Player profiles, results and information from the 1989 county senior final programme.
CILL CHARTHA PEN PICTURES 1989
MICHAEL McFADDEN: Goalkeeper. 30 years; 5'7". 12 stone. Factory Supervisor. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
ENDA MCHUGH: Left full back. 21 years. 5'9". 11 stone. Factory Worker. Honours: Senior league, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht. Minor county player and U-21 county player.
SEAMUS GALLAGHER: Right Full Back. 40 years. 5'7". 11½ stone. Building contractor and publican. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Ex county player.
NEILLY BYRNE: Full back. 35 years. 5'11". 12 stone. Fitter. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland medals. Ex county player.
JOHN CARR: Right half back. 33 years. 5'10". 12 stone. Designer. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Also U-21 championship.
MICHAEL CARR: Centre half back. 34 years. 6'0". 13 stone. Businessman. Honours: Ulster championship, Railway cup medals, county championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
MAURICE CARR: Left half back. 28 years. 5'11". 12 stone. Carpenter. Honours: Senior championship, league and shield medals, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Member of Donegal's U-21 All-Ireland team 1982.
CHRISTY GILLESPIE: Centre field. 28 years. 6'0". 13 stone. School teacher. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
MARK MCSHANE: Midfield. 19 years. 6'0". 11 stone. Student. Honours: Senior league, county and All-Ireland medals. Ulster Vocational School medals with County Donegal, County and Ulster Vocational School medals with Carrick V.S. Former County minor team player and U-21.
JOHN O'DONNELL: Half forward. 19 years. 5'9". 11½ stone. Net-maker. Honours: Senior league, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Former minor county player.
JOHN DOOGAN: Half back/half forward. 26 years. 5'11". 13 stone. Telecom Employee. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Former county minor player. Captain of team.
ROGER MCSHANE: Half forward. 23 years. 5'11". 13 stone. Fitter. Honours: Ulster minor medal, two county Vocational School All-Ireland medals, senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
JAMES MCHUGH: Half forward. 25 years. 5'7". 10½ stone. Factory worker. Honours: Holder of senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Played county minor, U-21 and senior. Captained the 1985 county championship winning team.
JAMES CARR: Forward. 26 years. 6'2". 13½ stone. Plasterer. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
MICHAEL MOLLOY: Forward. 23 years. 5'9". 12 stone. Factory worker. Honours: Holder of county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. A keen basketballer.
MARTIN MCHUGH: Forward. 28 years. 5'8". 12 stone. Insurance Rep. and Publican. Honours: Ulster championship and Railway cup medals. All star award, All-Ireland U-21 medal, county senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Three Donegal Player of the Year awards. B.&l. award for June 1989. Team manager.
NEILY CANNON: Half back/half forward. 24 years. 5'8". 11½ stone. Factory worker. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Former county minor player.
SEAN MCGINLEY: Forward. 42 years. 5' 8”. 11 stone. Insurance Rep. Honours: County minor championship, county senior championship, league, shield, county and All- Ireland Gaeltacht medals. Club chairman.
GERARD MCBREARTY: Half forward. 27 years. 5' 10” 11 stone. Factory worker. Honours: Senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
DANNY GILLESPIE: Midfield/forward. 36 years. 6' 0” 13 stone. School teacher. Honours: County junior championship, county U-21 championship, senior championship, league, shield, county and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
JAMES HEGARTY: Half forward. 21 years. 5' 7”11½ stone. Factory worker. Honours: County and All-Ireland Gaeltacht medals.
BILL VAUGHAN: Half back. 22 years. 5' 10”12 stone. Student. Honours: Former Minor player with Down.
LET'S HOPE FOOTBALL IS THE WINNER
By Connie Duffy, Donegal Democrat
A year is a long time in football. And every year Aodh Ruadh and Kilcar go without winning the County Senior Football Championship title seems like an eternity to those clubs.
History has taught both sides to be cautious so while there may be an air of confidence in both camps for today's match, it is concealed by the reality of knowing things don't always go the way they're planned. Over the past few years these two teams have dominated this competition.
