St John Bosco Athletic Club Finn Valley Outing

St. John Bosco club sent several of its younger athletes to a multi event evening meet in the Finn Valley centre on Wednesday 26th May. A great time was had by both athletes and coaches. Success for both boys under 9 and girls under 10 relay teams argued for success in the Ulster championships.
On Sunday 29th at Finn Valley centre Valarie Friel, a new talent in the shot putt gave an outstanding performance and Louise Harvey continued to dominate in sprints.
Letterkenny
A County competition for under 11 through to masters was held in Letterkenny on Sunday 6th June. St. John Bosco sent its largest and strongest team to the event. Under 12, 13 and 15 relay qualifiers for all Ireland were held on the same day with St. John Bosco making a clean sweep. Girls under 12 included Molly O’Gara, Ciara Griffen, Louise Harvey and Amy Brogan. Girls under 13 team were Amy Brogan, Louise Harvey, Kitty O’Kennedy and Aoife O’Connor. Boys under 15 team included Christopher Britton, Ronan Harvey, Jarleth Ruane and Paul McIntyre. All three teams will participate in the national finals in Tullamore on Sunday the 18th of July.
Results of juvenile success at the Ulster Finals will be reported in the next issue.

A new St Naul’s leisure-wear range is now available in All Sports including Fleeces, Windcheeters and Rugby Shirts. Pictured sporting the new gear is Front: Connie McGroarty, Catriona McGinley, Alison O’Grady Back: Brian McCabe, Alan McGroary, Christopher Burke, Shane McHugh Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Terrace talk - Donegal Town and District Finn Harps Supporters Club Notes

Here we go again, a great run of results have gone our way. On Saturday 5th of June we tackled the long trip down to Cobh. It was a beautiful day in the Co Cork fishing town, a great day for football. Only 14 members of the team made it down, as the under 21s were playing in the May league on the same day.
Harps got off to a great start on six minutes, when Kevin McHugh was taken down in the penalty area, a spot kick which he scored. Then after a few minutes, Declan Boyle scored with a great header. ‘This is going to be Harps’ day’, or so we thought at that stage. After the break, McHugh scored another great goal. Cobh then got one back, after a bit of misunderstanding in the Harps defence. Then, out of the blue, they got a penalty, which they scored. Suddenly they were back in the game - but soon after McHugh got another goal, a hat-trick - his goal drought was over. Then in injury time, Sean Friars was sent off for some strange reason. The game ended 4-2, another badly needed three points.
A note on the support that Eircom League teams across the country get - when we arrived at St Colmans Park, up on a thousand people were queuing at the gate “how have they so much support?” we wondered. Only to sadly learn that they were only there to get tickets to see Cobh playing a Man Utd reserve team with some ‘Roy Keane langer’ playing in it. And then they left again. What about Harps? What about Cobh?
Friday 11th June saw Kilkenny City make the journey to Finn Park. The first half of the game was poor, Harps having the better of the chances. We knew that the goals would come, but that wasn’t to be before half-time. Six minutes after the break, Paddy McGrenaghan scored a wonderful goal from 18 yards to put Harps in front. Harps then took control of the game, with chance after chance, but the ball didn’t find the net again until the 78th minute when McHugh mishit to Gary Crossan who put the ball in the back of the net. Harps then lay back and let Kilkenny back into the game, with a goal in injury time. Final score 2-1 Harps.
Monday 14th June took us to the Showgrounds for a Northwest derby match against Sligo Rovers in the quarter-final of the league cup. One thing to mention before I start on about the game, Tom McMenamin came up trumps for us and got our banner and we would like to thank him, also a big thanks to the Victor company for supplying us the material and putting it together, and Donegal Graphics for the lettering - great job everyone involved. It was great to see it up and it will be seen the length and breadth of Ireland.
Well, back to the game - not long after it started we knew it was going to be Harps night. Within 20 minutes, Kevin McHugh scored two goals to put Harps in the driving seat - then just before the before the break a misunderstanding by the defence, let Sligo’s McTiernan pop in a sloppy goal - but we needed that to wake us up. After the break, things were getting tense - one off the Sligo players was sent off for grabbing Chris Breen by the neck. Shortly after McHugh got another goal. On 60 minutes, Chris Breen was brought down in the penalty area, the offending player getting a red card. Breen stepped up to take the penalty and put it in the back of the net - and just before the end, Paddy popped up for another great goa, 5-1 Harps.
Next game at Finn Park 25th June, Harps host Limerick City - come support the Harps.
The Donegal Town and District supporters club is only up and running a short while and things are really looking good for us. At the moment we are selling glasses with the jubilee crest and the supporters club names on them - they look great. Anybody wanting a glass can contact any member of the club. New members are always welcome - contact Andrew McElhinney 086-3853310; Brendan Grufferty 0861731757 or Pauline Curristin 0877943635.
Watch this spot for the next meeting, and remember to come to Finn Park, support the Harps so we get back to the premier division where we belong. Andrew McElhinney

Irish Amateur Championship

Brian McElhinney, North West GC, who beat Michael McGeady to win the 2004 Irish Amateur Close Championship at Murvagh. Pictured with Crona O’Reilly and Margaret Buckley

They came, 150 of Ireland’s top golfers. They saw, a splendidly prepared links. But only nine managed to conquer the par of 73 at the Irish Amateur Championship at Murvagh last weekend.
The improvements in the course were met with universal approval and the diligence of John McBride and his staff of Messrs Gallagher, O’Connor, McGoldrick, Prenderville, Coughlan and McCrea insured a course that won wide aclaim.
Local golfer, John Neery, after a shaky first day, played brilliantly on day two to make the matchplay stages. He was unfortunate to meet Mark Shanahan of Waterford, who was later to knock out last year’s champion Mark O’Sullivan.
Shanahan established a new course record on day one of 70, which was bettered on day two by Walker Cup player Noel Fox.
The first four days had lovely weather, but tough conditions arrived on the final day. Neverless a large crowd were treated to some spectacular golf by two golfers from the North West Club - the winner Brian McElhinney and Michael McGeady.
It was the first time since 1907 that two golfers from the same club contested the final. Brian is now European, Irish and North of Ireland champion and will be one of the amateurs in the British Open in July at Troon.

‘Britton’s Boys’ Victorious

In the Junior Cup, ‘Brittons Boys’ made it into the last eight for the first time ever for the club with a famous victory over a very strong North West Club from Buncrana and now await news of the draw for the next round.
Tom Neery banished the ghost of the qualifiers with a victory on the sixteenth in Ballybofey. The old man of the team ‘Big Ned’ O’Connor won 2 and 1, while Inver’s tiger, Darren McDaid, managed another victory on eighteen. T. Irwin and O. Plunket were unfortunately losers this time around.
Charley McGinty was involved in both matches - as a Captain in Ulster Fourball, and a caddy in Junior Cup, but it’s back to school next week as he declared one match an 8/5 victory and another two down when, in fact, his golfer was one up.
Open week started Sunday with the Anderson Auctioneers stableford and the Youths were to the fore again as Paul Cassidy (14) won on a break of tie on 37 points from Kilkeel, Co Down visitor, Paul McGee. Charley Breslin (18) was next on 36 points and Ross Hamilton made a return to form with 35 points. The gross went to Eddie McGarrigle (7) with twenty seven points.

Donegal Snooker Club Presentations

Henry Duignan receiving the winners trophy and prize for winning the Junior cup from Paul Thomas and Raymond Tierney Photo: Jason McGarrigle