Four Masters Bord na nOg
The Minors have played two league games, going down to Naomh Brid and earning a good victory over Aodh Ruadh. Manager Gabriel O’Donnell is happy with progress so far and is looking forward to the championship. The U-17 team went down to a good Kilrea side in the Paul McGirr Memorial Tournament. Manager Hughie Sweeney was happy with the squad’s performance in what was a very enjoyable event. The U-16s exited the championship via a play-off with Dungloe in what was a great game in Fintra. Manager John McIntyre was very proud of his players on the night, as well as for their efforts all season. The U-14s are top of their division, after three games with two wins and a draw.
There is a good attendance at coaching sessions with all the emphasis on skill development. The U-10s continue their coaching sessions on Saturday mornings at 11am in Tirconnail Park. In a recent game against Ardara it was great to see so many parents out supporting the efforts of the players and coaches. Parents can further show their support by participating in our upcoming fundraiser on the new Waterbus on Friday June 30th. This will be a special trip aboard the beautiful new Waterbus ‘Dun na nGall’, departing at 7.30pm. Early booking is essential with tickets, priced at €15, available from Enda Nolan 087 6290059, Rory O’Donnell 087 8872283, Liam Mullin 074 9721138, Anne McGonigle-Meehan 087 6215513. This is a chance for all club members, parents and supporters to get together for an enjoyable and relaxing evening down the bay. Congratulations to Killymard Utd/Donegal Town U-14s who won the cup on Saturday last defeating Copany Rovers 4-0 at Darney, Bruckless. After missing out narrowly on the league, it was great to see the lads getting some reward for their work and commitment during the season.
Oisin McGinty was the big hero of the day, grabbing a hat-trick, with Odhan Duke completing the scoring.
Both clubs would like to thank Jim Rush and Sylvester for their great work with the lads this season - and the cup victory was the least the lads deserved.
The U12 leagues get underway this weekend with the team, under the managership of Benny Byrne and Appi, making the short trip to Drumbar for a Saturday evening game kick-off at 7pm. All support welcome and appreciated.
The girls U14 had their game against Raphoe cancelled at the weekend due to weather conditions.
The senior team recently finished their Donegal League Campaign, their first season back in the top flight for a number of yeas, securing fifth place which, considering the difficult start to the season, was very satisfactory. We can now look forward to next season in the belief that we are capable at matching any team in the Premier Division and, with a better start next season, perhaps we can mount a little challenge.
One successful aspect to the season was Fintan Doherty finishing top of the league goal-scoring table and the club would like to congratulate him on this achievement.
The AGM is taking place on Thursday 8th June at 8pm at the Castle Bar. With recent and ongoing developments at the club, the committee would welcome all newcomers interested in getting involved. There can never be enough people to help running the club and what with all the underage teams, adult teams and other events taking place, all help is appreciated.
Our annual dinner dance is approaching and is to be held in Dom’s Pier 1 on Saturday 3rd June commencing at 9pm. The club would like to extend an open invitation to all past, present and future friends of the club, as all are welcome to what we hope will be a very enjoyable evening for all.

