Ulster championsip 1st... Donegal v Down

[drici]

The year going well for Brick Molloy.


December 5th 2009
Ulster Minor Football Club Championship at St Pauls
Kilcoo Owen Roes 1-16 Naomh Conaill 1-12 (A.E.T.)
(Full Time: Owen Roes 1-12 Naomh Conaill 1-12)

Owen Roes 1-16 (D O'Hanlon 0-2(2 frees), S O'Hanlon 0-1, R Johnston 0-2, N Smith 0-1, M Kelly 1-1, O McClean 0-2, C Laverty 0-2, J Johnston 0-4(1 free), Martin Devlin 0-1)
Naomh Conaill 1-12 (J Doherty 0-1, S Quinn 0-1, S Gallagher 0-1, S O'Malley 0-1, S Ellis 0-1, M Gallagher 1-0, D Molloy 0-7(4 frees) - some deadly points from Diarmuid)

January 24th 2010
Ulster Under 21 Football Club Championship at Creggan
NAOMH CONAILL 1-08
O'BRIENS, FOREGLEN 0-10

A GOAL five minutes from time by substitute AJ Gallagher was the key score as Naomh Conaill booked their place in the semi finals of the inaugural Ulster U21 Club Championship by eking out a win over Foreglen from Derry in yesterday's quarter-final at Randalstown.

With the Glenties men leading by the narrowest of margins (0-8 to 0-7) as the game entered its final five minutes, Leo McLoone senior's team bagged the killer goal.

Leo McLoone fed captain and Man of the Match Eoin Waide with a clever diagonal ball that opened up the Foreglen defence. Waide, who played for Donegal on Saturday night, would have backed defender Martin Bradley to cut out his delivery, but the ball slipped through his fingers into the path of Gallagher, who drilled home from the edge of the square.

While points from Martin Farrell, Eoghan McFeely and Nigel Bradley brought Foreglen back into the contest, it was too little, too late as Naomh Conaill had done enough to come through a hard-fought encounter.

They have yet to complete their 2009 Donegal U21 Championship, indeed they are only at the quarter-final stage of that competition, but Naomh Conaill, having won the last three Donegal titles, were put up as the county's representatives in the first ever U21 Club Championship, held at the mightily impressive Kickhams Creggan club outside Randalstown.

Though young in years, it was a vastly experienced Naomh Conaill team that lined out yesterday, with a number of members of the club's senior team, which contested the senior county final in October, included.

Dara Gallagher and Eoin Waide came through Donegal's McKenna Cup match with St Mary's the previous evening and were included from the off.

With less than two minutes played, Naomh Conaill penetrated the Foreglen defence when Gallagher's ingenuity put midfielder Leo McLoone in the clear, but his attempt at goal was parried to safety by Joseph Ashford.

Dermot Molloy raised the game's first white flag on ten minutes when he got on the end of a McLoone pass to fire over. Gallagher doubled that advantage on the quarter-hour mark when he delivered a fine point off his left foot having collected a sublime cross-field ball by Molloy.

It took Foreglen 24 minutes to score their first point of the game, registered from a free by Nigel Bradley after Eoin Waide was penalised for a foul on Eunan McFeely.

That would be the County Derry team's only point of the opening half.

Meantime, Dermot Molloy took receipt of another McLoone pass to hit his second of the day and in stoppage time at the end of the half he knocked over his third - from a free, after a late hit on Dara Gallagher by Oisin Duffy.

Naomh Conaill hit six wides in the first 30 minutes and in the opening minutes of the second-half the sizeable following who made their way from Glenties must have been worried that their missed chances could return to haunt them.

Inside the first seven minutes after the re-start Nigel Bradley converted a pair of frees to move Foreglen to within a point, but Molloy responded with a free. Eoghan McFeely kept Foreglen within touching distance, as he popped over a majestic point from 45 metres, while a free by Martin Farrell came just a minute after Dara Gallagher pointed at the other end.

Naomh Conaill were finding the gears again, with Eoin Waide and Leo McLoone pulling the strings. Skipper Waide was fed by Dermot Molloy, whose power saw him regain possession, and the wing-back split the sticks from 30 metres.

Molloy defied the laws of trigonometry when he perfected his angles from the tightest of positions out the left, after a surging run from inside his own half by McLoone opened up the chance.

But Foreglen weren't going down without a stern fight and points by McFeely and Bradley pulled them from the brink again, only for them to be rocked by the concession of AJ Gallagher's goal on 55 minutes.

Despite Foreglen applying a good deal of pressure late on, Naomh Conaill held on.

