Donegal SFC – Final stages of the group to throw in

Senior Championship Group A Round three

St Michael’s v St Eunan’s

Sunday, Connolly park, 1.30pm

St Eunan’s 1-18 to 1-6 win over Ardara put them top of Group A last weekend, but they still have a job of work to do.

Having drawn their opener with Gaoth Dobhair, they got a comfortable win over Ardara. They had scores right across the field, from Caolan Ward and Rory Kavanagh, to Brian McIntyre and Eoin McGeehin. Niall O’Donnell scored 1-5 and Rory Carr hit 0-3.

Rory Kavanagh did come off injured, but manager Richard Thornton had no news to report on Kavanagh and he should be fit to play.

Conor ‘Duck’ O’Donnell has played two full games of reserve football after a period of injury.

So he will be available for selection.

Michael McGroary is on his way back from injury too. Both those players were Donegal u-20s.

This game against St Michael’s promises to be a good one as Gary O’Neill’s team need a win to progress.

St Michael’s lost to Gaoth Dobhair, 1-8 to 1-3 in the last round, though the game was played in poor conditions, in the wind and rain.

Martin McElhinney didn’t play that match but he should be available to play this weekend.

O’Neill told Gaelic Life this week that he has no injury news to report and they will be full strength for this clash.

They need big games from the likes of Michael Langan, Christy Toye and Colin McFadden if they are going to test St Eunan’s.

Verdict: St Eunan’s

Senior championship Group A Round three

Ardara v Gaoth Dobhair

Sunday, Ardara, 2pm

Gaoth Dobhair were measured and controlled in round two as they beat

St Michael’s in difficult conditions.

The weather was wet and windy, yet Gaoth Dobhair moved through the gears and fashioned a good result.

Kieran Gillespie was a welcome returnee, Odhran MacNiallais played very well, and Naoise O Baoill made some great raiding runs.

They will be fancied to beat Ardara who have lost both of their games.

Last weekend they succumbed to St Eunan’s, 1-18 to 1-6.

The positives from the game include John Ross Molloy’s well-taken goal. Unfortunately for Ardara he we sent off towards the end of the game.

Verdict: Gaoth Dobhair

Senior Championship Group B Round three

Killybegs v Dungloe

Saturday, Eamonn Byrne memorial park, 6pm

Dungloe will like to quickly forget about their 2-16 to 1-3 loss to Naomh Conaill last weekend. The positives to take were the performance of Conor Greene up front and Noel McBride scored 0-3. But it was bad day made worse when Barry Curran was sent off.

Manager Francie Martin reported that Gerard Walsh had to go off with a bad head injury. They are waiting to see if he will be fit to play. He did point out that they were glad that Cory Gallagher was able to come on as a sub. He may start this weekend. They have no other injury concerns.

Killybegs are on the brink of qualification after they got a their first win last weekend, a 2-8 to 1-9 result against MacCumhaills. Hugh

McFadden was a key player in that game and scored 1-6. The crucial score was his goal after 48 minutes. The result could have went against them as they gave the ball away late in the game and Oisin Gallen hit the net. But the referee Shane Toolan called a foul, and the goal did not count.

They are in a great position and should win.

Verdict: Killybegs

Senior Championship Group B Round three

Naomh Conaill v Sean MacCumhaills

Saturday, Davy Brennan memorial Park, 6pm

Sean MacCumhaills suffered heartbreak last weekend. They hit eight wides and gifted two goals to Killybegs, but lost 2-8 to 1-9. They also had a goal ruled out for a foul in the box in the final moments.

So how they bounce back from that result will define their game.

If they are optimistic, they will focus on how they kept battling to the finish. But they are playing a Naomh Conaill team who have won both of their games played so far. They had six scorers in their 2-16 to 1-3 win over Dungloe last weekend. Eoghan McGettigan got 0-6, Dermot Molloy managed 0-4, and Brendan McDyer got 1-1.

The Glenties team management had no injuries to report.

They will get a tougher game, but should prevail.

Verdict: Naomh Conaill

Senior championship Group C round three

Glenswilly v Milford

Sunday, Glenswilly, 5pm

Glenswilly’s championship ambitions are hanging by a thread following last weekend’s surprise result in group C, when Four Masters beat Glenswilly by 2-11 to 0-6.

Michael Murphy scored all six of their points, and they had Joe Gibbons sent off late in the game.

Glenswilly had a few chances to get into the match, but Four Masters were relentless.

If there is any good news to take for Glenswilly it is that Ryan McKinley had no injuries to report ahead of their round three game.

Their opponents Milford are in the lucky position of not needing a win. They beat Glenfin 1-17 to 3-8 last weekend. Luke Barrett top scored with 0-9, Kane Barrett got 1-2, but they also had points from TJ Evesson, Christopher Barrett and Cathal McGettigan.

Danny O’Donnell has a clean bill of health for the game, and may look

to test some of his bench.

Verdict: Glenswilly

Senior Championship Group C round three

Glenfin v Four Masters

Sunday, Glenfin, 5pm

Glenfin have a great chance to reach the last eight of the competition, A win against Four Masters, would earn them qualification as long as Glenswilly don’t win and finish with a better scoring difference.

Glenfin played well against Milford last day, scoring 3-8 to Milford’s 1-17.

In round one, they suffered frustration when Michael Murphy scored the equaliser late in the game.

Last weekend goals from Stephen Carr, Daniel McGlynn and Gerard Ward were crucial to keeping them in the game, but Milford are having a stand out season and they would not be stopped. Glenfin manager Mark McGinty had no team news to report so they will be full strength.

Four Masters’ win over Glenswilly will live long in the memory. Their 2-11 to 0-6 against the Championship specialists owed much to the fighting spirit of Four Masters. Conor McDaid got 1-5, and Sean O’Kennnedy got the other goal.

They need a win this weekend to finish the job, but it won’t be easy.

Verdict: Four Masters

Senior Championship Group D Round three

Malin v Bundoran

Sunday, Connolly Park, 3pm

Malin have yet to get a win in this year’s championship. Last weekend they fell at the hands of Termon, by 0-17 to 1-11.

Malin battled throughout the game, particularly when Paul Gallagher hammered the ball to the net.

The division three team will be up against it this weekend against Bundoran. Manager Robert Farren said that Oisin McGonagle and Joe Doherty picked up injuries in that match. So he is waiting to see if they will be fit to take part this weekend.

Bundoran have some issues of their own.

Niall Dunne, their manager, told Gaelic Life this week that they are worried about the fitness of Cian McEniff. The good news is that Timmy Govorov and Niall Carr are returning to action.

Bundoran were seven points behind Kilcar last time, 1-20 to 1-13, and the result only served to highlight just how strong Kilcar are.

Verdict: Bundoran

Senior Championship Group D Round 3

Kilcar v Termon

Sunday, Kilcar, 3pm

Kilcar can afford to take this game easy as they have confirmed their place in the quarter-finals.

The bad news for manager Barry Doherty is that Michael Hegarty has picked up an injury. The good news is that Ciaran McGinley and Barry Shovlin are due to return to action, and may get some game time this weekend. Everyone else is fit. Termon got a 0-17 to 1-11 win over Malin last weekend, which served to ease their worries about relegation out of the senior championship. This weekend, they won’t have Enda McCormick as he is suspended. Daire McDaid is still injured and won’t play any part either.

Verdict: Kilcar