Each of them is making a third final appearance in four seasons and irrespective of today's result both teams have the necessary qualities to stay at the top for another few years at least. That won't be much consolation for the losers, however, so this game will be a make or break occasion.
Kilcar have been impressive to date and have defied all those who thought they were a team living on memories. Now in their third successive final and the last two having ended in defeat the club must feel that the pendulum which for so long swung against them has, this year, finally moved back in their direction.
Their consistent and strong footballing displays this year should give them that extra bit of power to make sure this three-in-a-row is not remembered for all the wrong reasons. By the time the championship came around last year the then outgoing champions, Aodh Ruadh, were everyone's favourites to complete a successful three-in-a-row. Instead they were ingloriously dumped out in the first round and found themselves having to scrape a team together mainly because of a spate of migration which hit most towns in the county.
Having re-built their senior team they embarked on the long hard slog to get to this year's final and even though they went about it in workmanlike fashion, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get here today. Then again, isn't that the stuff champions are made of so the Ballyshannon men will also feel they have a rightful claim to the crown.
So you see all things considered both teams feel they have one hand on this trophy. Thinking is one thing, making it happen is another. We could wander into the realm of "if" and "but" and still get no further forward. No, at the end of the day it's down to one hour's solid football to separate these sides.
There are times in the development of a team when it's absolutely essential to win. Such is the case today. Both sides have an opportunity to discover if they are taking the right road to their ambitions. This game promises to be the outstanding final of the decade, if only because there is more than a good chance both sides will produce their best football for years due to the fact there's so much at stake. Over the course of their absorbing previous encounters the players have more than lived up to expectations. Their respective styles should ensure a close tie with little separating them at the finish.
No one will be brave enough to say at this stage how the game will end. There's so much going for both teams, pitting the enterprise and elaboration of Aodh Ruadh's game against the tenacity, experience and seasoned skills of Kilcar. Let's hope like last Sunday's All-Ireland final that football will be the real winner at the end of the day.
Changes for the better or just for the sake of it
By Kevin Sharkey, Donegal People's Press
The proposed rule changes to Gaelic Football which are to be effected on an experimental basis in the forthcoming National League campaign have generated very keen discussion among ordinary members of the Association since they were approved by Central Council a couple of weeks ago. Opinion is very much divided on whether or not changes are needed at all at this particular point in time. On the one hand there are those who will argue that the game has survived for over a century without any drastic changes and that the present proposals are nothing more than a dressed-up version of Australian Rules. On the other hand there is a groundswell of players and supporters alike who believe that the game has now reached a stage where pulling, dragging and time wasting have become the dominant features at the expense of skill and natural talent.
The re-introduction of the hand-pass should certainly pave the way for the return of the flowing game which was so much a part of the scene during the 70s when both Dublin and Kerry led the way in perfecting this particular skill.
It's difficult to see what distinct advantages the other proposed changes of playing four quarters and the taking of free kicks, goal kicks and side-line kicks from the hand will have on the game. However, we ought not to dismiss them out of hand before we see them in operation.
This is, after all, only an experiment and after the League campaign the part of that experiment which do not benefit the game should be discarded with the positive elements, if there are any, being retained. What the outcome will be time alone will tell. However, when decision time does arrive it will be a critical juncture for the game's future. With this in mind it is essential that only changes which will have a very distinct advantage for the game be considered. The game must not now, or indeed ever, be put at risk by the implementation of new rules for no reason other than for the sake of it.
NA REITEOIRI
Thomas McBrearty (ST. NAUL'S) Thomas is the secretary of the Donegal Referees Board and a highly regarded official. A keen athletics follower, he is no newcomer to county finals having refereed five senior hurling finals and this will be his second senior football final. Has been on Ulster's referees list for five years in which time he has been in charge of Ulster Minor, U-21 and Dr. McKenna Cup games. A very capable official.
Linesmen: Jack Furey (N. Ultan);
Fr. Sean Gallagher (Cloughaneely).
Umpires: Peter Hughes (Milford); Owenie McBride (Gweedore); Frank Dooley (MacCumhaills); Noel Kane (Robert Emmets).
