NFL Results
Kildare 1-17 v 1-9 Donegal
Monaghan 1-14 v 0-16 Tyrone
Kerry 0-15 v 1-9 Derry

Donegal lost their first Division 2 league game of the season in Newbridge on Sunday. It was a poor performance from Donegal who failed to match a rampant Kildare side. John Joe Doherty’s men trailed in the first half 1-5 to 0-1. Six points was the difference at half time 1-8 to 1-2 with  Stephen Mc Dermott scoring the Donegal goal. With no improvement in the second half  Donegal struggled and went down by eight points.
John Joe Doherty gave his reaction after the game to Charlie Collins.
 

In Division 1 Tyrone are bottom of the table and still without a win. Mickey Harte’s side lost by a point to  Monaghan in Inniskeen and now find themselves in a tough relegation battle. Derry also suffered defeat in Tralee losing to the All Ireland Champions Kerry. Eoin Bradley’s goal put Derry in front at half time but with just four scores in the second half Kerry took the win by three points.

Two Donegal Boxers won National Senior Elite Championship titles at the weekend. On Saturday Night Letterkenny’s Cathal Mc Monagle who fights out of Holy Trinity in Belfast won the 91+kg category. Going into the final round Cathal was trailing 10 – 5 on points against Tommy Sheehan from Athy. The Letterkenny heavyweight dug deep and produced a stunning 3rd round comeback to take the title 11-10.

Also on the winners list on Friday Night was Tyrone Mc Cullough from Illies Golden Gloves. The Inishowen lad beat James Fryers from Immaculate BC 3-1 to take the 57kg title.  There’s was disappointment for two other Donegal fighters who lost out in Finals. Mc Cullough’s team mate Willie Mc Laughlin was beaten by John Joe Joyce of Athy 12-9. The scoring points system was brought into question during the bout and the McLaughlin camp had an appeal on the result turned down. European Youth Champion Jason Quigley who has stepped up to seniors for the first time was beaten 6-1 bu Darren O Neill.

League of Ireland First Division Results
Longford Town 3 v 2 Finn Harps
Derry City 1 v 1 Cork City Foras

Finn Harps lost their opening game of the 2010 season on Saturday night at Flancare Park away to Longford Town. The Ballybofey club scored first early in the opening half with a goal from Johnny Lafferty. By the 57th minute Harps found themselves 3-1 down. Davitt Walsh pulled a goal back in the 77th minute but it was the home side which took the full points on a 3 -2 final scoreline.
Harps Manager James Gallagher speaking with Myles Gallagher.
 

On Friday night at the Brandywell Derry City began life in the First Division with a 1-1 draw against the newly formed Cork City Foras Co Op. The away side went one up three minutes into the second half. In front of a crowd of 3500 Derry  scored the equaliser just passed the hour mark through new signing Emmett Friars. Apart from the goals there were few chances for either side.

Tyrone’s Rory Patterson and Donegal’s Seamus Coleman were both on International duty on Wednesday Night. Patterson made his debut for Northern Ireland in the friendly away to Albania in Tirana. The Coleraine striker who’s top scorer in the Irish League came on as a second half substitute.  The big Strabane forward had a strike saved by the Albanian keeper. NI Manager Nigel Worthington praised Patterson for his effort on his debut.
Rory  gave his thoughts on being part of the International squad to Oisin Kelly.
 

Killybegs Seamus Coleman won his 10th cap for the Republic of Ireland U21’s on Wednesday against Armenia. The Irish fell to  another defeat in the UEFA Championship qualifiers losing 2-1. Coleman who has made seven starts this season for Everton in the Premier League almost scored a dramatic equaliser in the closing minutes but the Armenians held on.

It was a great day in Baselga di Pine, Northern Italy on Sunday as local girl Clare Scanlon won the World Masters Speed Skating championships for the second time in four years.

Clare was representing her adopted home, Holland at this years championship. The World Masters is reserved for competitors over the age of 30. Originally from Croossroads, Killygordan, Clare now lives in Nujmegen, Holland with her partner Emile Jansen. In 2008 she won the championship for the fist time and it was a truly great achievement for her to win it again in 2010.
 

St. Michael’s put an end to Naomh Conaill’s hopes of an unprecedented 4 in a row in the 2009 Championship final on Sunday in Sean MacCumhaill Park Ballybofey.

