Doherty opens up race for Dr. Maguire
Michael Doherty and Four Masters opened up the Donegal senior championship with their sensational three point victory over four in-a-row chasing champions St. Eunan's on Saturday night, in Ballybofey.
With Naomh Conaill overcoming St. Michael's 1-10 to 0-10, and Killybegs edging out Dungloe 1-8 to 1-7 to join Four Masters and Glenswilly in the last four, it has become one of the most open championship races in years.
The golden right boot of Michael Doherty did the business for Four Masters on Saturday night, as he almost singlehandedly put the champions to the sword. The former county man posted eight of his side's total of 11 points, with all eight coming from placed balls.
Oustiders Four Masters led by a point, 0-6 to 1-2, at half-time after a Kieran Sharkey penalty five minutes before the break threw an off colour champions a lifeline. But with Charlie Mulgrew's men failing to grab the opportunity the Tir Conaill Park men - with Doherty continuing to pepper the Eunan's posts - pulled away in the second half.
"To be honest it was one of those games when everything went right for me and they just sailed over. Normally 45 metres is my range and anything beyond that is a bit tricky and is hit and miss. I would get the distance alright, but normally the accuracy would be a problem. On Saturday night they just went over and from once the first one went over I just grew in confidence and thankfully the others sailed over too," said Doherty, who insisted his side had won nothing yet.
In the second of the weekend's quarter finals 14-man Killybegs came from four points down at half-time to pip Dungloe thanks to a late point from Daniel Breslin. That game was in Sean MacCumhaill Park on Sunday afternoon, while later in the evening, in O'Donnell Park, a fifth minute goal from teenage star John O'Malley proved the difference between last year's beaten finalists Naomh Conaill and St. Michael's.
Meanwhile the semi-final draw - which was made immediately after the Naomh Conaill versus St. Michael's game - paired Four Masters against Killybegs and Naomh Conaill against Glenswilly. The semi-finals are to be played on the weekend of Saturday August 28 and Sunday August 29.
In the Intermediate Championship semi-finals Naomh Columba, who defeated Naomh Brid on Saturday evening, will face either Cloughaneely or St. Naul's while the other semii-final will see Bundoran/Carndonagh go face to face with either Sean MacCumhaills or Urris.
McGuinness to be ratified
Meanwhile, it was expected that Jim McGuinness would be ratified last night as the new Donegal senior team manager, to replace John Joe Doherty.
McGuinness met the Donegal Executive on Friday night and everything seems to be in order for him to be proposed and seconded for the post at last night’s Co. Committee meeting.
The Naomh Conaill man was the only applicant for the job and he will also remain on as U-21 manager, hoping to build on the success which he had with the side, taking them to the All-Ireland final earlier this year.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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