INTERMEDIATE: Mick McGrath (AODH RUADH)
Mick returned from England in 1987 where he was chairman of the famous Donegal London club, Tir Conaill Gaels for many years. He was chairman of the London Referees Board in 1984 and 1985.
Refereed the 1985 and 1986 London Senior Football Championship finals. He also refereed the London Junior final 1987. Became Co. PRO in January and is also on the Ulster Referees list.
A very competent and experienced official who takes his job seriously.
Linesmen: Liam Browne (Four Masters);
Eugene Quinn Red Hughs).
Umpires: Kieran McGlynn (Glenfin); Jimmy Golden (Bundoran); John McDermott (Fanad Gaels); Frankie Doherty (St. Eunans).
Both referees for today's games represented Donegal in Ulster games this year.
AODH RUADH PEN PICTURES
GARY WALSH: Goalkeeper. 24 years. 6'2". 14% st. Team captain. Accountant. Donegal senior goalkeeper. Has played for Donegal at all levels and captained minors and u-21s. Honours: Ulster S.F.C., Minor League, Trench Cup, 2 Donegal S.F.C., U-12, U-16, U-18, U-21.
JOE CURRAN: Corner back. 25 years. 5'10". 12 st. ESB employee. Former Donegal minor. Honours: Ulster colleges U-15, U-17, Ulster Minor League. 2 Donegal S.F.C., U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-21.
DIARMAID KEON: Back. 21 years. 5'9". 11 st. Student. Honours: Ulster and All-Ireland U-21 F.C., Ulster M.F.C. and Minor League, 2 Donegal S.F.C., U-21.
MICHAEL MCGEE: Back. 18 years. 5'10". 11 stone. Student. Honours: U-16, U-18, U-21 Co. championships. Member of Donegal minor team in 1988.
CONOR BOYLE. Back. 24 years. 5'11". 13 st. Garda. Honours: Ulster and All-Ireland Colleges medal with De La Salle, Ulster Minor League, plus U-12, U-15, U-16, U-18 and U-21 as well as two S.F.C. medals.
CIARAN TINNEY: Half-back. 25 years. 5'9½", 11½ stone. Salesman. Former county minor and U-21 player. Honours: Ulster Minor League, one Donegal S.F.C., U-12, U-15, U-16, U-18 and U-21 medals.
CIARAN KEON: Age 19. 5'11". 12½ stone. Back. Student. Honours: U-16, U-18, U-21 C'ship medals. Played minor for Donegal in '88. Played Sigerson with Maynooth in '88/'89.
SYLVESTER MAGUIRE. Midfield. 25 years. 6'. 12½ st. Student. Has played for Donegal at U-16, U-18, U-21, Vocational, senior and at junior hurling level. Honours: Ulster and All-Ireland U-21 F.C., McKenna Cup, two Donegal S.F.C., U-16, U-18 and U-21 plus Ulster Junior Hurling medal in 1989.
BRIAN TUOHY: Midfield. 27 years. 5'11", 12% st. Garda. Member of current county team. Honours: Captained Donegal to Ulster and All-Ireland U-21 F.C.; Ulster S.F.C.; two Donegal S.F.C., U-12, U-13, U-16, U-18 and U-21 medal.
GERRY CURRAN: Forward. 28 years. 5'10". 11 st. Technician. Honours: Ulster Colleges medal with D.L.S.; two Donegal S.F.C. Has played minor, U-21 and senior for Donegal.
EUNAN GALLAGHER: Forward or back. 25 years. 5'11". 12 st. Teacher. Honours: Played with county minor, senior and U-21 winning McKenna Cup medal. U-12, U-16, U-18 and U-21 Donegal c'ships. Ulster Colleges medal with D.L.S.
EUNAN DOYLE: Forward. 25 years. 5'7". 11 st. Electrician. Honours: All-Ireland Colleges medal with D.L.S.; one Donegal S.F.C., U-12, U-18, U-21 medals. Played county minor and U-21.