The boys from the Creeslough/Dunfanaghy area put in a great team effort and were worthy winners on a final score of 0-13 to 0-06. They had great performances on the day from the two McLaughlin’s, Daniel and Raymond who scored ten points between them. Glenties looked tired after a good run in Ulster Club Championship. St.Michael’s were boosted with the return of midfielder Martin McElhinney who spoke with Charlie Collins after the game.
 

Donegal and Termon man Michael Boyle was part of the DCU team that won the Sigerson Cup final at Leixlip on Saturday. On Friday Night the Dublin College beat Maynooth to take their place in the decider. Boyle was in nets for the Dublin students that saw off the challenge of UCC in the Final. The final score on the day was DCU 1-11 UCC 0-10.
 

After both Finn Harps and Derry City were granted their First Division Licence on Monday, The clubs this afternoon were notified of their fixtures for the forthcoming League of Ireland season.

Derry City who were last year thrown out of the Premier Division for irregularities in club will kick off life in the First Division with a home fixture at the Brandywell against Bray Wanderers on Friday 5^th March.  On the Saturday Night the 6^th Finn Harps will start the 2010 campaign with an away game to Longford Town at Flancare Park. Harps first home game is Friday 12^th March against Salthill Devon. Derry and Harps will meet in two derby league matches, with the first at the Brandywell on Tuesday 4^th May and Harps will host the candystrips on Friday 30^th July.

In the Premier Division Champions Bohemians will start the defence of their title at home to Sporting Fingal.

Michael Murphy

Donegal 3-11 Laois 0-05

Donegal share top spot with Down in Division Two of the National Football League after their second victory of the competition,  a comfortable fifteen point win over Laois in Ballyshannon. The goal scorers for Donegal were Conal Dunne, James Keeney and Young Player of the Year 2009 Michael Murphy. The Glenswilly man finished the game with 1-3 while Colm Mc Fadden scored four points.  Donegal’s next game will be in two weeks time away to Kildare.
Charlie Collins got reaction from Donegal Mentor Tony Boyle after the game.
 

In Division One Tyrone are still looking for their first win in the league. Mickey Harte’s side lost to Mayo 1-12 to 1-11 in Healy Park Omagh on Sunday.
At  Parnell Park on Saturday evening Derry went down to Dublin losing 1-11 to 0-7. The Derry men managed to score just one point in the second half.
Dublin, Cork and Mayo share top spot in Division One.

Stranolar’s Gary Murray returned from injury on Saturday to take the senior mens Ulster Cross Country title in Belfast. Gary’s club St Malachey’s also won the team event.
Highland’s Patsy Mc Gonigle has the details.
 

Finn Harps manager James Gallagher unveils his latest signing Kevin McHugh

Ask any Finn Harps supporter which player they would liked to have seen in advance of the 2010 season join the club and the vast majority will say ‘Kevin McHugh.’  The man who scored 122 goals during his time at the club between 1998 and 2005 was a player whose presence at Finn Park has been missed more than most.  Many Harps fans hoped and dreamed that one day their idol would once again represent them on the pitch.

Shortly after 4.00pm on Friday afternoon that dream of McHugh pulling on a Harps shirt once more became a reality, when the man who has spent the last four years away from the club came home.  Although talked about as a possibility since the turn of the year, it was only when McHugh entered the Balor Theatre in Ballybofey for the media conference that the large contingent of Harps supporters present finally believed the rumours.  And, what initially was rumoured to be a loan move from Irish League leaders Linfield, has turned out in fact to be a permanent move back to Harps.

Finn Harps Chairman, Joey O’Leary, this evening confirmed that McHugh has agreed a two-year deal with Harps and says that it is a sign that both the player and the club are committed to one another going forward.

Kevin Mc Hugh talks with Chris Mc Nulty
 

Westmeath 0-09 Donegal 1-13.

Donegal got their National Football League Division Two campaign off to a winning start on Sunday with a seven point victory over Westmeath in Mullingar. It was the home side which got off to the better start leading by five points to nil after fifteen minutes. Donegal pulled it back to trail by a point 0-6 to 0-5 at half time. An early second half goal from Kevin Cassidy put Donegal in front for the first time in the game. Colm McFadden  scored seven points for Donegal as they ran out winners 1-13 to 0-9.
Charlie Collins speaking with Donegal Mentor Tommy Ryan.
 

