As the Donegal Senior Football Team looks ahead to an Ulster Final clash with Derry on July 17th,  Jim Mc Guinness is urging the County Board to consider postponing the First Round Second legs of the County Championship which is scheduled to take place this coming weekend. The Donegal manager says there is a very real chance for the county to win the Ulster Championship, but he’s fearful that going ahead with important club matches this weekend may compromise the county team’s preparations.

In Clones yesterday a last gasp goal from Dermot Molloy sealed Donegal’s passage to the Ulster final. Tyrone were comfortably in the lead throughout the game but everything changed when Colm McFadden rattled home Donegal’s first goal on 56 minutes. A Martin Penrose point in the first minute of injury-time leveled the match for Tyrone. At that stage a replay looked to be on the cards but an incredible finish was to follow as Martin Swift was dispossessed in his own defence and sub Molloy fired into the net to send Donegal through to their first Ulster final since 2006.

This morning Jim Mc Guinness spoke to Charlie Collins and the Donegal manager says their delighted to be looking into an Ulster final.
 

The funeral has taken place of former Letterkenny Town Councillor Frank Gallagher, a native of Belfast, who died in the Donegal Hospice at the weekend after an illness.

Frank Gallagher served just over six months on the authority, having been coopted in January 2009 after his Green Party predecessor Neil Clarke stepped down. Prior to that he had attended every council meeting as a member of the public, earning the nickname “The 10th Councillor”.

Mr Gallagher didn’t retain his seat in June of that year, but remained on as secretary of the Donegal Greens. In November, that grouping voted to split from the official Green Party in protest at its performance in government.

Previously, Mr Gallagher stood on the Green ticket in Donegal North-East in the General Election 2007.

He had been active in community politics for many years and been involved in trade union and anti-nuclear movement activities, as well as spending a period as local Chairperson of the National Organisation of the Unemployed.

Donegal reached their first Ulster SFC final since 2006 with a three-point win (2-6 v 0-9) over defending champions Tyrone at Clones on Sunday. Second-half goals from Colm McFadden and Dermot Molloy ended Tyrone’s bid to win a third successive Ulster title. Tyrone held a 0-6 to 0-1 lead at one stage in the first half, but were squeezed out of the game by a determined Donegal who’s second goal came right at the end of the game to  set up a meeting with Derry in the provincial  decider on the 17^th July. Tyrone will now play Longford in the 2^nd round of the Qualifiers.

Charlie Collins got reaction from both managers directly after the game.

Jim Mc Guinness.
 

Mickey Harte.
 

Labour Senator Jimmy Harte says application forms for the Third Level Grant Schemes will be issued this week, and he’s hit out at Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue for claiming that the late issuing of forms this year will delay payment.

Senator Harte says the allegation is a poor Fianna Fail attempt to distract from the work being done to centralise the grants system, and that should be in place by next year.

He says while Deputy Mc Conalogie is correct that forms came out relatively early last year, but he says this year will still be quicker than many previous years.

According to Senator Harte, the grants will be paid on time………..

Fine Gael Councillor Noel McBride will today be elected the Mayor of Donegal when the County Council meets for its AGM in Lifford.

Fine Councillor Barry O’Neill will be elected Deputy Mayor.

Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Cllr Cora Harvey says it’s been a very challenging year. Her tenure in the chair was not within problems, with a number of contentious exchanges in the chamber leading her to claim she was being bullied.

However, Cllr Harvey says while she leaves the job with mixed emotions, she is glad and honoured to have had the experience…….

Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Altnagelvin Hospital on Saturday morning to be briefed on progress regarding the proposed North West Radiotherapy Unit.

Mr Kenny was in Derry for the opening of the new Peace Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Representitives of the campaign group Cooperating for Cancer Care North West were present at the Altnagelvin briefing invitation of the Taoiseach’s office. Spokesperson Noelle Duddy says it’s important that Mr Kenny has reaffirmed the pledges he made before the election……

As the Donegal Senior Football Team looks ahead to an Ulster Final clash with Derry on July 17th, team manager Jim Mc Guinness is urging the County Board to consider postponing the First Round Second leg of the County Championship which is scheduled to take place this coming weekend.

Mr Mc Guinness says there is a very real chance for the county to win the Ulster Championship, and he’s fearful that going ahead with important club matches may compromise the county team’s preparations….

A 28-year-old motorcyclist found not guilty last October of dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people has now been convicted of having no insurance on the day of the accident.

Three other motor-cyclists riding in convoy with him were also convicted at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court of having no insurance.

Niall McGrath from Grahamstown, Ballintra, was fined €400 for being without insurance, driving licence or tax in the accident at Ballintra, on September 11, 2005.

He avoided a driving ban when defence solicitor John McNulty told the court he sustained serious injuries in the accident and he needed his licence to travel for treatment.

But the other three drivers were banned for 12 months each for having no insurance. They were Gary McGrath, 30, also of Grahamstown, Brian Hughes, Cashel, Rossnowlagh, 32, and Ciaran Timoney, 29, Drumholme, Ballintra.

They also received fines from €100 to €300.

The court heard the four motorbikers were travelling towards Donegal Town from Ballyshannon having attended a bikers’ rally in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, earlier that day.

They were filtering through traffic when a multi-vehicle collision occurred..

Nora McGee, 74, from Gortahork in Donegal, was in one car and Damien and Teresa Quigg, both 49, who were a married couple from Dungiven, Co Derry, were in another. All three died in the crash.

At a separate trial of Niall McGrath last October for dangerous driving causing the three deaths a jury found him not guilty.

Donegal reached their first Ulster SFC final since 2006 with a three-point win over defending champions Tyrone at Clones on Sunday.

Second-half goals from Colm McFadden and Dermot Molloy ended Tyrone’s bid to win a third successive Ulster title.

The home side held a 0-6 to 0-1 lead at one stage, but were squeezed out of the game by a determined Donegal.

The win sets up a meeting with Derry in the decider.

In front of a crowd of 18,5oo, Tyrone finished with 13 men after Kevin Hughes picked up a second booking 10 minutes from the end, and ‘Brick’ Molloy came off the bench to hit the decisive goal.

Check back tomorrow for in depth analysis and all the post match reaction

This Sunday in Clones  Donegal and Tyrone will clash in the second semi final of the Ulster Senior Football Championship. Both counties have named their starting line ups for the game where the prize for the winners will be  a place in the provincial decider against Derry. The Donegal side is the same fifteen that started the quarter-final against Cavan. There are a number of positional changes with Mark McHugh named at centre forward. Teenager Patrick McBrearty is named in the corner although he could feature in the half forward line. Michael Murphy lines out at full forward after having his red card overturned last week. For Tyrone, Manager Mickey Harte has made two changes ahead of the game. Kevin Hughes, who missed the quarter-final win over Monaghan through injury, returns to midfield, taking over from Aidan Cassidy, who has been ruled out by a damaged ankle. Joe McMahon makes his first appearance since suffering a broken jaw in a club game two months ago. He comes in at full-back for Cathal McCarron.

Donegal Manager Jim Mc Guinness says Sunday’s game will be a massive challenge but if they are competitive Donegal will be in with a chance.
 

Tyrone Manager Mickey Harte is expecting a tough game on Sunday.
 

On Saturday Sport Tom Comack looked forward to the game on the GAA Preview with two well known pundits in the North West.

1992 All Ireland winner and Donegal Democrat’s  Manus Boyle.
 

GAA Correspondent with the Ulster Herald Alan Rodgers.
 

Join Charlie Collins and Declan Bonner on Highland Radio and here online on Sunday afternoon with the build up from 3pm and the game live from 3.30pm.