For the winners, Cathal Ellis, Stephen Molloy, Dermot Molloy, Leo McLoone and Eoin Waide were on song, with the latter being named the Man of the Match.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Martin Gallagher, Ciaran Boyle, Stephen Molloy; Jamie McHugh, Cathal Ellis, Eoin Waide (0-1); Callan Waide, Leo McLoone; Dermot Molloy (0-5, 2f), Seamus Corcoran, Dara Gallagher (0-2, 1f); Christopher Molloy, Joe Kennedy, Brian Quinn. SUBS: Jamie Molloy for C.Waide (36 mins); AJ Gallagher (1-0) for McHugh (41 mins); David Gallagher for C.Molloy (57 mins); John Molloy for Kennedy (60 mins).

Foreglen: Joseph Ashford; Ruairi Duffy, Shane Duffy, Kevin O'Neill; Paul Kealey, Oisin Duffy, Darren O'Kane; Ciaran McFeely, Mark McCormick; Cathal O'Hara, Nigel Bradley (0-5, 3f), Martin Farrell (0-2, 2f); Eoghan McFeely (0-3), Sean Campbell, Eunan McFeely. SUB: Martin Bradley for Kealey (half-time);

Referee: Owen Quinn (Antrim).


May 1st 2010
All Ireland Under 21 Football Final at Breffni Park
Dublin: V Whelan, E Culligan, R O'Carroll, D Nelson, J Cooper, J McCarthy, N Devereux (0-1), S Murray, C Mullins, M Coughlan (0-1), T Furman, G Sweeney (1-1), R McCarthy (0-1), D Rock (0-4, 2f, 1 '45), C Dorney (0-1).
Substitutes: D Quinn for McCarthy (h-t), C Redddin for McCarthy (42), B O'Rourke (0-1) for Furman (48), S McGuinness for Nelson (50), N Brogan for Dorney (73)

Donegal: P Boyle, E Doherty, C Boyle, P McGrath, D Walsh, T McKinley, C Classon, K Mulhern, D Curran, M McHugh, M Murphy (1-2, 1f), D Molloy (0-5, 4f), J Carroll, L McLoone, A McFadden.
Substitutes: C Morrison (0-1) for McFadden (28), D Murphy for McKinley (28), C McGinley for Carroll (63), S O'Kennedy for Curran (67)

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).

[dodgy umpire]

Down South, Maginn should get the nod ahead of Kearney

[Mid Down Gael]

Down South, Maginn should get the nod ahead of Kearney

I think Poland will start ahead off both.

[swagger]

Anybody hear what the weather prediction is for Sunday???

17 degrees with sunny intervals, pretty much perfect!

Ive heard Gordon has faired well in training at full back so why not give it a shot? The only thing that concerns me is that if it fails! Who else is there to full the gap if Mc Ardle and Rafferty dont pull through?

[Down South]

Down South, Maginn should get the nod ahead of Kearney

I think Poland will start ahead off both.

I would go with Kearney, if he has a good day.

Ive heard Gordon has faired well in training at full back so why not give it a shot? The only thing that concerns me is that if it fails! Who else is there to full the gap if Mc Ardle and Rafferty dont pull through?

D. Raff will start.

[bennydorano]

Benydorano, if you had referred to a 30 yard, rather than a three yard, hand pass, it might have indicated that you had seen James Colgan fairly regularly. It is one of his great assets, and he is fully entitled to use it instead of a riskier thump up the field.

In terms of his leadership, he captained a tiny school to its first MacRory Cup final, which it lost after a replay, and also lifted  AI minor and Ulster u21 cups, so he's not doing too badly there either.

He has his strengths and weaknesses, like most other players, but he did consistently well against some decent teams in the NFL D2. He has only started a single USC match in his career, so it might be an idea to judge him at the end of his first proper season at senior level.

Very true, i wouldn't write anybody off at such a young age.

[Mid Down Gael]

Down Team for Sunday

1          Brendan McVeigh   An Ríocht   

2          Brendan McArdle     Eanach Chluáin

3          Declan Rooney        Boireann

4          Damian Rafferty       Seamrogaí an Íuir

5          Kevin McKernan      Boireann

6          James Colgan          An Ríocht

7          Conor Garvey           Droichead Mhaigh Éo

8          Dan Gordon              Loch an Oileáin

9          Kalum King               Áth Bhriain

10        Daniel Hughes         Sabhaill

11        Mark Poland             Cloch Fhada

12        Paul McComiskey    Dún Droma

13        Brendan Coulter      Droichead Mhaigh Éo

14        John Clarke              An Ríocht

15        Martin Clarke           An Ríocht

16        Declan Alder             Ceathrú Aodha Dhuibh

17        Conor Maginn          Áth Bhriain

18        Ambrose Rogers      Cloch Fhada

19        Conor Laverty           Cill Chua

20        Ronan Murtagh        Baile Cholmáin

21        Stephen Kearney    Sabhaill

22        Gerard McCartan     Boireann

23        Mark Doran   Cloch Fhada

24        Ciarán McGovern    Boireann

25        Peter Fitzpatrick       Baile Mhairtín

26        Liam Lennon                        Caisleán Uidhlinn

27        Michéal McCartan   Liatroim

28        Darren O'Hagan      Cluain Daimh

29        Aidan Carr                 Cluain Dáimh

30        Kevin Duffin             Caisleán Uidhlinn 





 
 

[Down South]

Has Declan Rooney kicked a ball his year? Disappointed that McVeigh is starting, Alder has been the better keeper this year and deserves his chance. Dan in midfield, cant complain about that and Martin Clarke at corner forward is a bit of codology.