BRENDAN MARTIN: Forward. 35 years. 5'10". 13½ stone. Garda. Veteran of the side. Honours: Two S.F.C. medals with Four Masters and two with Aodh Ruadh; U-16 medal. Represented Donegal at U-18 and U-21 level as well as Vocational Schools.
DAMIEN CONLON: Forward. Age 18. 5'10". 11½ stone. Student. Honours: U-16, U-18 and U-21 medals. Reached Ulster Colleges final with D.L.S. Played county minor for Donegal in 1988.
DONAGH KEON: Forward. 20 years. 5'10". 11 stone. Student. Honours: Donegal Minor League, U-21 C'ship. Played for County at U-16 and minor level. Won All-Ireland Agricultural College League medal and 7-a-side with Mountbellew Agricultural College; Freshers and Trench Cup medals with Galway R.T.C.
VAL MURRAY: Forward. 19 years. 6'. 11 st. Barman. Honours: One Donegal S.F.C., U-21. Represented Donegal at U-16, U-18 and U-21 level.
JOHN DUFFY: Half forward. 19 years. 5'11". 11 st. Student. Honours: One Donegal S.F.C., U-14, U-15, U-16, U-18. Played for county at U-16, U-18 and U-21 level.
THOMAS GALLAGHER: Back. 27 years. 5'9". 11 st. Printer with Ulster and All-Ireland Colleges medals with D.L.S.; two Donegal S.F.C., U-12, U-13, U-16, U-18, U-21 medals.
SEAN BOYLE: Forward. 31 years. 5' 8 13st. Factory supervisor. Also assistant manager. Honours: Dalton Cup medal with D.L.S. Won three Donegal S.F.C. medals and an Ulster Club Championship medal with St. Josephs and 2 S.F.C. medals with Aodh Ruadh; Donegal U-14 and U-16. Represented Donegal at U-18, U-21 and senior level. Playing in his 16th consecutive Donegal championship campaign.
COLM KEON: Defender. 22 years. 5' 9 11 stone. Student. Honours: Donegal U-21 medals '85 and '88. Member of University of Limerick Sigerson Cup panel '88/'89; McLarnon Cup runners-up medal with D.L.S. '84.
PETER DUFFY: Back. 21 years. 6', 12 st. Student. Honours: Donegal U-21 c'ship in '88 and Minor League in '86.
PAUL KANE: Goalkeeper. 18 years. 5' 10 12½ stone. Apprentice Metal Fabricator. Honours: U-16, U-18 Co. Championship.
CONOR CARNEY: Back. 33 years. 5' 8. 11 st. Primary School Principal. One of the veterans of the side who was a member of the '87 championship winning team.
MALACHY CULLEN: Forward. 22 years. 5' 8 . 11 st. Clerk. Honours: Captained Aodh Ruadh to U-21 Championship last year.
JAMES MALONE: Utility. 21 years. 6'. 13 st. Bank Official, Honours: U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-21 Clare Co. Football Championships; two U-16½ Munster Colleges Championships; three U-18 Clare Colleges medals.
MICHAEL MCLOONE: Assistant Manager. Chief Executive, Beaumont Hospital. Played for Donegal senior team from 1964 until injury ended his career in 1970. Honours: Ulster Minor League and U-21, McKenna Cup and Lagan Cup medals. Donegal Minor medals in 1961 and 1963 plus S.F.C. medals with St. Josephs.
SEAN SLEVIN: Manager. N.W.H.B. official. Son of Sean Slevin snr., who played on Ballyshannon Championship winning team in 1951. Sean won an U-14 Championship medal with Aodh Ruadh and played minor and U-21 football for Donegal before injury in a car accident cut short a promising career. Won Ulster Colleges medal with D.L.S.
NA ROSSA PEN PICTURES
JAMES MELLY: Labourer. 35 years. Left corner back on intermediate final team of 1983, Won Donegal junior championship medal as full back in 1982.
JOHN BOYLE: Farmer. 24 years. Won All-Ireland under 16 Og Sport medal in Gormanston College in 1980, Holder of Donegal junior championship medal. Won second division shield medal in 1988.
