Buncrana are the form team but there are IFC contenders in the chasing pack

Donegal’s Michael Murphy Sports Intermediate championship race is down to the last eight with all going to the line this weekend in four quarter-final pairings.

Buncrana, Malin, Termon, Downings, Red Hughs, Naomh Columba, Bundoran and Gaeil Fhánada are the eight teams that have emerged from the 12 teams that set out in pursuit of the Cathal McLaughlin Cup five weeks ago.

The above order is how they finished up at the end of the four round-robin group games.

And by and large it is generally agreed by Naomh Muire manager Danny O’Donnell, the eight are the top eight in the championship.

Naomh Muire missed out along with Letterkenny Gaels, Burt and Naomh Brid on making the knockout stages and are now locked in a relegation battle.

“Obviously we would have loved to make it. But a lot can depend on the draw,” said O’Donnell.

“Letterkenny Gaels are a bit unlucky, they finished on three points which was good enough to get us through last year. But overall the best eight teams are through. They have the points on the board and no one can argue with that.”

Buncrana and Malin go into the last eight on the back of unbeaten runs with three wins and one draw from the four group games. The draws were in the match between the two.

Buncrana take the number one place on their superior score average and have been one of the form teams in the championship so far.

“We played them in the last of the group games and to be honest they gave us a hammering, not something teams do at the Banks.

“They are physically very strong. They have a good defensive structure and Caolan McGonagle and Peter McLaughlin are two big men and give them a strong midfield platform. John Campbell carries a big threat up front along with young Sean McLaughlin and Oisin Crawford, two very pacey players.

“Malin are the other unbeaten team and like Buncrana they are well structured at the back and they have a number of very pacey and quality forwards in Conor O’Neill, Christy Fildara McLaughlin and Josh Conlon.

“They play a very defensive game and as a result their attacking game suffers as a result.

“While they are unbeaten they have not shot the lights out in terms of scoring in any of their games.

“The big question for me about Malin is now that they are in the knockout stage if they change and be more attack minded.

“The bottom line for me about Malin is they are going to have to score more if they are to go the whole way and win the championship.

“Termon were the favourites at the start of the championship but that defeat to Fanad Gaels, in the last group games, has raised some doubts.

“But I think that defeat by Fanad may be a good thing. It takes the spotlight off them a little.

“Downings are one of the other teams that have been talked about as potential champions, certainly at the start of the championship.

“But that heavy defeat to Termon a couple of weeks ago and the fact they only scored 1-3 in that game does raise questions about them. “Their emphatic win over Naomh Columba last time out did restore some confidence. In Johnny McGroddy and Lorcan Connor they have two quality forwards capable of turning a game on their own. They are definite contenders.

“Indeed if you look at the remaining three teams Red Hughs, Bundoran and Fanad Gaels, they are all contenders.

“It is championship football and it is knockout football and strange things can happen when it gets down to knockout.

Three of the quarter finals are on Saturday - Naomh Columba versus Termon, Gaeil Fhánada versus Buncrana and Malin versus Bundoran - with Downings versus Red Hughs on Sunday.

Saturday, September 23, Killygordon, throw-in 1 pm
Naomh Columba v Termon

This is a huge game for both Naomh Columba, last year’s beaten finalists, and one of the favourites Termon.

“I know Termon faltered at the end of the league but they got back on track in the championship and they made a big statement in their game against Downings at the Burn Road.

“They have serious firepower up front in Daire McDaid and Enda McCormack and they have Nathan McElwaine back from London.

“They have Ryan McFadden, a top class midfielder, and they have Bobby McGettigan, an option for midfield or the attack. And they have a solid defence.

“For me Naomh Columba, while running up big score lines, their problem seems to be they are conceding too many scores at the back.

“And I think that is the dilemma for Naomh Columba against a crack Termon forward line; do they pack up their defence and does that have a detrimental effect on their attacking game.

“Aaron Dohetry has been hitting the bulk of their scores and they are going to have to get big numbers from Aaron on Saturday if they are to be in with a chance of advancing.

Verdict: Termon

Saturday, September 23 Convoy, throw-in 2.30 pm
Gaeil Fhanada v Buncrana

“Buncrana will go into the tie as the favourites and rightly so but Fanad are going into the game under the radar.

“They will draw massive confidence from that win over Termon in the last group game to clinch their place in the quarter-final. Liam McGreneghan has been in fine scoring form for them.

“Buncrana were in the same situation last year in their quarter final with Naomh Columba and did not perform and ultimately ended up on the wrong side of the result and were out.

“Caolan McGonagle and company will have no doubt learned from last season and besides I think they are a much better and focussed outfit this season.

Verdict: Buncrana

Saturday, September 23, Killygordon, throw-in 5pm
Malin v Bundoran

The final game at the Cross is an interesting tie with unbeaten Malin going head to head with Bundoran, who clinched the quarter final place in the last of the group games.

“Bundoran are something of an unknown quantity. They were relegated from the senior championship at the end of last season and they haven’t put out any lights in this year’s campaign so far.

“They squeezed into the last eight with a big win over Naomh Brid in the last game.

“But with Jamie Brennan, Paul Brennan, Cian McEniff and Timmy Govorov in their line-up they cannot be taken lightly.

“The question for me is, are Malin going to be a bit more offensive? In Christy ‘Fildara’ McLaughlin, Conor O’Neill and Josh Conlon they have natural forwards and men with a good eye for a score. They simply are going to have to improve their scoring rate.

Verdict: Bundoran

Sunday, September 25, O’Donnell Park, throw-in 3 pm
Downings v Red Hughs

This is the last of the quarter-finals with Dowings the favourites against a Red Hugh’s side that went within a kick of a ball of beating Termon in last year’s quarter-final

“On paper Downings go into the game as favourites but Red Hughs went close to causing a huge upset against a highly fancied Termon last year.

“Termon won by a point after Red Hughs had a goal controversially ruled out.

“If Stephen McMenamin and his defence can keep tabs on the Downings' danger men, in Jack Gillespie and Calvin Bradley, they have men to punish Downings at the other end.

Verdict: Downings