Donegal Intermediate Football Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donegal Intermediate Football Championship
IrishCraobh Peil Idirmheánach Dhún na nGall
Founded1977
Title holdersAodh Ruadh (1st title)
Most titlesGlenfin, Na Dúnaibh, Naomh Muire, Réalt na Mara and Termon (3 titles)

The Donegal Intermediate Football Championship (abbreviated as Donegal IFC) is an annual club football competition organised by Donegal GAA.

Initially a straight knock-out competition, a round-robin group stage was introduced in 2013. The winning club qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship (the winners of which go on to compete in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship) and are also promoted to the Donegal Senior Football Championship for the following season.

The winning club receive the Cathal McLaughlin Memorial Cup. The competition has been won by 27 clubs, 11 of which have won it more than once. Glenfin, Na Dúnaibh, Naomh Muire, Réalt na Mara and Termon are the most successful clubs, each winning three titles.

The current holders are Aodh Ruadh who defeated Cloich Cheann Fhaola in the 2020 decider.

History[]

Declan Bonner was player-manager of the 1989 winning team.[1] He won the Ulster Senior Football Championship with his county in 1990, followed by another in 1992 and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship of 1992 as well.

The most successful team to have emerged from the Donegal IFC in the 21st-century is Glenswilly. They went on to claim several SFC honours for the first time in club history (2011, 2013, 2016). Neil Gallagher, the future National Football League-winning captain and All Star of the 2012 and 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, won the Donegal IFC in 2005.[citation needed]

The 2006 final required two replays before Cloich Cheann Fhaola defeated Gaeil Fhánada.[2]

Men to have won this competition and to have played at senior level for their county include Paddy McConigley (2009),[3] Michael Boyle (2012),[4] (2014),[5] Jamie and Paul Brennan (2015),[6] Frank McGlynn (2018)[7] and Peter Boyle (2020).[8]

Others to have played in this competition and played at senior level for their county include Michael Lynch,[6] Niall McCready[4] and Brian Roper.[4]

Qualification for subsequent competitions[]

Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship[]

The Donegal IFC winners qualify for the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship. It is the only team from County Donegal to qualify for this competition. The Donegal IFC winners may enter the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage.

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship[]

The Donegal IFC winners — by winning the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship, at which they would enter at the semi-final stage, providing they haven't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals. The last team from County Donegal to do this was Naomh Mícheál in 2004 who went on to reach the final, losing out to Ilen Rovers of Cork.[9]

Winners and finalists[]

Results by team[]

Results by team
# Team Wins Years won Last final lost
1 Réalt na Mara 3 1977, 2010, 2015 2009
Na Dúnaibh 1981, 1988, 1993 1978
Glenfin 1983, 2001, 2018 1997
Termon 1991, 2000, 2012 N/A
Naomh Muire 1994, 1998, 2013 N/A
2 Naomh Ultan 2 1984, 2002 1998
Na Rossa 1989, 1999 2008
Milford 1992, 2017 2016
Buncrana 1995, 2004 2014
Cloich Cheann Fhaola 2006, 2014 2019
Gaeil Fhánada 2007, 2009 2006
St Naul's 2011, 2019 2017
3 Rosses Rovers 1 1978 N/A
Na Cealla Beaga 1979 N/A
Roger Casements[a] 1980 N/A
Urris 1982 N/A
Gaoth Dobhair 1985 N/A
An Clochán Liath 1986 N/A
Naomh Bríd 1987 N/A
Naomh Conaill 1990 1986
Four Masters 1996 N/A
Carndonagh 1997 2003
Naomh Mícheál 2003 2000
Glenswilly 2005 N/A
Seán MacCumhaills 2008 N/A
Burt 2016 N/A
Aodh Ruadh 2020 2018

Finals listed by year[]

