Previews: A busy weekend in the Donegal Club Championship

DONEGAL SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

ST EUNAN’S V CLOUGHANEELY

Saturday, O’Donnell Park, 1.30pm

REIGNING champions St Eunan’s have edged closer to a place in the knock-out rounds with a thumping win over Bundoran last weekend. Cloughaneely are coming off the back of a one-sided defeat to Kilcar and it’s hard to see them faring any better against Rory Kavanagh’s side.

Verdict: St Eunan’s

KILLYBEGS V MILFORD

Saturday, Eamonn Byrne Memorial Park, 2pm

MILFORD had a fantastic league campaign in Division Two but they’re yet to pick up any points in the senior championship. Killybegs are tipping along nicely and didn’t embarrass themselves in defeat to Naomh Conaill, so they should win this one.

Verdict: Killybegs

FOUR MASTERS V REALT NA MARA

Saturday, Four Masters, 4pm

TWO sides in need of a win. Four Masters just have one point to their name after two games while Realt Na Mara (Bundoran) have nothing to show for their efforts. We’ll go for Four Masters to keep their hopes alive.

Verdict: Four Masters

AODH RUADH BALLYSHANNON V ST NAUL’S

Sunday, Father Tierney Park, 1.30pm

AODH RUADH dug out their second straight victory when they overcame Ardara in a low-scoring affair on Saturday evening. Their opponents St Naul’s are yet to pick up a positive result of any description but their star man Peadar Mogan gave an inspirational display in their recent loss to Glenswilly.

Verdict: Aodh Ruad

ST MICHAEL’S V NAOMH CONAILL

Sunday, St Michael’s, 2pm

TWO of the heavy hitters in the championship face off on Sunday. Both have a win and a draw to their name after two matches, and while Naomh Conaill haven’t set the world alight in this year’s championship, they still have plenty of now-how and guile. It won’t be easy against a talented St Michael’s team, however, who looked very slick indeed in their recent win over Milford.

Verdict: St Michael’s

GLENSWILLY V GLENFIN

Sunday, Glenswilly, 2pm

GLENSWILLY have been handed home advantage for their third match of the campaign. While their talisman is Michael Murphy, they had a good spread of scorers in last weekend’s win against St Naul’s and should pick up another against Glenfin.

Verdict: Glenswilly

KILCAR V ARDARA

Sunday, Kilcar, 3pm

KILCAR are Division One champions and have carried their good form into the championship, topping the table with two very impressive victories. Ardara have yet to win and it doesn’t look like their luck will turn this weekend.

Verdict: Kilcar

GAOTH DOBHAIR V SEAN MAC CUMHAILL’S

Sunday, Gaoth Dobhair, 4.30pn

SEAN MAC CUMHAILL’S have had a great few weeks, achieving promotion from Division Two, drawing against St Michael’s in the championship and then claiming a solid victory over Four Masters. Gaoth Dobhair are two-from-two in the championship and have some good young players coming through, so this could be a super game.

Verdict: Gaoth Dobhair

DONEGAL INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

FANAD GAELS V BURT

Saturday, Pairc Uí Shiail, 7pm

BURT weren’t really fancied to do well in the competition but have played well and claimed a huge scalp against Malin. Their opponents Fanad Gaels, meanwhile, have claimed two draws and lost their other game. This is a must-win game for both teams.

Verdict: Fanad Gaels

NAOMH MUIRE V DUNGLOE

Saturday, Dungloe, 7pm

DUNGLOE are a cert to progress from the group after picking up three wins to date. They’re scoring goals and seem to be peaking at the right time, so they’re strongly fancied to win this one.

Verdict: Dungloe

TERMON V MALIN

Saturday, Termon, 7pm

MALIN have been pretty disappointing in the Intermediate Championship and are out of the running ahead of their final group stage match. Termon have five points to their name and have some really good players like Conor and Stephen Black.

Verdict: Termon

NAOMH BRID V DOWNINGS

Saturday, Naomh Brid, 7pm

NAOMH BRID are bottom of the table and it’s hard to see their fortunes improving in their final group stage match against Downings, who still have two games left to play. Downings have had a great season and will expect to go far in the competition.

Verdict: Downings

RED HUGHS V CONVOY

Saturday, Pairc Aodh Ruax, 7pm

BOTH these sides still have a chance of advancing to the knock-out rounds so this is a very big game. Convoy had a great 2020 but a disappointing 2021, so they’ll be determined to have something to show for their efforts this year.

Verdict: Convoy

NAOMH COLUMBA V BUNCRANA

Sunday, Pairc nGael, 7pm

NAOMH COLUMBA have been tipping away nicely in the championship. The Intermediate title has been a big goal for them in recent seasons and they should find themselves in the knock-out rounds. Their opponents Buncrana have been going even better and top the table ahead of their final group stage match.

Verdict: Buncrana