[5 Sams]

Down South, Maginn should get the nod ahead of Kearney

I think Poland will start ahead off both.

I would go with Kearney, if he has a good day.

Ive heard Gordon has faired well in training at full back so why not give it a shot? The only thing that concerns me is that if it fails! Who else is there to full the gap if Mc Ardle and Rafferty dont pull through?

D. Raff will start.

Best defender we have bar none..reminds me of Brendy McGovern

Murtagh has to feature at some stage...he's wreaking havoc in Div 2...OK I'm biased but he's in some shape...

[Down South]

D. Raff will start.

Best defender we have bar none..reminds me of Brendy McGovern

Didnt think you would praise a Shamrocks man.

[5 Sams]

D. Raff will start.

Best defender we have bar none..reminds me of Brendy McGovern

Didnt think you would praise a Shamrocks man.

He's an exception

Great player...believe it or not I have a few very good friends down there....until the white line is crossed that is

[Dubh driocht]

Fair enough Down team. Declan Rooney is a quality player and I don't see James or Mc Iver selecting him in a key role if they weren't confident- he has played there before and is a former captain. The rest of the defence is sound. MF picks itself and I'm happy to see Poland in as he uses his brain and will link well with Benny and John Clarke.He and MC will pull the strings, I expect to see Mc Comiskey shooting on sight and if the first few go over, he'll have a field day. As someone said, Daniel Hughes is due a big game so here's hoping. Donegal will have a physical edge with a mixture of big broad men and big rangy men.Lacey is class, Cassidy is a bull, Toye and Kavanagh have done us damage in the past and Murphy the real deal.Glad to see a dry sod but not glad to see Marty 'small man syndrome' Duffy Still, 9am start and hope springs eternal

[bcarrier]

Real Down Team for Sunday ( if ambrose out)

1          Brendan McVeigh   An Ríocht   

2          Brendan McArdle     Eanach Chluáin

3           Dan Gordon              Loch an Oileáin

4          Damian Rafferty       Seamrogaí an Íuir

5          Kevin McKernan      Boireann

6          James Colgan          An Ríocht

7          Conor Garvey           Droichead Mhaigh Éo

8         Peter Fitzpatrick       Baile Mhairtín

9          Kalum King               Áth Bhriain

10        Daniel Hughes         Sabhaill

11        Martin Clarke           An Ríocht

12       Mark Poland             Cloch Fhada

13        Brendan Coulter      Droichead Mhaigh Éo

14        John Clarke              An Ríocht

15        Paul McComiskey    Dún Droma
16        Declan Alder             Ceathrú Aodha Dhuibh

17        Conor Maginn          Áth Bhriain

18        Ambrose Rogers      Cloch Fhada

19        Conor Laverty           Cill Chua

20        Ronan Murtagh        Baile Cholmáin

21        Stephen Kearney    Sabhaill

22        Gerard McCartan     Boireann

23        Mark Doran   Cloch Fhada

24        Ciarán McGovern    Boireann

25       

26        Liam Lennon                        Caisleán Uidhlinn

27        Michéal McCartan   Liatroim

28        Darren O'Hagan      Cluain Daimh

29        Aidan Carr                 Cluain Dáimh

30        Kevin Duffin             Caisleán Uidhlinn

[Mourne Rover]

Marty Duffy was named as the ref on one website, but according to <gaa.ie> Joe McQuillan of Cavan is the man in charge on Sunday. Hopefully, he will do as well as Pat McEnaney did last Sunday.

Declan Rooney started the 07 championship at full back and did well against Cavan, but is probably a more natural half back, which he where he played against Fermanagh last year, before getting injured. It is a gamble bringing him back, as I don't remember him starting a competitive game since then, but our options were limited. He is at least a big strong defender, so, with Colgan providing a further physical presence in front of him, we can only hope for the best.

[done and dusted]

 real concerns aboutneil gallagher in midfield  and paul durcan in goals   we've certainly gifted down a goal or two here, surely micheal boyle should be playing!!!! and as for maguire.... its all politics the usual in donegal football!!!