Player profiles, results and information from the 1980 county senior final programme.
John Hegarty Aged 20. John is the Under 21 goalkeeper and has replaced the injured Michael McFadden on the senior team. Spent his youth in America. Machinist.
John Carr Aged 24. Corner back. Playing great football this year. One of the players who figured on the Under-21 side that won the County Championship three years in a row 1972-13-4. Design technician.
Dinny McBrearty Aged 25. Formerly a corner back, but played at full-back in the semi final. Played for Donegal Under 21 side. Has three U-21 medals. Welder in Killybegs Boatyard.
John Quinn Aged 30. Ex-county player. Also an ex-half-back played at comer back against Glen. Manager of Snáth Gaeltarra tá fógra acu sa chlar seol
Charlie McGroarty: Aged 19. One of the present Under-21 team that has reached the county final also. Strong aggressive half-back. Factory worker.
Michael Carr Aged 25. Centre half-back now. Current county player. Former Colleges star with Holy Cross, Falcarragh. Won Ulster senior medal in 1974 along with Kieran Keeney. Three U-21 medals. Businessman.
John Doogan Aged 18. The baby of the squad. Midfield on the Under-21 team: half-back with the seniors. Did his leaving at Carrick V.S. this year.
Danny Gillespie Aged 28. Cousin of Michael Carr, brother of well-known G.A.A officer! On this year's county panel. A midfielder. Ag teagasc i nGairmacoil na Carraige.
Aodh Cannon Aged 26. Midfielder. Played for Donegal Under-21 and senior teams. Injuries hampered his career. Under-21 medals with Cill Charthaigh. Civil servant.
Martin McHugh Aged 19. Half-forward. Sharpshooter. Memorable sideline kick put the nail in Glen's coffin in Fintra. Elusive. Factory worker.
Francie Cannon Aged 24. Led the attack in semi-final. Brother of Aodh and of Cloich Cheannfhaola's Brian. Bus conductor.
Sean McGinley Aged 33. Half-forward. One of South-West Donegal's best known players. Ex-county player. Gritty. Lorry driver. Captain.
Francie Gallagher Aged 21. A brother of Ard an Ratha's Séamus also a corner- forward. Captain of present Under-21 side. Carpenter.
Charlie O'Donnell Aged 30. A brother of Ard an Ratha's Frank. Rare indeed to find two sets of brothers on opposing sides in a county final. Charlie played at full-forward in semi-final. Manager of Eadech Conamara. Féach na fógrall
Peter Conroy Aged 25. Right-back in first Championship game of the season; top- of-the-left in the semi-final. Fisherman.
Tommy McFadden Aged 23. Recently returned home after a spell overseas. A half-back, although formerly a forward. Come on as a sub against Glen. Ex- county player. Carpenter.
Maurice Carr Aged 19. A brother of John's. Defender. Member of this year's Under- 21 team. Builder.
Michael Doherty Aged 24. Played in the attack in the first round of the Championship. Builder.
Timmy Driscoll Aged 23. Former St. Eunan's College corner forward. Small but fast. Factory worker.
John O'Donnell Aged 23. Former Holy Cross College full-back. One of the O'Donnell’s of Bogagh. Factory worker.
Michael McFadden Aged 20. Would be to- day's goalkeeper but for a serious hand injury. Factory worker.
lan Hegarty Team manager. See page 18 of this clár. Works in Eadach Conamara factory.
CILL CHARTHAIGH (Underdogs)
Shield: failed to qualify for semi-final.
Gaeltacht: beaten by Gaoth Dobhair in first round.
League: finished third.
April 7th, 1980: runners-up in St. Eunan's sevens.
July 19th 1980 winners of Seán MacCumhall tournament.
CILL CHARTHAIGH STAIR
Cill Charthaigh have never won a County Senior Final although they were awarded the Championship in 1925 following a series of disputes and protests. Only twice in the history of the competition have Cill Charthaigh played in the Senior Football Championship Final. Sean MacCumhails beat them on both occasions.
In 1959 it was by 1-6 to 0-4. On November 3, 1963, in Ballyshannon it was by 2-7 to 1-6. The Cill Charthaigh team on that day was: M. Haughey: S. McNulty, C. Brady, J. Cunningham; P. Haughey, P. O'Donnell, S. McGuinness; J. Gillespie, P. O'Donnell; J. Boyle, D. Houlihane, C. McLoughlin; 1. Hegarty, A. O'Donnell, K. McDonald.
Cill Charthaigh (founded 1924) won the Senior League in 1933, 1935, 1969, 1975 and 1979.
THE DR. MAGUIRE CUP
Very Rav. Dr. Maguire, P.P., Glencolumbkille, died in July 1926. In August 1925 an appeal was launched in order to purchase a cup to perpetuate his memory.
The Dr. Maguire Cup became the prize for the Donegal Senior Football Champions. Letterkenny Rovers wore its first winners. At the 1968 Convention Most Rev. Dr. McFeely, Bishop of Raphoe, presented the new Dr. Maguire Cup to the County Board.
NA RÉITEORÍ
JACK FUREY is today's Senior Final referee. Aged 35. A native of Dunkineely. Played with Dunkineely. charge of 1979 Junior Final. Married with five children. A P. & T. technician.
TOM MOMULLAN handles the Intermediate Final. Aged 33. A Tyrone man, he now lives in Letterkenny. Married with one child. Carpenter.
EUNAN MCBRIDE is the Minor referee. Aged 33. A native of Convoy, Married with three children. A military policeman.