Community Games

Since March, the 2006 Community Games season has taken off and has seen Donegal Town compete in a variety of disciplines and events.
The first event was a quiz that was held on March 28th in the Abbey Hotel. A cross-section of schools formed teams and the winners were 1st: Tamsin Lyons, Sinead Doherty, Jeffrey O’Callaghan and Ruairi McCruden, (AVS); 2nd: Lochlainn Casey, Christopher Ward, Sean O”Donovan and Liam O’Donnell (St Francis N.S. Barnes) and Evin McDaid, Jennifer McIntyre, Aidan Faulkner and Darren McConnon (AVS) took the 3rd place slot. Many thanks to Corinne Lyons for co-ordinating the event.
After weeks of practice, the Donegal Town area Chess and Draughts teams met their opposition in the county finals, held in the comfortable surroundings of the Millpark hotel on May 12th. In the draughts finals, teams from Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Doe, and Donegal Town took part, with the winners to represent Co.Donegal in the Ulster finals of July 8th in Armagh.
Trials had been held to choose teams and the following players were selected. U-10: Conal McCrudden, (Capt.) Myles Quinn, Caolan O’Callaghan, Brianna Hanna, Seamus Carr, Aisling McCauley and Louise Carr; U-12: Fergal McConnon (Capt), Sean O’Donnell-Carey, Conor Sweeney, Conor Cotton, Kyle O’Callaghan, Craig Trimble and Ryan Haughey. U-14: Darren McConnon (Capt.) Liam O’Donnell-Carey, Daniel McHugh, Maedhbh O’Donnell, Jason Carr, Rory McGee and Stephen Kerrigan.
It was a very exciting county final and, in the U10 competition, Donegal Town beat both Ballyshannon and Bundoran to take the gold medal. The U-12 team also took on their neighbouring towns to win gold. The U-14 team were narrowly beaten in a replay against Bundoran to take the bronze. It was a great performance by our teams who have been seeking the gold medal position for the past few years. They now go on to represent County Donegal in the Ulster Finals in Armagh on July 8th. Congratulations to all and well done to the co-ordinators Gillian O’Callaghan and Margaret Trimble.
The chess finals were also held on the same day. Donegal town entered two teams, U-12 and U-16. The U12 team was represented by Calvin Kiely, Conor Cunningham, Ryan McCooey, Eamon McGroary, Eugene Doherty, Brian Lyons and Caolan Loughney. They played very well to take the bronze medal. The U16 team consisted of Conor Wright, Megan Wright, Jeffrey O’Callaghan, Tamsin Lyons, Adam McGinty and Sinead Doherty. Again all the team played very well, unfortunately they did not get through to the next round but took the silver medal in a closely fought competition. Well done to all involved, especially the hard working committee and Patricia Kiely.
The Donegal Town Community Games Art and Model Making competition was held in the Central Hotel on May 15th. It was a very enjoyable night with lots of budding artist emerging. Girls U-8: Gold: Elaine Wright, Silver: Niamh Doherty, Bronze: Tess O’Kennedy. U-10 Gold: Hannah McHugh, Silver: Alysia Bartley, Bronze: Aileen Gallagher and Aisling McCauley. U-12 Gold: Andrea Keeney; Silver: Mary McGeehan, Bronze: Amy Hegarty. U-14 Gold: Rebecca McGinty, silver: Diana Plinchock, Bronze: Megan Wright and Lauren Duke. U-16 Gold: Moise McHugh, Silver: Lianne McCrea, Bronze: Tanya McHugh.
Boys U-8 Gold: Joseph O’Rourke, Silver: Joe Sheerin, Bronze: Aaron McCrea. U-10 Gold: Oisin Gillespie, Silver: Jack Nolan, Bronze: Patrick Reid. U-12 Gold: Fergal McConnon, Silver: Martin Hegarty, Bronze: Adam Gallagher. U-14 Gold: Darren McConnon
Model Making
U-10 Girls: Gold: Lydia Morrow, Silver: Aisling Murphy, Bronze: Amika Weir. U-14 Girls: Gold: Jennifer Giblin, Silver: Jamie Kearney U-10 Boys: Gold: Michael John Gillen, Silver: Aidan McConnon. U-14 Boys: Gold: Darren McConnon, Silver: Loughlan Casey.
Angela Mehegan, PRO

Donegal shade it against Down

Donegal 1-12 Down 1-11
Donegal once again overcame their underdog tag to squeeze past Down by a single point in this entralling Ulster Senior Football Championship match in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey on Sunday week last.
While there was just a point in it at the end, Donegal were at least five or six points a better team than Down but missed chances in the second-half meant that there was a nail-biting six minutes of injury-time played by referee Gearoid O’Conamha.
All the talk beforehand surrounded Brian McIver’s selection in his first ever Ulster Championship game. When the ball was thrown in, the only surprise was Ciaran Bonner lined out at midfield, Barry Monaghan was back at centre-half-back and Michael Hegarty at centre-half-forward.
However, the star of the show was St. Eunan’s Rory Kavanagh, who, despite struggling with injury in the build-up, really stepped up to the mark in his first championship start. Kavanagh, with 1-02 from play, took the man-of-the-match award but it was a day when Donegal had many star performers - from Paddy Campbell at full-back who looked after Benny Coulter comfortably to Barry Dunnion, Michael Hegarty, Conal Dunne and substitute Brendan Boyle.
This result and performance is a tremendous boost to the county and we can look forward with real confidence to the semi-final clash with Derry in Clones this Sunday at 2.15p.m. The minors are also in action in the curtain-raiser against Tyrone in their semi-final at 12.30p.m. Donegal: Paul Durcan, Neil McGee, Paddy Campbell, Karl Lacey, Eamon McGee (0.1), Michael Hegarty (0.2), Barry Dunnion (0.1), Neil Gallagher, Barry Monaghan, Christy Toye (0.1), Ciaran Bonner, Rory Kavanagh (1.2), Colin Kelly, Conal Dunne (0.2), Michael Doherty (0.2) Subs.: Brendan Boyle for Colin Kelly, Adrian Sweeney (0.1) for Michael Doherty, Damien Diver for Neil McGee and Frank McGlynn for Eamon McGee.

Sean Dunnion

Paul Durcan, Dr. Austin O’Kennedy, Karl Lacey, Michael Kelly and Barry Dunnion after the win