Friday, December 27, 2013 SPORT DONEGAL NEWS 39 SPORTS REVIEW – SEPTEMBER

Cockhill Celtic celebrate winning the Ulster Senior League title after defeating Drumkeen United 3-2. Photo: Donna McBride

Donegal GAA was rocked after terminded the Ulster Senior League three members of the Donegal Se- team to glory in the Interprovincials nior Management set-up sensational- competition in Sligo. ly left Jim McGuinness’ backroom The USL team drew with Leinster, team. before hammering Connacht 9-0 in Initially it was reported that Assis- their second fixture. A goal from tant manager Rory Gallagher, Video Garbhan Friel was enough to give analyst Maxi Curran and kitman the USL victory over Munster and Francie Friel had all stepped aside land the team the Interprovincial due to personal reasons, but this was crown. corrected by the county board, who The transfer window for the Done- said it was Jim McGuinness decision gal Junior League closed at the end to make changes to the management of September, with an incredible 111 team. transfers being completed since Au- Damian Diver, John Duffy, and gust. Paul McGonigle were the men cho- Seamus Coleman started the sea- sen as selectors in McGuinness’ son brilliantly for Everton, as he management team for 2014. helped the team get off to an unbeat- The GAA clubs in Donegal voted en start in the Premier League. in favour of Jim McGuinness’ propos- Finn Harps had their FAI cup al to start next year’s Senior and In- dreams dashed by Drogheda United termediate Championships will com- in Hunky Dory’s park. mence after Donegal’s All- se- Harps were bitterly close to mak- ries is concluded. ing the semi-final as they lead Termon ladies won their third Drogheda by a goal with only five Donegal Senior Ladies title, with a minutes to go. comprehensive win over St Eunan’s However, Drogheda equalised late, in the final in MacCumhaill Park. and won the replay on home turf 2-0. Geraldine McLaughlin was the star Harp’s league form continued to de- once again for the Burn Road girls, teriorate in September as they lost as she scored 3-3. all three of their league games to fall Milford ladies took the Intermedi- to second bottom in the league. ate crown after they got the better of Lagan Harps’ Amber Barrett and Aodh Ruadh by 3-9 to 4-4 in a crack- Greencastle’s Gemma McGuinness ing final in Ballybofey. helped the under Buncrana minors showed incredi- 19s progress to the next phase of the ble character to beat St Eunan’s in UEFA Championships after they the Minor Division 1 final in Mac- drew with Denmark in Tolka Park. Cumhaill Park. Jason Quigley’s successful year St Eunan’s had hammered Sean continued when he was one of 12 ath- Clerkin’s men two weeks previously, Donegal manager Jim McGuinness arriving at MacCumhaill park. Photo: Donna McBride letes across Britain and Ireland to be but the Inishowen men avenged that selected for a Sky Sports scholar- defeat by winning 0-12 to 0-10. Struggling Killybegs completed the Kevin Campbell scored 2-10 for the Drumkeen did take an early lead, ship. Naomh Muire and St Naul’s semi-final quartet, after they beat Killygordon men, but Burt held on but three goals from Cockhill includ- Letterkenny Golf Club were un- reached the Intermediate final. Dan- MacCumhaills. for a two point win. ing a 25 yard screamer from Malachy able to defend the GUI Ulster Cup af- ny O’Donnell’s Naomh Muire got the Goals from Sean Furey and Aaron Cockhill Celtic won the Donegal McDermott, put Cockhill in pole posi- ter they were defeated narrowly by better of Aodh Ruadh, while St Byrne proved to be the crucial scores News Ulster Senior League cup final tion. A late free-kick from Seimi Carrindhu Golf club in the final over Naul’s had too much for Naomh as Naomh Ultan won the Junior B after they beat Drumkeen United 1-0 ‘Nanny’ Friel threatened to spoil the two legs. Columba. Championship after defeating Let- in a close fought game in Bonagee. A party, but Cockhill clung on to collect Rosapenna Golf Club were also Glenswilly defeated Kilcar to terkenny Gaels in Donegal Town. 73rd minute strike from Garbhan the title. unlucky as they lost out 3-2 to Coun- make the quarter-finals of the Done- Meanwhile, in the Senior Reserve Friel sealed the win in front of a big “It was disappointing to be run- ty Sligo Golf club in the AIG Senior gal Senior Championship. The game Championship final, Gaoth Dobhair crowd. ners-ups for the last two years, this Cup final at the Royal Tara Golf Club had to be restarted after Glenswilly and Naomh Conaill played out an en- Donal O’Brien’s men were also cel- year we have done the double and in Dublin. fielded 16 players. thralling draw. ebrating a week later when they de- I’m delighted, delighted for the play- Philip Deignan suffered a blow Malin caused a huge shock by Burt won their third Donegal Se- feated Drumkeen again to win the ers and everyone connected with the when he broke his collarbone in a knocking out St Eunan’s in Bun- nior championship in a row Ulster Senior League title in a ding- club,” said O’Brien. crash in the Tour of Britain and crana, while Ardara upset favourites by beating Setanta in O’Donnell dong battle at the Charlie O’Donnell It was a busy month for O’Brien, missed the World Elite Road Race Gaoth Dobhair in O’Donnell Park. Park. Sports Grounds. who along with Trevor Scanlon mas- Championships as a result.