By Michael McMullan

BEFORE a ball was kicked in the 2005 Dr Maguire Cup race Naomh Conaill had yet to get their hands on the biggest prize in Donegal.

So much has changed. They have seven titles to their name. When they make the journey to Falcarragh this weekend they’ll be the fancied horse once again. They are bidding for a fifth title in six years.

St Eunan’s stopped them doing three-in-row in 2021. St Joseph’s, Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon, Gaoth Dobhair and St Eunan’s have all done it. In a separate era, Gaoth Dobhair won four on the trot.

They’re only numbers. What happens further down the line will tell more. But nothing changes. The rest of Donegal are playing the same game – catch Naomh Conaill.

It is much easier said than done. Ask Malachy O’Rourke. One of the toughest walks Glen had was against the Donegal champions in Omagh.

The Glenties men have an almost unbreakable spirit. Ciarán Thompson throwing himself on a lost cause led to Kevin McGettigan’s goal to sink Ramor United last year. Victory from the jaws of defeat

Many teams realise they haven’t shook them away by the end of the third quarter. They begin to question themselves. Advantage Naomh Conaill.

Manager Martin Regan steers it all. New faces come and go in the management team, but the ship keeps on sailing.

They’ve added former county minor captain Finbar Roarty to the mix. Add in Odhrán Doherty. Stephen McGrath is a steady performer between the posts.

Their experienced players keep on giving, men like Brendan McDyer, Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy, Anthony Thompson and Leo McLoone.

St Eunan’s and Kilcar are among the challengers and meet on Saturday weekend in O’Donnell Park.

Kilcar have already won the Gaeltacht All-Ireland and have the added incentive of celebrating their 100th year anniversary.

They’ve Patrick McBrearty and Ryan McHugh back from Donegal’s season to add to what they have already. Captain Eoin McHugh, cousin Mark, Ciaran McGinley and Stephen McBrearty will be key players.

There has been a change at St Eunan’s with Barry Meehan taking over from Rory Kavanagh as manager, with Brendan Devenney, Kieran Sharkey and Dualtach Molloy on board.

The Letterkenny side will be keen on getting back to winning ways but have Kilcar and Naomh Conaill in their opening two games.

The format is the same as last year with 16 teams each playing four rounds in a league format. The top four teams will advance straight to the quarter-finals with the next eight playing off for the remaining four places.

St Eunan’s played the league as they saw it and narrowly missed out on a final spot.

Now, they have their county contingent back on board. Shaun Patton, Ciarán Moore, Shane and Niall O’Donnell all played key roles with Caolan Ward dipping back into club action on his way back from injury.

Gaoth Dobhair have some exciting minor players coming around the corner but are in a rebuilding phase after losing key cogs. Odhrán McFadden Ferry and Odhrán Mac Niallais are gone.

They’ll have Dáire Ó Baoill to come back after a season where he hit 4-14 from play in Donegal’s journey. They’ve Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde and goalkeeper Daithí Mac Roibeard from the county squad too. James Ó Baoill, Ethan Harkin and Eamon Colum are all important players.

Gaoth Dobhair face a trip to Four Masters this weekend before hosting Glenfin in Round Two.

Four Masters have their underage system ticking along nicely and have added the Division Two title to their development process. It’s now a case of picking up some momentum in the championship.

Another team in the mix are Glenswilly who have Gary McDaid back in charge with Michael Murphy still a key player for them. With his work as a pundit, his availability has been limited but he put in a stellar performance against Downings to show he is still a marquee player in the county.

Glenswilly won as many league games as the lost after returning to the top flight and they face St Naul’s this weekend.

The Mountcharles side were short Gavin Mulreaney, Peadar Mogan and Brendan McCole for much of the season. McCole’s tussle with Murphy will be an interesting matchup this weekend.

While Naomh Conaill are the team to catch, their main ingredient is how they never get too high or low. They are experts in just operating away without any fuss or sign of panic.

It will take a few rounds for teams to see where exactly they lie with the champions, like in the intermediate grade, away to Tyrone in the first round of Ulster. Let the games begin.

An interesting title race awaits

AT least a handful of teams will fancy themselves before the first ball is kicked in the Donegal Intermediate Championship this weekend.

In a similar format to the senior grade, each team will play four games – two home and two away – to decide who advances to the quarter-finals.

The top eight 3ill shoot out for the title with the remaining teams pulled into a scrap for relegation.

The tie of the weekend will be 2022 runners up Naomh Columba’s visit to Termon who have been promoted to Division One after their play-off win over Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon with Dáire McDaid, Jamie Grant and Enda McCormick all to the fore.

Naomh Columba were relegated having been without Aaron and Philip Doherty for much of the season. The same can be said for Bundoran were without scoring ace Jamie Brennan. Both sides will have a say in the destination of the title.

Milford dropped down from the Senior Championship last season and after finishing fifth in the league, they’ll be among the contenders. Shane Black, Cathal McGettigan and Rory O’Donnell were among their key men. Gary Duffy steered Buncrana back to Division One but will hope the injury to Donegal star Caolan McGonagle doesn’t raise its head as they embark on the championship.

They will be fancied to start their campaign with a win against Letterkenny Gaels with their third game, against Milford, telling more about their title credentials.

In terms of league placings, Malin are the highest ranked team ahead of the championship having finished mid-table in Division One.

Goals from Finn Ward and Luke Rudden ensure their status against Ballyshannon with victories also picked up wins against Bundoran, Downings and St Michael’s. There were narrow defeats to Naomh Conaill, Gaoth Dobhair and Kilcar with a draw against St Eunan’s.

They will be expected to see off Red Hughs this weekend but the next three games will make or break their season. They’ve Termon (H), Naomh Columba (A) and Bundoran (H) to follow.

In recent years, Cloughaneely and Dungloe lost finals before winning the title. Malin were edged out by Downings in last year’s decider. It was the same for Naomh Columba the year before. An omen perhaps? We’ll see.

Plenty of football to follow to see who will emerge to play the Tyrone champions in Ulster.

Saturday signals start of the Donegal junior race

THERE will be 11 teams, across two groups, when the Donegal Junior A Football Championship kicks into gear this weekend.

The top team in each group will advance straight to the semi-finals with the second and third place teams playing off to see who makes up the last four.

Naomh Bríd were relegated after losing the 2023 play-off at the hands of Burt at the end of last season and will be in the mix to bounce straight back up again.

Carndonagh and Convoy, who finished first and second, beat them in the league.

The only other defeat was a narrow defeat to Burt.

Their promotion to Division Two was ended after a penalty shootout defeat to Cloughaneely

Naomh Bríd take on Pettigo this weekend and will be hoping for a fine showing from Gearoid Gallagher.

Muff will have Caolan McColgan back in action after his injury problems but have played at a higher level in Division Two than anyone else in the championship race. They are at home to Urris this weekend.

Carndonagh were winners over Convoy in the final of the Division Three league with Cian Doherty and Ryan Kelly in scoring form in the absence of the injured Conor O’Donnell.

The Toyes – John and Liam – were to the fore for Convoy who will also be in the championship mix. Carndonagh will be fancied to begin with a win this weekend while Convoy face a tricky tie away to Naomh Colmcille who were Ulster champions in 2017.

Red Hughs went on to win Ulster the following year with Downings and Buncrana getting to finals.

Beaten finalists last year were Moville and despite finishing the league in mid-table, they’ll fancy themselves of going one better in the championship. The winners of Donegal have home advantage against the Antrim champions when the Ulster Championship begins in November.