The Downings Bay Hotel Under 16 league kick starts the Donegal Northern Board Competitions on Sunday with all games having a noon throw in.
The game between St Eunans and Ghaoth Dobhair at O’Donnell Park is just one of a number of mouth watering games down for decision. The Letterkenny boys face a stiff test from the Gaeltach boys who are are expected to do well this year under Tom Mac Giolla Easbuig and could well get off to a winning start.
Carndonagh, under Tony McGinn and Paddy Mc Laughlin will look to Danny Monagle and Matthew McLaughlin as they travel to Ballybofey to take on the local McCumhaills but it’s hard to see past a winning start for Brian Ó Maoldúin and Mickey Mc Mahon in this game.
The final game in the division is the one at Milford where Burt are the visitors. Both sides will be hoping to improve slightly on last year. The long serving Sean Paul Barrett has Darragh Black, Dominic Hull and Kane Barrett named in his panel but will rebuild again after losing in last years final of league and championship. Benny McDermott and Damian Dowds are in charge again at Hibernian Park, where expectations are not high. They have fine players in Ryan McLaughlin, Stephen O Donnell and Jamie Barr who may be good enough to get them off to a winning start anyway.
In Division Two Section One, Glenfin entertain Red Hughs in the match of the day. The home side have a strong management team in Hugh Boyle, Kevin Mc Glynn, Frank Mc Glynn and Brendan Carr and they will be hoping Christopher Mc Brearty, Luke Keane and young Lorcan Donnlan.can steer them to an opening day victory. However the boys from The Cross will be no pushovers, with Shane Mc Glinchey & Martin Byrne and Stephen Mc Menamin players to watch out for as the season progresses. The management team of Stephen Gallagher & Paul Bradley and trainer Joe Carlin are hoping for a good season, but will have a better idea after Sunday’s game?
The meeting of Buncrana and St Mary’s Convoy at The Scarvey is likely to be close game and could go either way. The home side have enlisted Seamus Grant, Odhran Doherty and Oisin Doherty as part of their new management team and the experienced Malachy McCann will join them. Shane McLaughlin and Joseph McGrory are tipped to make their mark this year as is Andrew Doherty as Buncrana attempt to erase the memory of disappointing defeats in league and championship finals last year. Convoy are always a difficult side, who surprisingly perform just as well away from home. Oliver Prunty, Liam Mc Conalogue and Liam O Keefe feel they have underachieved and will look to rectify that issue. Niall Bonner, Michael Patton, James Kee and Jack Blake could be the boys to deliver this year, time will tell.
Malin make the long journey to Castlefin to take on the local Emmets in what is expected to be a close game. Home manager Aaron McDaid is hoping to be competitive, bit are also looking at the bigger picture as they develop players for the future. Malin are always ambitious at underage and manager Mickey McCarron will look to Eamón Hegarty , John O Neill and Ryan Doherty to take them to a league final at least.
The final game in this group will see Naomh Padraig Lifford entertain Bun an Phobail, who are making a return to the Northern Board after an absence of several years. There is a strong family connection in a strong management team of Sean O’ Hare, Seamus Hegarty, Eunan Hegarty and Ryan Monagle. They have several players with colleges experience such as Ciaran Diver, Tony Mc Clenaghan and Mark Browne which may be enough to see them off to a winning start. Lifford manager Daniel McNulty
Division Two Section Two promises to be every bit as competitive with games in Dunfanaghy, Downings, Newtown and Cloughaneely. St Michaels should prove too strong for St Eunans second string and managers Trevor Stewart and Dave Rutland will be hoping for bigger stage later in the year. Downings despite having Lorcan Connor, James Lee McBride and Ben McBride in their side will have their work cut out for the visit of Glenswilly who should have enough firepower in Peter Doherty, Shaun and Dayle Gallagher.to return home with the points
Naomh Colmcille welcome Fanad Gaels to Newtown in another interesting tie. Young Ryan McKinley has been doing serious work with the underage set up in Newtiown and despite working off a small panel he is hopeful of success at this level. They won two titles last year, before losing to a good Glenties side in the county final but they still have Dan Clarke, Micheal Friel and Micheal Lynch in their squad. The Gaels have Eamon Carr, Oisin Shiels and Aiden Heraghty on board and won the plate competition in 2011, but their aim for this year is a championship and will be looking to building towards that.
The final game on Sunday’s programme is the meeting of Cloughaneely and Letterkenny Gaels in Falcarragh where both clubs will be hoping for a good start in their aim to get back to the top flight. Home manager Martin Duggan knows the importance of a good start and with players such as Ciaran Mc Geady, Eamon Mc Hugh Jason Mc Gee he has every right to be optimistic. Charlie Cannon takes the reins at the Gaels, who did well at U15 level last year and with Conor Browne, Sean McDonagh and Patrick Doherty all breaking through there is indeed hope of an away victory on opening day.
