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Letterkennypost
Thursday 15 February 2018 GAA – ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 2B
Result in Wicklow could hold key to staying up
Attack minded Donegal travel with no fear was a very good victory over last year’s Nicky Rackard champions”. “It was well deserved and missed two or three goals including a penalty in the first half. “But we were winning all the major battles and really when the chances came we took them well. “Our goals sealed it for us fairly early on in the second half and normally we would be just holding out, but on this occasion the lads just kept going and it was a thoroughly deserved victory,” he said. “That is very important in hurling and we told the lads not to give up”. Donegal face a huge challenge in staying in this higher division but that victory over Derry will stand to them, according to McCann. ‘This is a very big victory for us and gives us a great boost of confidence ahead of the long trip to Wicklow. “And if you look at it, Down only just beat Derry in the first match so we will not fear any of the rest of the teams from now on.” As well as being welcome,
By Gerry McLaughlin sports reporter
Donegal senior hurlers make the long and tricky trip to Wicklow with a bit of hope from a bit of history made last Sunday week. For Mickey McCann’s men made history on the double, getting their first ever victory in Division 2B of the National Hurling League. And it was their first competitive victory over Derry side that was admittedly without their Slaughtneil contingent. But that should not detract from a superb team performance that swatted aside the Derry defence in the second half. And they did it without the considerable services of commanding defender Jamesie Donnelly, while ace marksman Kevin Campbell only came on towards the end of the match. For team manager Mickey McCann and his team, this was a huge psychological advantage ahead of a difficult task against frontrunners Wicklow on Sunday. “I know Derry did not have the Slaughtneil boys but this
GAA SCOREBOARD LEAGUE TABLE
Allianz NHL Division 2B P W Down 2 2 Mayo 2 2 Wicklow 2 1 Donegal 2 1 Derry 2 0 Armagh 2 0
D 0 0 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 1 1 2 2
+/- Pts. 17 4 15 4 6 2 4 2 -20 0 -22 0
FIXTURES
Sunday, February 18th; Down v. Arrmagh; Derry v. Mayo, Wicklow v. Donegal.
Donegal manager, Mickey Mc Cann, addressing his team, after a great victory over Derry, in the league game in O Donnell Park, Letterkenny. Photo Michael O Donnell
the Derry victory was essential after a pretty comprehensive defeat to Mayo in the opening round.
Setanta
But that was achieved without the full services of the Setanta contingent that will now be available for the rest of the season. And their extra fitness from reaching the All-Ireland Junior Hurling semi-final is a welcome boost to McCann and Co as they strive to stay in Division 2 B. Donegal have a very strong panel this year and McCann has loads of potential on the bench. “Some of the lads up front were not at their usual peak so Kevin Campbell came on and hit a point for us”. And it is up front that Donegal has some pretty potent finishers. Tipperary and Armagh natives Davin Flynn and Declan Coulter are as good a duo as you will get in this Division. Add in the likes of Kevin
Campbell, Bernard Lafferty, Ronan McDermott, Gerard Gilmore and Lee Henderson, who are all noted ball players and finishers and you can see why this Donegal side is in with a real chance of staying in this division. In defence, they have seasoned campaigners like Christopher McDermott and Joe Boyle who have loads of power and panache with Offaly native Niall Cleary adding some real grit and grace. When Jamesie Donnelly returns, this defence will be even stronger and they will need to be at their very best to overcame a pretty potent Wicklow attack.
The Gaels of Kilcar have said a very warm Slan agus Beannacht to one of their true giants that passed way and was laid to rest last Friday. For the late Proinnsias Carr was a true man for all seasons. He served as player, secretary, treasurer for 26 years and was president in 1993 when the club won a great championship county final with a victory over local rivals Killybegs. In his poignant eulogy, club chairman John Carr said Proinnsias was the quiet man with his wee black money box under the counter. And whenever money was needed for a football or other essentials the money was always provided by the diligent Proinnsias. This was not easy, as Proinsias grew up in hard times, but he always managed to put the nclub first even though there were so
Proinsias Carr
many lean years. But his home house was also a place where the players were provided with tea, sandwiches and scones after home matches, something which will never be forgotten in and around Towney.
Leader
But this team has a powerful leader in Danny Cullen, one of the finest midfielders Donegal has ever had. Cullen is the general, the Franz Beckenbauer of this side, setting up attacks, having superb positional sense, able to pull off vital catches at seminal moments and also
Death of Proinnsias Carr This was an era long before sponsorship but Kilcar teams certainly benefited from Proinnsias’s generous spirit. For although he never shouted about it, but the blue and gold of his native Kilcar was stitched into his big heart. And after all those years of great service it was fitting that he finished up as club president. Also, it was richly fitting that his beloved Cill Chartha won the senior league and championship double last year. Proinnsias enjoyed this hugely as he always took great delight in the success of others. And, that is just one of the things that made this quiet giant of Kilcar GAA so really special. He was also very proud of the great developments around the Towney pitch in recent years. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh A Anam Uasal.
able to finish a move and score when it really matters. His partner Ciaran Matthewson was always an exceptional stickman, but has bulked up
considerably in the past few years. He now has the ability to win dirty ball and withstand hard physical challenges that might have bothered him a few years ago. And his Sean MacCumhaill club mate Lee Henderson is one of the sweetest strikers in any division. He continues to be the county’s marksman and a vital part of Mickey McCann’s armoury. And if Henderson is off form, then Setanta star Kevin Campbell is well used to slotting over frees for his county. So the challenge of Wicklow does not luck quite so daunting and it would not be a major surprise if Donegal get another victory or a draw, which could prove to be very valuable in the latter stages of this competitive league. Either way Donegal hurling seems to be firmly on the up and that can only be good news for those faithful followers of the small ball in the county.
Niall Cleary, mops up at the back for Donegal, in the league game in O Donnell Park, Letterkenny. Photo Michael O Donnell
SOCCER
Letterkenny Rovers It’s a big occasion for our u15s side on Saturday as they welcome Galway side Mervue to the Aura in the last 16 of the SFAI National Cup. Kick off is at 2pm and all support would be very much appreciated and we wish James Bonner, Rory McMorrow and all the lads the very best of luck. The weather had a huge influence on club activities last weekend with both the Youths game and Senior game falling foul of the wintry conditions. The underage academy also had to be postponed and it will now commence this Sunday at the Aura at 945am and is available to boys and girls aged 5-10 years and will be organised by Anthony Gorman and all are welcome. The Seniors are in Knockalla Cup action also on Sunday when travelling to play Glenea Utd with an earlier kickoff time of 130pm. Last Man Standing has now completed two weeks and 118 entrants still survive.
All details can be found on the clubs facebook page. This weeks mini lotto numbers drawn were 1-9-17 and 19. There were two people who matched three numbers with Celia McCormick and Michael McGahey receiving 40 euro each. Next weeks jackpot is 5000 euro. Bingo continues on Thursday nights in the Station House Hotel with snowball of 3100 euro on 45 numbers or less. Its eyes down at 830pm sharp and all support is once again appreciated. Meanwhile, the opening fixtures for the Donegal schoolboys league have been released. Here are the fixtures for our teams; u12s Premier; Free week U12s Crusaders Home to Glenea Cubs u12s United; Home to Ballyraine Celtic u14s Premier; Away to Gweedore Utd u14s Crusaders; Away to Bonagee u16s; Rovers; AWAY to Gweedore Celtic u16s Crusaders AWAY to Swilly Rovers