Year Winner Score Opponent Score Winning Captain Man of the Match Winning Manager
2020[8] Aodh Ruadh 2-14 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-12 Johnny Gethins Nathan Boyle Barry Ward
2019[10] St Naul's 1-10 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-10 Stephen Griffin Kevin Mulhern Barry Meehan
2018[7] Glenfin 1-10 Aodh Ruadh 0-07 Gerard Ward Gerard Ward Liam Breen[11]
2017[12] Milford 2-11 St Naul's 0-12 Paddy Peoples Gary Merritt Danny O'Donnell
2016[13] Burt 2-11 Milford 1-12 Martin Donaghey Paul McHugh Ronan McLaughlin
2015[6] Réalt na Mara 4-17 Naomh Colmcille 0-04 Tommy Hourihan Shane McGowan Brian Gavigan
2014[5] Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-15 Buncrana 0-08 Joe McGarvey[14]
2013[15] Naomh Muire 1-13 St Naul's 1-07
2012[4] Termon 0-11 Aodh Ruadh 1-07
2011[16] St Naul's 1-05 Naomh Columba 0-03
2010 Réalt na Mara 1-08 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-09
2009 Gaeil Fhánada 2-09 Réalt na Mara 1-07
2008[17] Seán MacCumhaills 0-10 Na Rossa 0-07
2007 Gaeil Fhánada 0-10 Réalt na Mara 1-06
2006 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-11 Gaeil Fhánada 0-08
2005 Glenswilly 1-12 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-07
2004 Buncrana 1-07 St Naul's 0-04
2003 Naomh Mícheál 0-18 Carndonagh 0-05
2002 Naomh Ultan 2-04 Buncrana 0-08
2001 Glenfin 1-13 Malin 0-07
2000 Termon 0-16 Naomh Mícheál 0-04
1999 Na Rossa 1-13 Malin 1-11
1998 Naomh Muire 1-10 Naomh Ultan 2-06
1997 Carndonagh 1-12 Glenfin 1-11
1996 Four Masters 2-15 Carndonagh 1-05
1995 Buncrana 1-08 St Naul's 1-05
1994 Naomh Muire 0-08 St Naul's 0-03
1993 Na Dúnaibh 1-13 Na Rossa 0-09
1992 Milford 1-12 Naomh Ultan 2-08
1991 Termon 1-15 Réalt na Mara 1-07
1990 Naomh Conaill 2-12 Réalt na Mara 2-10
1989[1] Na Rossa 3-08 Naomh Ultan 2-08
1988 Na Dúnaibh 0-06 St Naul's 0-05
1987 Naomh Bríd 0-06 St Naul's 0-05
1986 An Clochán Liath 0-08 Naomh Conaill 0-06
1985 Gaoth Dobhair 2-08 St Naul's 0-05
1984 Naomh Ultan 1-05 Cill Chartha 0-05
1983 Glenfin 2-10 Na Rossa 2-08
1982 Urris 1-05 Red Hughs 0-07
1981 Na Dúnaibh 0-13 Glenfin 0-08
1980 Roger Casements 3-05 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-10
1979 Na Cealla Beaga 1-08 Glenfin 0-08
1978 Rosses Rovers 0-09 Na Dúnaibh 0-07
1977 Réalt na Mara 2-11 Convoy 0-11

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Bonner, Declan (23 April 2020). "You need that glimmer of hope". Donegal News. p. 55.
  2. ^ Ferry, Ryan (23 April 2020). "McConigley reflects on 2007 National League success". Donegal News. pp. 52–3.
  3. ^ Forker, Mark (29 June 2015). "Former Donegal GAA star helps Kilkenny footballers win British junior title". Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Hughes, John (7 November 2012). "Final heartache for Aodh Ruadh". Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Foley, Alan (11 November 2014). "Cloughaneely defeat Buncrana to seal Donegal Intermediate title". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c McNulty, Chris (25 October 2015). "Bundoran show no mercy to crush Naomh Colmcille's dreams". Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Keenan, Shaun (14 October 2018). "Glenfin comfortably beat Aodh Ruadh to win IFC A Final". Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Foley, Alan (26 September 2020). "Aodh Ruadh come good in final quarter against Cloughaneely to win IFC". Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Easy in the end for Ilen". Irish Independent. 26 April 2004.
  10. ^ Foley, Alan (13 October 2019). "St Naul's hold firm to overcome Cloughaneely and lift IFC crown". Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  11. ^ McNulty, Chris (9 December 2019). "Mark McGinty reappointed as Glenfin manager". Retrieved 9 December 2019. McGinty took over from Liam Breen, who had guided the club to the Intermediate Championship in 2018.
  12. ^ McNulty, Chris (8 October 2017). "Late McGettigan goal wipes the pain as Milford win title". Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  13. ^ McNulty, Chris (15 October 2016). "History made as Burt go to the well to pip Milford to Intermediate title". Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  14. ^ McNulty, Chris (23 January 2015). "John Paul Gallagher takes over at Cloughaneely as clubs gear up for new season". Donegal News. Retrieved 23 January 2015. The Falcarragh club have been on the look-out for a new boss following confirmation that Joe McGarvey wasn’t seeking another term at the helm. McGarvey guided Cloughaneely to IFC glory when they defeated Buncrana in the final.
  15. ^ "A day for Yanks in O'Donnell Park". 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Finals can go any way — [St Naul's manager Barry] Meehan". Donegal News. 10 October 2019. p. 69. St Naul's are no strangers to the Intermediate final and this will be their 10th final at this level since 1985. Their record isn't the best as they were only victorious in one of those back in 2011. Since then they have lost to Naomh Muire in 2013, and most of the current side were playing in 2017 when Milford got the better of them after a close game.
  17. ^ Ferry, Ryan (3 October 2019). "Gaels target historic final berth". Donegal News. p. 73. It's 11 years since Na Rossa last contested a county final, but they are hoping to qualify for the Junior 'A' Championship decider this Saturday when they take on Letterkenny Gaels. In 2008, Na Rossa reached the Intermediate final but lost by three points in the final against MacCumhaills.

Explanatory notes[]

  1. ^ Roger Casements were a Milford-based side which disbanded after losing to Convoy in the 1982 IFC semi-final — https://sites.google.com/a/gaa.ie/naomh-ultan-dunkineely-donegal/history.

Further reading[]

  • Ó Gallchóir, An tAth. Seán (2007). The Book of Donegal GAA Facts. Letterkenny: Browne Printers Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9542806-3-5.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""