Donegal League kicks off in earnest
Alan foley
The Donegal League clicks into action this weekend with a host of fixtures down for decision.
Kilmacrennan Celtic were the top of the pile once more in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division last season and this term they’ll be looking to make it three titles in succession.
A lot has changed over the summer months with manager Sean Sandilands briefly taking charge of Termon’s gaelic footballers during their ill-fated championship campaign, before returning to his traditional soccer stomping ground.
Last season, in another close race for the title that ran to the final day, Lifford Celtic were the main challengers. However, a Philip Buchanan penalty and an excellently taken second goal from Michael McLaughlin against Drumoghill FC on May Bank Holiday weekend meant the exertions of the side from the cusp of the border were to prove meaningless.
An unblemished scorecard over the season as a whole, having not suffered a single loss in the league, meant few could argue with the achievement of Kilmacrennan.
On Sunday, they open their league campaign against Donegal Town, who were promoted from the Milford Inn Division One in second place. Lifford, for their part, have a home fixture against Jason Gibson’s Lagan Harps team. Last season, the Manorcunningham outfit enjoyed an excellent campaign winning the First Division comfortably and then reaching the sixth round of the FAI Junior Cup.
The third promoted side, Deele Harps, have a tricky opener away to Gweedore Celtic, who won the Brian McCormick Sports in April and since the start of the new campaign have already defended the Gweedore Area segment in the same trophy, thanks mainly to dramatic penalty shoot-out win over their neighbours Gweedore United last weekend. Celtic had Colin Ferry to thank for a last minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw and Michael McKelvey for his stops in the shoot-out.
Also back in action this Sunday are Dunkineely Celtic and after their firm third-placed finish last term, they have a tough start at home to Milford United, while Gweedore United must go to Glenea United.
Division One is likely to be a close call as well. Only five seasons ago, St Catherine’s were top of the pile in the Donegal League, but now they just yearn to make it back to the Premier Division. A 1-0 win against Eany Celtic was enough to clinch the Donegal Area of the Brian McCormick Cup last weekend against Eany Celtic and the Killybegs outfit will be hoping to get off and running as Glenree provide the opposition.
Cappry Rovers, who won the CT Ball Division Two, welcome a Dromoghill team who were controversially relegated by a single goal after Glenea United failed to field against Dunlewey Celtic on the final game of last season.
For their part, Dunlewey, who ended up losing the relegation play-off that followed, have Drumbar at home while Castlefin Celtic take on Eany Celtic and there’s an interesting fixture by the Finn where Curragh Athletic roll out the carpet for Ballybofey United.
The first action of the day in Division Two will be the early kick-off where Arranmore United host the Raphoe Town side that caused a ripple or two by winning the Lifford Area final of the Brian McCormick Sports Cup.
Elsewhere, Bonagee United are home to Rathmullan Celtic, Cranford United go toe-to-toe with Whitestrand and Keadue Rovers make the trip to Letterbarrow Celtic.
In the Saturday leagues, Erne Wanderers are back on board in the Glencar Inn Division Two with a home appointment against Castlefin Celtic’s reserves, Fintown Harps take on Tullyvinny Rovers; Donegal Town’s second string welcome another recruit in the form of Mulroy Celtic and Drumbar and Milford United face one another.
In the Willie Duffy Division One, Cranford United are pencilled in to meet Gweedore United, Kilmacrennan Celtic reserves tackle Ramelton Mariners, Gweedore Celtic are the opposition of Downtown United and Glencar Celtic open against Dunfanaghy Town.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Donegal
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