Sunday 4th March 12.00 Noon
Downings Bay Hotel
U16 Division One
SEAN MC COOLS V CARNDONAGH GERARD MC HUGH
ST EUNANS V GHAOTH DOBHAIR JAMES TREARTY
MILFORD V BURT HUGH MC GARVEY
Sean McCumhaills
Managers Brian Ó Maoldúin and Mickey Mc Mahon
Hopes for the season League Finalists County Semi final
Main Players. Karl Hughes and Shane Lafferty.
One for the Future. Nathan Gavigan.
Last Year Northern Board Champions
Predictions for 2012. Gaoth Dobhair, probable champions.
Carndonagh
Manager Tony Mc Ginn & Paddy Mc Laughlin
Hopes For Season Compete well in Division 1
Main Players Danny Monagle, & Mathew Mc Laughlin
One for future: Fergal Doherty
Last year won Inishowen Championship and finished second in NB league
Prediction for 2012 Compete well in the Div 1 league & Championship,
St. Eunans
Manager Paul Carr
Hopes For Season Hopefully to do as well as we can.
Main Players Sean Hume, Conal O’Boyle
One for future Darragh McWalters
Last year Lost to Gweedore in U15 Northern Board Final
Prediction for 2012 To do well in te championship
CLG Ghaoth Dobhair
Manager Tom Mac Giolla Easbuig
Hopes For Season keep developing the squad
Main Players A very good squad, hard to single out individuals
One for future Ryan Ó Ceallaigh
Last year Won the under 16 division 11 County Champonship.
Prediction for 2012 to keep progressing and be competitive.
Milford
Manager Shaun P Barrett
Hopes for season Contest league & championship
Main Player Darragh Black, Dominic Hull
One for the future Kane Barrett
Last year defeated div 3 league final & championship final
Prediction top two.
Burt
Manager: Benny McDermott and Damian Dowds
Hopes For Season: A kind draw in the championship!
Main Players Ryan McLaughlin and Stephen O’Donnell
One for future: Jamie Barr
Last year: Lost all Division 1 league games,
Prediction for 2012: To do better than 2011
Downings Bay Hotel U16
Division Two Section One
GLENFIN V RED HUGHS EDDIE CRAWFORD
BUNCRANA V CONVOY CHRIS LYNCH
ROBERT EMMETTS V MALIN TONY GALLAGHER
N/PADRAIG LIFFORD V V MOVILLE LIAM DOHERTY
Clg Ghleann Fhinne
Management Team Hugh Boyle, Kevin Mc Glynn, Frank Mc Glynn, Brendan Carr.
Hopes for season To try and reach Regional final.
Main Players Christopher Mc Brearty, Luke Keane.
One for the Future Lorcan Donnlan.
Last Year Reached Regional semi final, lost to eventual winners at Northern Board and Og Sport Gael all county.
Prediction for 2012 Mid Table
Red Hughs
Manager Stephen Gallagher & Paul Bradley. Trainer Joe Carlin
Hopes For Season To Win Division 2 League
Main Players Shane Mc Glinchey & Martin Byrne
One for future Stephen Mc Menamin
Last year 3rd in Division 2
Prediction for 2012 Red Hughs to go all the way
Buncrana U16
Managers: Malachy McCann, Seamus Grant, Odhrán Doherty, Oisín Doherty
Hopes For Season: Preparations have been going well with the squad and Buncrana will be hoping to mount a serious challenge in Division Two, and develop the players to progress to senior football in the not too distant future.
Main Players: Shane McLaughlin is a talented attacking half back who is comfortable on the ball, whilst Joseph McGrory is capable of controlling the play from midfield and setting up attacks.
One for future: Andrew Doherty has excellent natural ability, can operate at half-back or half forward and is developing into one of the leaders of the team.
Last year: Last year we won the All County League Division One with a talented squad, a number of whom are still underage next year. The experience of the remaining squad members along with the talent and enthusiasm of the younger members should bode well from the coming season in Division Two.
Prediction for 2012: We will be hoping to mount a serious challenge in the Northern League Div Two and the All County Division Two Championship.
St Marys Convoy
Managers Oliver Prunty, Liam Mc Conalogue & Liam O Keefe
Hopes for season To be able to compete in all games and play to our full potential.
Main Players Niall Bonner & Michael Patton.
One for the future Actually two James Kee & Jack Blake.
Last year Mid table Div 2 & Div 3 championship semi final.
Prediction for 2012 Mid table Div 2
Robert Emmets
Manager Arron Mc Daid
Hopes For Season To be Competitive and get a good league & Championship run
Main Players We do not want to complete this section as we are focussing on building a team.