DONAL BONNER. Employed by Irish Oak Ltd., Glenties. 22 years. Won Ulster minor championship medal as left comer forward on Donegal team of 1985, Won Donegal junior championship medal at 15 years when left corner forward with Na Rossa winning team of 1982. Won two Ulster and All-Ireland Vocational Schools medals. as left corner forward on successful Donegal sides of 1984 & 1985. Won Ulster minor league medals with Donegal minor team of 1984, A real find at full back.
CHARLIE BONNER: Employed by Polar Fish, Killybegs. 23 years. Holder of Ulster and All-Ireland Vocational Schools medals with successful Donegal Vocational side of 1984, Won All-Ireland under-16 Og Sport medal in Gormanstown College in 1980. Won second division shield medal with Na Rossa in 1988.
PAT MCCAHILL: Employed by McDevitt & Co., Glenties. 22 years. Won second division shield medal with Na Rosa in 1988. Was reserve on losing intermediate final team of 1983.
SEAN BONNER: Employed by Irish Oak Ltd., Glenties, 26 years. Won Ulster and All- Ireland under-21 medals with successful Donegal U-21 team of 1982 as a 19-year- old at full back. Holder of Donegal minor league medal of 1981 and junior championship medal in 1982. Was regular on Donegal senior team up to 1988. Played in all grades for Donegal from U-16 to senior.
MICHAEL GALLAGHER: Employed by Polar Fish, Killybegs. 22 years. Won second division shield medal with Na Rossa in 1988, Was reserve on losing intermediate final team of 1983.
VINNIE GALLAGHER: Joiner. 34 years. Played at midfield in 1983 intermediate final. Won Donegal junior championship medal at midfield in 1982. Was regular on Donegal junior team up to 1986.
EAMON O'DONNELL: Employed by FÅS, Letterkenny. 22 years. Holder of Ulster and All-Ireland Vocational Schools medals with successful Donegal Vocational side of 1985. Was reserve on losing intermediate final team of 1985.
PAT MCHUGH: Forestry worker. 19 years. Won second division shield medal with Na Rossa in 1988.
MICHAEL BONNER: Employed by Polar Fish, Killybegs. 25 years. Won Donegal junior championship medal in 1982. Played on losing intermediate final team of 1983. Played for Donegal minors in 1981 and 1982 and Under 21 team of 1984. Won Donegal minor league medal in 1981. Won second division shield medal with Na Bossa in 1988
MARTIN MCSHANE: Student. 16 years. One of Na Rossa's brightest prospects, Played on Donegal U-16 team for past two seasons. Won second division shield medal 1988
PETER MOLLOY: Joiner. 28 years. Won Donegal junior championship medal in 1982. Played on losing intermediate final team of 1983.
DECLAN BONNER: Employed by Irish Oak Ltd., Glenties. 24 years. Won Donegal junior championship medal in 1982. Was regular on Donegal senior team 1988. Played in all grades for Donegal senior team from U-16 to senior. Played for four years on Donegal Under 21 team from 1983 to 1986. Won All-Ireland U-16 Og Sport medal in Gormanston College in 1980. Won Donegal minor league medal in 1981. Player-Manager of present Na Rossa side.
MICHAEL O'DONNELL: Publican. 26 years, Won Donegal junior championship medal intermediate final team of 1983. Won Donegal minor league medal in 1981
MARTIN MCSHANE (sen.): Employed by Irish Oak Ltd., Glenties. 38 years. Longest serving Na Rossa player. Father of Martin junior. Won Donegal under 14 medal back in 1963. Won Donegal Junior Championship medal as corner back or successful Na Rossa side of 1982. Played on losing intermediate final team of 1983 Won second division shield medal in 1988.
EAMON MELLY: Joiner. 34 years. Won Donegal junior championship medal in 1982. Played on losing intermediate final team of 1983. Won second division shield medal in 1988. Brother of goal-keeper, Jamesie Melly.
JIM O'DONNELL: Fisherman. 24 years. Won Donegal junior championship medal in 1982. Was reserve on losing intermediate final team of 1983. Brother of corner forward Michael O'Donnell. CONAL BOYLE: Farmer. 22 years. Brother of corner back John Boyle. Won Donegal junior championship medal in 1982. Was reserve on losing intermediate final team of 1983. Won second division shield medal in 1988.
