Drumbar FC goes from strength to strength Club underage training soon to switch outdoors

Some of our keen and enthusiastic underage participants pictured at the Bosco Centre last Monday night with underage coach Brendan Grufferty and Paddy Brogan. Photo: Jason McGarrigle

This week I’d like to start with a big thank you to the parents and kids who facilitated us last weekend. First things first I have made contact with a number of people across the country who share the same footballing ethos as myself and, as a result of, this a friendly game was organised last weekend for our U-8’s and U-10 sides at Merville United in the ‘actual’ shadow of The Showground’s, home to Sligo Rovers. I’ve often worried about the influences on young people nowadays, there is a greater tendency for them to be more concerned with the latest gaming stations, games and TV. Kids seem to spend far more time indoors where imagination is a manufactured commodity and comes at a price. Things aren’t quite as bleak as I had thought and young kids when presented with the opportunity to get involved and participate are more than willing. I’m a great advocate of participation in outdoor and healthy activity. It’s very necessary to ensure a healthy body and mind. It was with some trepidation that this fixture was organised as a few of our young participants were not available for different reasons and I feared we might not be able to get enough kids together to travel. I somewhat underestimated their enthusiasm and I very quickly realised they wanted this as much as I did. So on Sunday morning 22 kids gathered at the field in Drumbar and it’s for this reason I would like to thank the kids and the parents for making the special effort. For those kids that couldn’t travel there will be plenty of opportunities as Merville Utd have agreed to a return fixture. The kids who travelled were a credit to the club and their parents. A big thank you must go to the parents who travelled and to Neil McGroarty for helping us take the extra numbers. Everyone who travelled was given the opportunity to participate and I’d like to say a big thank you to Richard Deignan of Merville Utd for hosting us.
I won’t say it’s easy managing so many different kids (see photo) but the support we receive from parents is very much appreciated. It’s nice to be able to have a positive influence on young children. They even adopted my healthy snack request for the trip with the same enthusiasm as they greeted the trip.
Things are going well at all levels currently. Our U-10 side returns to action next week in the South Donegal Schoolboy’s League ‘blitz’ competition to be held at Drumbar on Easter Saturday.
Our senior side continues to play out the season in a rich vein of form securing all 3 points against Curragh Athletic last Sunday afternoon. There were some very notable performances in that game and the 1-0 score-line does not accurately reflect the pocession and chances presented to the home side.
You may have noticed that tickets have been on sale for the ‘Drumbar Pitch Development Draw’ for the last number of weeks. Your continued support is greatly appreciated. Club representatives will be doing the rounds and stationed at Super Valu Shopping Centre during the coming week. The draw itself will take place on Easter Sunday in The National Bar. The pitch is almost ready to be drained, and following this, the field will be levelled. I cannot stress strongly enough that your support will assist greatly in this development to ensure the very best of facilities for the future of football in Donegal Town.

Donegal defeat Kerry for first league points

Donegal captain, Barry Monaghan, helps Donegal defeat reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry in Donegal’s fourth league outing. Played in McCumhaill park, Ballybofey, Donegal were 1-10 to 1-09 winners to get their first 2 league points. Photos by Jason McGarrigle

Donegal Town District Finn Harps Supporters Club

The Supporters Club held a very successful table-quiz recently in Bundoran. A great night was had by all and the Club would like to thank members Seamus and Carol Fallon for doing a great job in organising the event. We would like to thank all our sponsors, Paddy Doherty, Bundoran; SuperValu, Donegal Town; Foodland Cash and Carry, Donegal Town; and everyone who donated prizes. Thanks to Paul Gallagher of Ocean FM and the Donegal Times for their work in advertising the quiz. A special thanks to our quizmaster Bernie Fox, the staff and management of the Chasing Bull in Bundoran and everyone who turned up on the night. With the new season in the premier division just underway and having recently been granted planning permission for a new stadium in Stranorlar, things are definitely looking up for the Harps. Anyone wishing to join the Supporters Club can do so by contacting 086-1223507, or any member of the Supporters Club.
Niall Martin, Secretary.

