8/Mar: GAA – League defeats for Donegal Tyrone & Derry
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.


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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.