be taking anything for granted this time out. 

“I say it all the time but it’s true, anyone in this league, on their day, are capable of taking points of the next team. That’s the way it was last year and it’ll be the exact same this time out. 

“It’s a hugely young side apart from the likes of myself, Michael Mullin and ‘Mooner’.  The rest are all early 20s or 17 and 18. But it’s a great experience”.