Kennedys break record with 11 brother team

The record-breaking Kennedy brothers who challenged an Inver Select squad on Saturday 16th October at Eany Park, Inver, all proceeds going to Hopice. Back: Laurence, Kieran, Paul, Brian, Charles, Patrick Front: Vincent, Kevin, Seamus, Joseph, Gerard

Goalie Paul Kennedy keeps his eye on the ball as Danny Gallagher lets fly despite pressure from Charles Kennedy

Photography by Jason McGarrigle

St Nauls beaten by Gweedore

Score no reflection on closeness of match
Gweedore 3-11 St Nauls 0-12

St Nauls entertained table toppers Gweedore in the final match of the league on Saturday evening and despite missing many first team regulars, they put in a spirited performance. The final score does not reflect how close the match was but two late goals from Gweedore was the difference between the two teams in the end.
St Nauls got the first score of the match when Brian McCabe ran through and pointed, just four minutes into the game. Gweedore replied with points from Underdogs trialist Ronan McNeilis and ex-county man James Gallagher with a free. St Nauls came back with two fine points from young county minor Stephen Griffin. Gweedore replied again with a Sean Diver free and a James Gallagher goal. Nauls scored two well taken frees coming of the boot of Griffin once again. Nauls also missed a penalty and had a few goal chances cleared off the line. However, Gweedore replied once again with points from James Gallagher and Brian McBride. Nauls responded with Mc Cabe getting his second point of the match after good work from Paul McGroarty and Colm Gallagher, to put him in for the score. The half time score read St Nauls 0-6 Gweedore 1-5.
In the second half Gweedore started brighter with points coming from Martin Coll and substitute Frank Magee. Nauls retaliated with Griffin getting two more points and Colm Gallagher also getting on the score sheet. Naul’s were very unfortunate as they missed many goal chances, which proved to be costly in the end. However, once again Gweedore replied with points from McNeilis, Eamon Magee and Diver to keep them in front by the narrowest of margins. While Nauls replied again with Griffin hitting two more points taking his personal tally to 8 points. Disaster struck when Sean Diver and Ronan McNeilis struck two late goals with only 5 minutes left on the clock. Nauls came back again with half-back Benny Quinn getting on the score sheet after a good solo effort. Gallagher finished the scoring for Gweedore with a last minute free. The final score read Gweedore 3-11 St Nauls 0-12 .

Sean Paul McHugh

Donegal Rugby Notes
by the Rucker

Donegal Town 6 Strabane 17

It was not Donegal’s day at the Holmes last Saturday where, in ideal playing conditions, they fought back from 6 points to nil to level the scores at half-time, but the second half was very disappointing with Strabane winning the game by seventeen points to six.
Donegal started the game poorly, losing possession from the kick-off. Strabane should have punished them as they had a four-man overlap but somehow managed to make a mess of the move. However the visitors moved ahead with two penalties to lead by six points to nil.
Gradually Donegal got a grip on the game and started to win clean ball from the lineouts. Although they were under some pressure in the scrums, Jimmy Brogan was doing a good job of tidying up.
This game was very much forward dominated, with both sides reluctant to open the ball which was not surprising as there didn’t appear to be a single back on the field capable of penetrating two fairly open defences. Strabane, in particular, were lacking in invention and when their outhalf got the ball he was swiftly mown down by the Donegal back row much to his consternation. If there is one thing I detest on the rugby pitch is a moaner and there were a few on either side on Saturday. Mind you, the referee did not need any assistance as he was much too whistle-happy and had to change his whistle at half time as the original had metal fatigue.
Some good driving play by the Donegal pack brought them back into the game and they got their reward when Bushell stroked over a penalty to leave the score 6-3 in Strabane’s favour. Another Bushell penalty, from 30 metres out, tied the scores at 6 all at the interval.
Donegal were playing with the advantage of the incline in the second half but they never got a grip on the game, with Strabane taking an early lead through a penalty goal and a dropped goal. We then had a few sniping runs from Murray and a penalty from 40 metres by Bushell that just drifted wide of the posts.
With time running out, Strabane forced Donegal back up the field and, after a bout of indecision, in the Donegal defence, the visitors sneaked a try in the corner to make the final score 17 points to 6 in the visitors’ favour. I cannot fault Donegal’s effort on Saturday, but realistically they ran out of steam in the second half. Twenty laps around the field on a Tuesday and Thursday night would do them all the world of good.
The team was: G. McGinty, D. Bushell, C. Mulhearn, D. Murray,K. Morrow, R. Sweeney, V. Murray, E. Brogan, L. McGuikan, N. Conaghan, N. Gillespie, D. Barrett, A. McInaw, J. Brogan, P. McGinty.
The Firsts are at home to Civil Service this Saturday and the Seconds travel to play Derry YM.
Don’t forget the Dinner Dance this Friday night. Victor Kearney, just back from Lanzarote, will be showing off his new all-over tan. I sympathise with whoever was lying next to him on the beach. They’ll come home as white as a sheet.

Eany unlucky against Milford
Eany Celtic 3 Milford United 4

Eany entertained Milford last Sunday and despite missing four first team regulars were unlucky not to at least get a draw out of this match. Celtic started brightest when Edward Gallagher scored a brilliant goal when he hit the top corner from 20 meters out with just ten minutes gone. However, this was not to be for long. Milford attacked straight from the tip off and scored from a Sean McHugh tap-in following a mix-up in the Eany defense. PJ Hagan was next on the score sheet when he buried a header after a cross from Chippie Barret. Eany kept pressing for a goal in the first half but Milford cleared their lines each time. The half time score read 2-1 in favour of the visitors.
In the second half it was end to end stuff with nobody able to capitalize. Eventually Paul McGroarty hit the target with 65 minutes gone on the clock to level matters once again. But then Milford pushed again and in the 72nd minute Sean McHugh got his second goal of the game when he latched on to a ball over the top to chip the goalkeeper. PJ Hagan got his second goal of the match with 80 minutes gone and Milford looked good to take all 3 points. Eany pressed again and Keith Morrow was next to get his name on the score sheet when he fired home from just outside the box. Eany pushed hard for a fourth but it just wasn’t to be. When Tony Gilroy blew the final whistle the score read 4-3 in favour of the visitors. Best for Eany were Mark Ward and Aidan Kennedy, while PJ Hagan and Sean McHugh were best for Milford.
Sean Paul McHugh