MARTIN BONNER: Student. 16 years. First season playing for Na Rossa. Played or Donegal under 16 team this season.
AIDAN BONNER: Student. 18 years. Youngest of the five Bonner brothers. Won second division shield medal in 1988.
CORMICK BONNER: Student, 19 years. Brother of corner-back Charlie Won second division shield medal in 1988.
NAOMH ULTAN PEN PICTURES
MARTIN MEEHAN: Right half back. 20 years. 5'6". Salesperson in Magees. Honours: Co. N.S. medal with Keelogs N.S., Co. Voc. medal with Abbey V.S.
JOHN FUREY: Forward, 20 years, 5'10", Factory worker. Honours: Ulster Voc. Schools medal, Ulster U-15 7-a-side medal; played both Co, minor and U-21 for Donegal.
JOHN HARVEY: Right half forward. 21 years. 6. Donegal Oil Company employee. Honours: Co. Voc. Schools medal with Abbey V.S.
KEVIN MEEHAN: Forward. 19 years. 5'7". Shop Assistant. Honours: National Schools Championship with Keelogs N.S.
WILLIE MACKEY: Defender and Team Manager. 35 years. 5'5". Technician. Honours: Div. 3 Shield and League and Intermediate Championship in '84.
LIAM MEEHAN: Left half back. 24 years. 5'8". Factory worker. Honours: Div. 3 Shield and League; Intermediate C'ship. Played for Co. Vocational School team.
PETER "BUD" KENNEDY: Forward. 23 years. 5'6", Factory worker. Honours: Div. 3 Shield and League medals; Intermediate Championship.
DERMOT ALVEY: Goalkeeper; 30 years. 5'9". Factory worker. Honours: Div. 3 Shield and League medals; Intermediate Championship medal.
SEAMUS MCNERN: Full back. 26 years. 6'. Factory worker. Honours: Div. 3 Shield and League medals; Intermediate Championship medal.
JAMES D. CASSIDY: Forward. 32 years. 5'8". Factory worker. Honours: Div. 3 Shield and League medals; Intermediate Championship medal.
COLM SHOVLIN: Midfield. 30 years. 5'11", Co. Council employee. Honours: Division 3 Shield and League medals and Intermediate Championship medal.
GERRY MCINTYRE: Forward. 32 years. 5'9". Fish merchant. Former Aodh Ruadh player.
PAUL BYRNE: Forward. 18 years. 5'6". Shop assistant. Honours National Schools. medal.
THOMAS MCWHINNIE: Midfield. 21 years. 6'2". Fish Buyer. Honours: Voc. Schools meal with Abbey V.S., Donegal.
DECLAN BYRNE: Back. 22 years. 5'10". Butcher. Honours: Intermediate Championship medal; Div. 3 Shield and League medals.
LIAM KENNEDY: Half forward. 25 years. 6'. Factory worker. Honours: Ulster Minor League medal; U-18 and U-19 Voc. medals; Div. 3 Shield and League medals and Intermediate Championship medals.
DECLAN MOLONEY: Back. 18 years. 5'9", Factory worker. Honours: Ulster B Hurling medal; U-12, U-14 Hurling and Football medals with Parnells, Dublin.
JOHN KELLY: Right corner back. 20 years, 5'8". Bar manager. Honours: Co. Voc. Schools meals with Abbey Voc. School, Donegal.
JOHN QUIGLEY: Forward or midfield. 35 years. 5'10". Factory worker. Honours: League Div. 3 League and Shield medals; Intermediate Championship medal.
DERMOT BROSNAN: Full forward. 34 years. 6'2". Fish merchant. Honours: Div. 3 League and Shield medals; Intermediate Championship medal.
MARTIN SHOVLIN: Centre half back. 28 years, 5'11". Telecom Eireann employee. Honours: Ulster and All-Ireland U-21 medal: Div. 3 League and Shield medals; Intermediate championship medal.