In Division One of the League on Saturday Night at Celtic Park, Derry beat Tyrone  1-18 to 1-12.

Tir Chonaill’s Mary Mc Loone was crowned National Indoor Champion on Sunday at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. The teacher from Glenswilly won Gold in the Triple Jump  with a jump of 12.50 to take top spot.  Mary also won Silver on Saturday in the Long Jump with a 5.89 jump. Mary will now represent Ireland at the European Cup thanks to her gold medal performance in the Triple Jump. Elsewhere Donegal’s Mark English won bronze in the 800m.
Highland’s Patsy Mc Gonigle has the details.
 

Final Score Donegal 1-11 Tyrone 0-13

Donegal retained the Dr Mc Kenna Cup on Saturday evening after a one point win over Tyrone at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.  At half time Tyrone lead by two scores 0-9 v 0-7. In the second half Tyrone were leading by four points when Stephen O Neill suffered a dislocated elbow, which will keep him out for at least three months. Donegal fought back towards the end and it was a David Walsh goal in added time which ensured a narrow victory.
Charlie Collins speaking with Donegal Manager John Joe Doherty.
 

William Mc Laughlin of Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club was named as the Donegal Sports Star of the Year for 2009 at the awards ceremony held in the Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny, on Friday night. Over 500  people turned out for the occasion where the special guest was former twice World Cross-Country Chmapion and Olympic marathon silver medalist John Treacy. For McLaughlin, 2009 was the year when he really made the big breakthrough. The 24 year-old claimed a silver medal at the EU Championships in Denmark and is now ranked in the top ten in his weight division.

Colm Mc Fadden

Donegal and Tyrone will meet in this Saturday’s Dr. Mc Kenna Cup Final. In Enniskillen Wednesday night Donegal beat Down 1-13 to 1-12. Edward Kelly scored Donegal’s goal in the first half while Colm Mc Fadden was the top scorer for the holders with a total of five points. Tyrone had yet another comfortable win in the competition beating Fermanagh 1-20 to 1-8. Man of the Match Tommy Mc Guigan scored 1-6 and Stephen O Neill hit five points. Saturday’s Final will be played at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.

There was double success for the county on Wednesday at the All Ireland Senior Basketball Schools Finals at the National Stadium in Dublin. Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town girls won the U19C  title beating Alexandra College Dublin 74 – 30 to win the  All Ireland for the first time. St Eunan’s College also won the U19B Boys title against Chanel College Dublin. The Letterkenny school had  nine points to spare in a dramatic game winning 67 – 58.

Bad news this week  for both Donegal and Naomh Conaill. Dara Gallgher has been ruled out for three months after sustaining a chest injury in his clubs Ulster U21 Championship win last Sunday. Doctors diagnosed the injury as a cracked bone in the chest and have told him to take total rest for twelve weeks. Gallagher has been ruled out of the entire National League campaign.

The line up for Wednesday Night’s Dr. Mc Kenna Cup Semi Finals was confirmed at the weekend following the last of the group games. Donegal were comfortable 1-13 to 0-05 winners against St. Mary’s. Colm Mc Fadden was top scorer in Ballybofey on Saturday evening with 7pts. John Joe Doherty’s side qualified for the semi’s as the best runners up and will play Down in the last four. The Mourne County finished as winners of Group C after their 1-15 to 1-13 win against Derry on Sunday. The Donegal Down game will be played at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.
Donegal Manager John Joe Doherty speaking with Tom Comack.
 

The other semi final sees  Tyrone taking on neighbours Fermanagh. Mickey Harte’s side beat Cavan on Saturday evening 2-17 to 1-4 to top Group B. Mark Donnelly scored both goals for Tyrone. Fermanagh beat Armagh on Sunday by 1-8 to 1-6 to top Group A with three wins from three matches. The Tyrone Fermanagh semi final will be played on Wednesday Night at Healy Park in Omagh.

Derry’s John Duddy took his 28th professional career win on Saturday Night at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Duddy defeated Mexican Juan Astorga thanks to a first round knocked out. The fight lasted just one minute and 55 seconds. Referee Wayne Kelly intervened after Duddy had completely outclassed his South American opponent. The Derry Destroyer’s next fight will be on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao/Joshua Clottey bill in Texas on the 13th March.