DONEGAL REVIEW – Some small positives from Tir Chonaill’s year

1: Stick men make their point with cups

THE Donegal hurlers enjoyed an incredible run of success in 2020. They qualified for the final game of the Division 3A National Hurling League, and beat Armagh 1-18 to 0-19 to win promotion to Division 2B for the 2021 season. It was a remarkable result, as they beat an Armagh team who have been excellent over the past few years. The result sent Donegal back to Division 2B, a year after they were relegated from that tier. But the success would continue into the championship. They reached the Nickey Rackard decider where they beat a fancied Mayo team, who played in a league above Donegal this year. Michael McCann’s Tir Chonaill team won by 3-18 to 0-21 to cap off a brilliant year.

2: Armagh outclassed

OKAY, the Donegal footballers season ended in a frustrating and humbling defeat to Cavan in the Ulster final. That was undoubtedly the low point of the season, but there really are positives to take from Declan Bonner’s team’s campaign. They were ruthless against Tyrone and Armagh. The Red Hands are one of two teams who would have been expected to test Donegal, and they certainly did on a wet day in Ballybofey. Donegal were in front for a good period but Tyrone kept battling back. That Donegal stayed in front by the finish owes much to their confidence in themselves. The final score was 1-13 to 1-11. Next up was an Armagh team who had just earned promotion to Division one. Donegal blew them away by 1-22 to 0-13, pulling away with ease in the second quarter. In the final, the result will be what most folks remember, but there was plenty of good in Donegal’s performance. Andrew McClean’s attacking forays were one positive aspect. One bad result does not make a bad team

3: New stars emerge at u-20 level

CAST your mind back to early spring when we thought that action was going to run off as per usual, and before a terrible virus took hold here. Back then the Donegal u-20s went on a fine run in Ulster and reached the provincial decider. In the quarter-finals, they played out a 2-9 to 1-12 draw with Monaghan after extra-time, Aaron Doherty and Ethan Harkin with their goals. Then the game went to penalties, a new drama for the GAA, and Donegal won 3-1. In the semi-final Donegal played Down and Aaron Doherty’s goal in the 57th minute was the crucial score. Peter McEniff and Ruairi O’Donnell played key roles in the game. Then in the final Donegal played Tyrone. On a windy day they led 0-4 to 0-3 at half time. But Tyrone pulled away in the second half despite playing into the wind. They may have lost but there was plenty to be pleased about in terms of experience of playing at that level for these young players.

4: Great Glenfin

IN AUGUST, in the group stages of the Donegal Ladies Championship, Glenfin and Termon met. Termon emerged victorious on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-4. But the result was regarded as a phony war, as both were saving themselves for the more serious battle to come further down the line in the knock-out stages. Glenfin qualified for the final thanks to a 1-18 to 2-13 victory over Moville. That set up a rematch with Termon. In a thrilling final, Yvonne Bonner scored an incredible five goals as Glenfin won by 7-7 to 2-10. All of Bonner’s goals came in a crazy first half of football. Termon’s Geraldine McLaughlin scored 1-6 but that wasn’t enough to stop Glenfin, and she went off injured. Bonner had played for the AFL team Western Sydney Gaels this season, and was retained for next season as well. So this year was a great one for her.

5: A new hurling club

DUNGLOE’S hurlers enjoyed a remarkable year this season. The club have only been in existence for 10 years, and this was their first season fielding a senior team. They secured a great achievement when they reached the Junior Hurling final. Dungloe is traditionally football country, so any progress in hurling is remarkable. Their run to the final is not only a positive for the club, but also for the county, who are really going in the right direction when it comes to hurling. More competitive clubs hurling is only better for the county who are playing in Division 2B next year. Their first-ever adult championship outing saw them beat St Eunan’s in July. They defeated Setanta B in the semi-final but lost to Carndonagh in the decider.