Four Masters claim their first Senior Ladies title!
Four Masters 2-05 Moville 0-04
Four Masters claimed their first-ever Ladies Senior Football Championship on Sunday last in MacCumhaill Park with a fine win over highly-fancied Moville who had disposed of champions St. Eunan’s in the semi-final. The pain of defeat in seven previous finals spurred on this young Four Masters side in a game that they led from start to finish.
However, the scoreline probably flattered the Donegal Town girls as Moville were more than a match for them but unfortunately had left their shooting boots at home on the day.
The Masters got a dream start with an early point from Eilis Ward followed by a goal from the same player in the opening ten minutes. She was without doubt the star of the show scoring 1-04 in total with 1-03 coming in the first half, while Moville replied with two points to trail by four at half-time.
Four Masters kept up the tempo in the second period with Donna Dunnion superb at full-back, assisted by Nicola Lacey and Emer Carr at midfield, getting a plentiful supply of ball to Kelly Lacey and Rachel Crawford in the full-forward line. Moville battled gamely and when they hit the crossbar midway through the second half and the ball rebounding into the arms of a Four Masters defender you just knew that it wasn’t going to be their day. Kelly Lacey and Eilis Ward added points after this let-off with Moville replying with two similar scores of their own.
The game was finally wrapped up in injury time when Tracey Floyd hit the back of the net before referee Kieran McShea blew the final whistle sparking great scenes of celebration for the Four Masters girls, management team and supporters. County Board Chairman Michael Naughton then presented the cup to the Four Masters captain, Emer Carr. Four Masters: Patrice Rooney, Louise Jordan, Donna Dunnion, Yvonne Bushell, Bridgeen Carr, Emma Lawne, Lisa Duffy, Nicola Lacey, Emer Carr, Gina McGowan, Tracey Floyd (1-0), Edel Duffy, Eilis Ward (1-4), Kelly Lacey (0-1), Rachel Crawford. Subs: Emma O’ Doherty, Kathryn Martin, Claire McGinty, Rena Brogan, Christina McBarron, Michelle Sweeney. Sean Dunnion
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Donegal Rugby Notes by The Rucker
It’s been a funny old close season in the game of rugby. They have been playing all summer in the Southern Hemisphere where the most unusual incident happened in front of 32,000 spectators at Jade Stadium in Christchurch. All Blacks blind side forward Jerry Collins was taken short at the start of the international match against Australia on 8 July 2006. He proceeded to urinate discreetly (if you can be discreet in front of 32,000 people) in a bucket at the side of the pitch. The incident was also shown on live TV. I hope this type of incident is not going to catch on in local rugby circles as we do not want any acid stains at The Holmes. OK, I can accept that sprinkler systems are a common sight in the game of golf but my own personal opinion is that the only bladder that should be touched on the rugby pitch is the oval shaped one.
This brings me around nicely to the kick-off to the new rugby season at 2.30pm on Saturday at the Holmes when Donegal Seconds entertain Derry Thirds in the league. The Club has already held a very successful tag rugby day. The main competition was won by Brendan Griffith’s Naomh Brid team who defeated Jonathan Llewhelin’s team in the final.
Incidentally Donegal Rugby Club entered a GAA Sevens competition held by the Naomh Brid club away back in March 1976. We managed to reach the final beating, amongst others, Kilcar on the way. However Naomh Brid beat us in the final. Donegal’s squad on that memorable day was Liam Brown, Paddy Meehan, Charlie McGinty, John Dowling, Pat Brady, Trevor Johnston, Billy Barnett, Peter Dunnion and JJ Gallagher.
1976 was also a memorable occasion in that, under my captaincy, Donegal entered the Ulster League. We played our first league match in September 2006 at The Hospital Field. Holywood were the opposition and we were beaten 7-4. Donegal first try (a try was worth 4 points in those days) was scored by Raphoe man Jim King. We should have won the game as Mickey Brown broke clear and crossed the line. But being a newcomer to the game he did not know you had to touch the ball down and he was bundled over the dead ball line! That week was also memorable because we welcomed Calgary Rugby team to Donegal.
They were escorted by Dr. Sean Thomas, formerly of Donegal, who was one of their leading lights. I also have vivid memories of Sean playing for us at prop forward, in a Sweeney Cup match, in Burtonport.
After our first defeat in the league in 1976, we then got into the run of things beating NUU 28-0. Believe or not, Charlie McGinty was the star, scoring two tries. Niall Fitzpatrick also got two tries and Paul O’Donnell of Mountcharles a try. The Rucker knocked over 4 conversions. The Donegal team was: Ray Dunne, Paul O’Donnell, Andy Boland, Charlie McGinty, Victor Kearney, Trevor Johnston, Liam Brown, Gordon Morrow, Jim King, Eamon Friel, Barney McGroary, Niall Fitzpatrick, Danny Gillespie, Liam Jones, Michael Reilly.
What a backline! Brown at scrum-half, Johnston out-half, McGinty in the centre and Kearney on the wing. Victor, of course, was a tall scrawny fellow in those days. He didn’t surrender to Mary’s cooking and put on weight until a much later date!
