Donegal v Sligo

[ar_man]

Friday, May 29th, sees Donegal take on Sligo in a championship build-up challenge in Ballyshannon.

Donegal will be fine tuning their side for their meeting with Antrim on June 14th. Meanwhile the division four champions will have keen competition for places on their side to face Galway or London on June 28th.

The occasion for the challenge is the official opening of Ballyshannon's new GAA park, Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh. The culmination of over two years work, the facilities at Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh are a magnificent addition to Ballyshannon's main pitch at Father Tierney Park. Admission is ten euro, with children admitted free. Funds generated by the challenge will go towards payment of the debt generated by the construction of Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh.

Throw in is at 7pm and everyone is welcome on the what will be a great day for Ballyshannon and, hopefully, Donegal!

Keep an eye on www.aodhruadh.org for further details over the next week.

Pairc Aoidh Ruiadh Opening Programme
5.00pm: Parade led by marching band from Muldoon's Spar to Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh
5.20pm: Under-age blitzes
6.00pm: Pre-opening reception
6.30pm: Formal addresses, prayer service, cutting of the tape and unveiling of plaque
7.00pm: Donegal v Sligo
8.30pm: Post game reception - open to all

[SLIGONIAN]

Already posted this on Donegal Antrim thread, and Sligo Football one, hardly worth its own thread but what harm...last time I took a challenge game seriouly was Donegal v Sligo in oxfield, both fielded strong teams, Sligo won a high scoring match by 2pts, then 3 weeks later Leitrim beat us easily in CSFC, therefore I dont take challenge match results seriously anymore although I do take an interest in tactics and team selection.

On Ballyshannon, Is this a new ground to the Fr Tierney Park? Why the need for 2?

[ar_man]

I'm bound to say that a challenge game in the mouth of the championship has to be interesting.

Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh has a championship standard pitch and a juvenile pitch. Home matches will always take place in Father Tierney Park, but we need another pitch for training and to give us flexibility. We have a large number of teams and pressure for access to facilities is enormous.

[J70]

Where is the new pitch?

[magpie seanie]

I remember playing in a few feisty underage encounters on a back pitch in Ballyshannon many moons ago - is this the site of the new Pairc? Also played a few times in Fr Tierney, was always tasty stuff when we went up there.