Basketball Notes

Donegal 61 Letterkenny Heat 51

The men’s team qualified for the cup final by beating Letterkenny Heat last Saturday week in a hard fought game. Going into the game, there appeared to be very little between the two teams - both had previously beaten each other earlier in the year, on both occasions the losing team was missing key players. Donegal’s Liam Travers went into the game knowing that he wouldn’t be able to play in the final the following Saturday. Rather than letting this disappointment get to him, he played his best game to date for Donegal. He contested every rebound at both ends of the court, worked hard on defense and, when big scores were needed, he stepped up every time.
It was Travers who opened the scoring for Donegal, polishing off an inside move, Gareth Britton then twice drove to the basket to stretch the lead. They weren’t having things all their own way though as Kieran O’Neill was a constant thorn in the side, seemingly capable of making shots from anywhere on the court. Offensively Donegal were also struggling to make outside shots off the glass backboards, an area of concern for the final. Travers stepped up again at the end of the quarter to ensure Donegal went in ahead, in a low-scoring first quarter, leading 13-10.
The Heat changed to a man to man defense in the second quarter and caused Donegal countless problems in the process. John Kennedy and Glen Matthews both made shots early in the quarter but the team then failed to score for the next eight minutes. During this time the Heat took a seven-point lead, a lead that should have been bigger. Stephen Carty called a time out and the team went back out more focused. Travers and Matthews both scored to reduce the deficit - halftime score Letterkenny 24 Donegal 21.
Having switched to a zone defense, Donegal served up their best basketball in the second half. Several players stepped up to regain the lead, John Kennedy began shooting the ball and when they moved it down low to Glen Matthews the Heat were in all sorts of bother. Matthews hit seven points in a row as Donegal began to stamp their authority on the game. Kieran O’Neill was still causing problems, forcing Donegal to switch to a box and one, with Gareth Britton doing the chasing. Disaster struck in the last second of the third quarter as the aforementioned Britton chased down a ball and sprained his ankle in the process. It was immediately apparent that he would miss the final; fears remain that he could be out for the rest of the season.
Luckily for Donegal, Bill Collins was on the bench ready and raring to go. He upped the tempo of the match helping Paul McHugh score six points in a row. Collins himself then made an inspirational score inside. Leading by ten with four minutes remaining, Donegal slowed things down, using the 24-second clock to good effect. Cookie Meehan controlled the boards ensuring the heat didn’t get any second chances on the offense. With the game entering its closing seconds Liam Travers finished off the scoring. Having began it forty minutes earlier and having put in a mammoth effort for the rest of the game it was fitting that put the finishing touches to an excellent team display. The question remained though, considering his enormous influence, can the team manage without him and Britton the following week?
Donegal: Liam Travers (16), Bill Collins (2), Gareth Britton (6), Glen Matthews (18), Simon Waugh, Paul McHugh (8), John Meehan (2), William Timoney, Niall Timoney, John Kennedy (9), John Divers, Ted McCaffrey.
Heat: Kieran O’Neill (23), Chris Marron, David Gallagher (7), Kieran Gallagher (2), Troy Morris(8), Kieran Walsh, Daniel McDaid (4), John Grant (6), Richie Bent (2), Conor Boyle (3), Niall Dolly (3).

Donegal Golf Club Murvagh

The major competitions do not commence here until after St. Patrick’s Day but, nevertheless, there have been ongoing competitions in which some players have been sharpening up for the year ahead. Recent results were as follows:
Sunday 27th February: Daniel Ward, much be the best 18 handicapper in Europe (if not the world), took the course to its knees on this occasion when he clocked up 42 points over 15 holes. Sean Gillespie was a point behind in 2nd place with Jason Maguire flying the Pettigo flag in 3rd place.
Sunday 6th March - We were back to the 18 holes format on this occasion and again there was some terrific scoring. Well known Fruit Distributor, Liam Mundy racked up 45 points, and he had 3 points to spare over Master Butcher and sausage maker Diarmuid McGettigan. The Club’s lowest handicapped player, John Neary, had a brilliant round of 69 gross (4 under par) and he received 3rd prize and also reduced his handicap to 1 again - well done.
Saturday 12th March - Pauric Farragher and Mary Ann Kane had their Captains Drive-in and there was a large attendance to see them strutting their stuff on the 1st tee. This was followed by a mixed foursomes competition and results were as follows: 1st, Brian Neilan and Ruby Trimble; 2nd, Tommy McWhinnie and Mary Talbot. 3rd, Peter Sweeney and Prue Hamilton.
Sunday 13th March - The McMenamin family came up with a nice ‘double’ at the commencement of Cheltenham week. Danny (senior) saw Donegal beating Kerry in Ballybofey whilst Danny (Junior) brought in the top score at Murvagh. Martin Furlong, David McCann and Ronan McAleavey slotted into the minor places.
MURVAGH SNIPPETS: (1)Bob Dore celebrated his 70th birthday recently and like good wine, he is improving with age - Bob invited a group of his golfing friends to Murvagh where a ‘sweep’ was organised. The Birthday Boy then shot a score that equalled his age and he walked away with 1st prize. Who will he be ‘cleaning’ in another 30 years after he receives the ‘Grant’ and letter from the President of Ireland?
(2)The relaxation of the rules governing membership of Donegal G.C. in relation to place of birth etc. leads to some comparisons about the eligibility of certain Soccer players to declare for Ireland. Perhaps we will now see a membership application from Daniel O’Donnell on the grounds that his namesake, Red Hugh O’Donnell, owned the Castle in Donegal Town a few hundred years ago.
(3)Players are reminded that Fixture Cards are now available in the shop and that competitions have returned to this 2 day format (Saturday and Sunday) unless otherwise advertised.
(4)Best wishes are extended to the Club’s PRO, Michael Neary, who is presently incapacitated - here’s hoping Michael, that you are up and about and back here at Murvagh in the not too distant future.
Hugh Dillon
Assistant PRO.

Editor’s note: Donegal Times received an invite to take pictures of the Captains drive-in, but this was subsequently cancelled on the grounds that we might be ‘an embarrasment’ following our story on the club manager, Patrick Nugent, being made redundant. Talk about shooting the messenger.