Prediction for 2012 We hope to be involved in the business end of the league & championship.
Málainn
Manager Mickey Mc Carron
Hopes For Season To be competitive in all our matches, to remain injury free and to be in contention for all competitions entered.
Main Players Eamón Hegarty , John O Neill
One for future Ryan Doherty
Last year Reached division 2 final
Prediction for 2012 Donegal to win the Sam Maguire!!!!!
Naoumh Padraig Lifford
Team manager: Daneil mc nulty
2 main players: Jack Mahon and christopher catterson
player to watch out for: jack mahon
Hopes for this year: we aim to win the league
Moville
Manager: Sean O’ Hare, Seamus Hegarty, Eunan Hegarty, Ryan Monagle
Hopes For Season: To Fulfill all Fixtures and finish in the top half of the league.
Main Players Ciaran Diver, Tony Mc Clenaghan
One for future: Mark Browne
Last year: Did not enter into Northern Board last Year.
Prediction for 2012 Dark Horse in the championship
Downings Bay Hotel Under 16
Division Two Section Two
ST MICHAELS V ST EUNANS [B] TOM BEAG GILLESPIE
DOWNINGS GLENSWILLY GERRY CROSSAN
NAOMH COLMCILLE FANAD GAELS HUGO WALLACE
CLOGHANEELY V L/KENNY GAELS JAMES TREARTY
Naomh Micheál CLG,
Managers: Trevor Stewart and Dave Rutland
Hopes for season: We hope to finish in the top 4 in our League and have a good run in the Championship.
Main Players: In our squad there are fine young gaelic footballers, among them
are Brandon McColgan and Ciaran Kelly to name only two.
Ones for the future: The future of Naomh Micheál CLG looks very bright with many up and coming young stars in the club.
Pediction 2012 We would like to finish in the top 4 of our League and to do well in the Championship.
St Eunans (B)
Manager Ciaran Maguire
Hopes For Season To keep all players interested in GAA football by performing at the highest levels also to build on our achievements last year. Develop further the weaker players in our squad by playing competitive football and coaching their weaker areas. To get some of our players involved in the county development squad.
Main Players We have a team of very talented players that succeeded in winning U-14 Feile last year but 2 of our top players were the captain and vice-captain (Darragh McWalters & Odhran McGinley), Darragh being very strong in the middle of the field and well able to distribute the ball while Odhran was very strong in the back-line and good at playing it out of defence.
One for future: Player to be watched in the future is John McIntyre who developed very well last season and whom we will expect a lot from this season
Last year: This team won the All-Ireland Feile competition in their section last year.They also won the county league + championship as well as having success in the Benny Carr Memorial Cup
Prediction for 2012: We would like to feel this team will go on and achieve success this year again but we know we will be the form team to beat
Downings
Managers: Finghin McClafferty / Brendan McGee / Michael Bradley
Hopes for season: A good league finish and a good championship run.
Main Players: Lorcan Connor & James Lee McBride
One for the future: Ben McBride
Predictions: Top 3 finish in Division 2 Section 2
C.L.G Glenswilly
Manager: Brian Mc Hugh, Johnny Mc Ginley & Seimi Callaghan
Hopes for Season: To have a good league performance and a good championship run.
Main Players (name 2): Shaun Gallagher & Dayle Gallagher.
One for future: Peter Doherty.
Last year: Division 3 Plate winners.
Prediction for 2012: Top three finish in the leagup.e and do well in division 2 championship
Naomh Colmcille
Manager Ryan mc Kinley
Main Players Dan Clarke Full forward
Micheal friel Conner Back
Micheal Lynch Full back
Hopes for year To win county championship and league
Last year won n board final and Shield, Lost to a good Glenties team in the county final and league semi final …
Player to look out for: Dan Clarke
Fanad Gaels
Managers Fergal Friel, Patrick Heraghty, Paul Coyle
Hopes For Season Retain as many players who played for this team at under 14 level and have a good run in championship.
Main Players Eamon Carr, Oisin Shiels
One for future Aiden Heraghty
Last year Division 2 plate winners
Prediction for 2012 League and championship final
Cloughaneely
Manager: Martin Duggan
Hopes For Season: Mid Table in the Northern League. Semi Finalist in the Northern Championship
Main Players Ciaran Mc Geady and Eamon Mc Hugh
One for future: Jason Mc Gee
Last year: Winners of Northen Plate
Prediction for 2012: Northern Plate Finalists
Letterkenny Gaels Manager Charlie Cannon
Hopes For Season Compete in Div 2
Main Players Conor Browne, Sean McDonagh
One for future Patrick Doherty
Last year Beaten U15 finalists
Prediction for 2012 League Mid Table, Championship Semi Final
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