PATHS TO FINAL
Cill Charthalgh 1-10, Ballyshannon 0-10
Cill Charthaigh 1-12, Ballyshannon 0-8
CII Charthaigh 2-17, Ruagari ne Rosann 0-3
Cill Charthaigh 2-9, Naomh Columba 1-10
And an Rátha 1-14, Robert Emmets 0-5
And an Rátha 2-8, Robert Emmets 1-10
Ard an Rátha 0-8, Killybegs 1-5
Ardan Rátha 1-10, Killybegs 0-6
Ardan Rátha 1-11, Sean MacCumhaill 0-7
Ard na Rátha
Patsy Harkin Aged 23. Patsy has emerged as Ard an Ratha's goalkeeper in this present Championship campaign. Farmer.
Frank O'Donnall Aged 33. Right comer back. One of the veterans of the side. Like most of the team has won Shield and Gaeltacht medles. Cléireach sa Rohn P. agus T. See the Cill Charthaigh pen pics.
Anthony Molloy Aged 18. Played at full-back in the semi-final. Big strong young player. Played at full-forward for the county minors this year. Works in Meenaneary factory.
Eddie McLoone Aged 23. Former county minor. Seems to have made the left-back position his own this season. An engineering technician in Dublin.
Noel Watters Aged 24. Consistent wing half- back who has been part of this successful Ard an Rátha team throughout the present revival. Builder.
Martin Sweeney Aged 26. Left half-back on the Donegal Ulster final side of 1979. Back to form now Baker following lay-off.
Conal Aidan Gildea Aged 23. In many ways similar to his fellow wing-half, Noel Watters unspectacular but consistently sound. Penalty kicker Works in a Killybegs fish factory.
Anthony Harkin Aged 24. Red-haired, haired, big hearted Anthony is probably Ard an Rátha's best known player. Won Al Ireland club medal with Thomound Collage. Played for Donegal up to 1979 College. Midfielder PE teacher in Loreto College, Milford, Captain.
Josie Gallagher Aged 28. Another ex-county player. Having a great season at midfield. Fine place kicker. Contractor.
Gerard McNelis Aged 18. Substitute on this year's county minor side. Right-half forward. Good place-kicker. One of two minors in the squad. Weaver
Connie Molloy Aged 24. Big centre half- forward, Connie is one of three brothers on the team. Consistent sooner during the campaign. Site clerk with Sisk's, Dublin.
Lanty Molloy Aged 19. Brother of Connie and Anthony. A half-forward with a fine catch and plenty of speed. Describes himself as an ex-saksman
Seamus Gallagher Aged 30. Stylish ex-Cill Charthaigh forward. Another of Ard an Ratha's many place kickers. Builder. See the Cill Charthaigh pen pictures
Kieran Keaney Aged 27. Strange but successful choice at full-forward in the semi-final. Usually a half-back although a halt forward on this year's Donegal senior team. One of the side's most accomplished players. P. and T. technician. Scored winning gool in 1974 Ulster final.
Patsy Glidea Aged 32. Has played in every position with Ard an Rátha and has won every medal except this one Left corner forward against MacCumhaill's in the semi-final; goalkeeper against MacCumhaill's in the Shield final. Fisherman.
Frank McGee Aged 31. Another of the long serving players in the squad. A comer forward. Teaches in Killybegs Vocational School
John Boyle Aged 28. A full-forward who has been on and off the team. Big powerful player. Weaver.
Pete Shovlin Aged 28. A wing half-back. Tough hardy footballer. Builder.
John Harron: Aged 27. A corner-forward. Played in the the Donegal Gaeltacht final. Works with Bord na Mona.
Manus McGill Aged 31. Recently returned home from America. New addition to the squad.
Phonsie Bennett Team managers don't give ages! A carpenter. His 1980 side has won the Shield and the Gaeltacht. Only the League and Championship remain.
ARD AN RÁTHA (Favourites)
March 23rd, 1980-Senior Shield Final beet Sean MacCumhail 1-4 to 0-5.
Bealtaine 4, 1980-Gaeltacht. Cluiche Ceannais. Bhuail slad Gaoth Dobhair 0-10 to 1-6.
August 1980- Senior League. Lavel on top of table with Naomh Columba. Two games each to play.
ARD AN RÁTHA - STAIR
Ard an Rátha (founded 1921) last appeared in the County Senior Final in 1938. Gaoth Dobhair beat Ard an Rátha by 1-7 to 0-5 in Glenties on September 4, 1938, with J. Dorrian Kilcar refereeing.
The Ard on Ratha fifteen that day was: D. Boyle: J. Maxwell, T. Gallagher, H. Gildea: C. McHugh, A. McHugh, F. Heaney; W. Boyle, P. McGill: J. Waters, V. McHugh, N. McHugh: J. Campbell, D. Gallagher, M. Boyle.
Ard an Rátha had lost the 1935 decider to An Clochan Liath by 2-8 to 2-2. Ard an Rátha appeared in three more senior finals and won all three. They won the County Championship in 1923 (beat Ballybofey in 1925 (beat Letterkenny Rovers 0-5 to 0-2 and in 1928 beat Killygordon 1-4 to 0-3. The 1928 team that brought the Dr. Maguire Cup to Ard an Rátha was: T. O'Donnell, T. Gallagher, C. Breslin, L. Howley, P. Breslin, P. J. Gildea. M. McArdle, J. Waters, H. Haughey, M. Cullen, C. McDyre, C. Kennedy. D. Mooney. Ard an Rátha won the Senior League in 1931 and 1943 and the Senior Shield in 1978 and 1979.
