Sports Archive
April 2001

Chairman apologises to Ardara
By Peter Campbell

A public apology has been issued to the Ardara club over the non-playing of a Gaeltacht match on Sunday last in Mountcharles. St.Nauls were due to play Ardara on Sunday last in the last of the quarter-finals of the Donegal Gaeltacht Championships, but although Ardara turned up at Mountcharles, the home side failed to appear.

St.Naul's club chairman, Sean Kelly, said: "The club hasn't discussed the issue yet but it will be coming up at our next meeting where we hope to get some explaination. I haven't discussed the matter yet with our team manager and his selectors.

"I would like to offer my apologies to the Ardara club," said Mr Kelly, who added that the club were not happy that the game did not go ahead.

"To be fair to the team management, we have not had time to discuss the matter and until we do, I wouldn't be in a position to make any comment," said Mr Kelly.

However it is learned that the issue involved in the non-playing of the game concerns the fact that the clubs are due to meet again on this Sunday in the All-County League in Ardara.

It is believed that the management of the St.Nauls team contacted Ardara on the issue on Saturday evening and said they wouldn't be playing.

Gaeltacht competition orgainiser, Charlie O'Donnell, confirmed to the Democrat that Ardara have been given a walk-over and will now play Glenfin in the semi-final of the county competition. The other semi-final is between Kilcar and Dungloe and both those games as well as the final will be played on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

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Flotto
There was no winner of our weekly Flotto. 
The numbers drawn were , ,  and 23.  The nearest were Yvonne Boyle, Kentuckey and Joleen Diver, Upper Monargan.  This weeks jackpot stands at £1,200.00 and this weeks selling team is John M. Byrnes team.  

U-10 Training
The U-10s will train as usual on this Thursday evening at 6.00 p.m.  

U-12 Training & Match
The U-12s will train on Friday evening at 6.00 p.m. and will play Dungloe next monday at 7.00 p.m. at Pearse Memorial Park.    

U-14's Matches
The U-14s will play at home next Wednesday 2nd May against N. Conaill.  
The U-14 girls will play Kilcar next Tuesday evning  7.00 p.m. in Pearse memorial Park.

U-16 Match
The U-16s lost to Dungloe last Friday evening after a very good performance.  This Friday they play Killybegs in Fintra at 7.00 p.m.  

Reserves and Seniors Match
The Reserves and Seniors will play St. Nauls in Pearse Memorial Park at 1.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.  Thanks must this week go to Margaret Boyle who got up on Sunday morning to wash the Senior Kit and have it ready for the Senior Team for the Gaeltacht match against St. Nauls on Sunday morning last.  Although Ardara travelled St. Nauls did not field.  

Table Quiz
This friday sees the final of the Table Quiz with the winners will win the Pat Slowey Memorial Trophy.  The venue being the Central Bar.  We hope to see a large attendance to round off the year.  Many thanks to James McBrearty for the co-ordination of the quizzes during the winter months.  The Greenhouse winners were Patsy and Breda Boyle and Conal Doherty.  Corner House winners were Luke McHugh, Cathal Watters, Gary Coyle and John McBrearty.  

The Late Vinny Herron
This week the Club mourns another stalwart in the sudden death of Vinny Herron.  He played a vital role in the Ardara 1952 Minor Team.  Atrue gentleman and will be missed by all.  Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

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U21 A championship quarter final
Heena the hero as
Ardara advance

Tom Comack reports from Termon
Photographs: Brian McDaid

The game which was originally fixed for Glenswilly was moved at the last minute to Termon, when Glenswilly club officials deemed that their pitch was unplayable.

Both teams were out on the Glenswilly Park doing their warm up when they were informed by the Glenswilly chairman Finbar Glackin that the game could not go ahead.

After frantic efforts by county chairman John McConnell the Termon pitch was secured, a quick cross country dash and the game which was sceduled for 6:30pm finally got underway shortly after 7pm.

However, Ardara were a transformed side in the second period,- crowding midfield they broke the Fanad strangle hold in this sector. In fact this move proved a double edge sword as the lightning fast Fergal Heena, revelled in the wide open space afforded him up front in the resultant reshuffle up front.

Brisk opening
Despite a brisk opening from both sides, the games opening score did not arrive until eleven minutes into the contest,- Fanad breaking the deadlock with a fabulous point.

Fanad added a further two points before Ardara opened their account with a Fergal Heena pointed free on eighteen minutes. Then Darren Maguire drove forward to land Ardara's second and only other score of the first half.

In control and leading 0-5 to Ardara's 0-2, things got even better for the Fanad men in the closing minutes of the half when they crashed the ball to the back of the Ardara net to extend the lead out to six points.
Half time Fanad Gael's 1-5 Ardara 0-2

Fergal Heena with three rapid fire pointed frees in the opening seven minutes got the recovery underway.

With Ardara on top and the Fanad goal living dangerously the signs looked ominous for the last years B champions. Twice Heena who was really on fire missed great goal opportunities.

Four minutes later the winners hit the front for the first time with man of the match Heena landing another free. Fanad tied up the the game once more, with their first score of the second half on fifty two minutes.

With the game delicately poised flying Ardara wing forward Stephen McHugh broke the deadlock and a super goal to propel his side into a three point lead.

Golden strike
Seconds after McHugh's golden strike and with time running out Fanad were dealt a further hammer blow with the sending off of their centre back for a frontal shoulder charge on Brendan Boyle.

Fanad hinted at a comeback when they cut the margin to two points. But on the stroke of time Brendan Boyle made it a three point game once more with man of the match Heena adding the insurance point deep in injury time.

Ardara
Brian McGill, Paddy Gallagher, Kenneth Doherty, Daniel Cunningham, John Heron, Darren Maguire, Dessie O'Brien, Brendan Boyle (0-1), Connor O'Donnell, Stephen McHugh (1-2,1F), Stephen Watters, Mathew Whyte, Fergal Heena (0-7,6F), Frank Craig, Lee Watters: Subs: Seamus Beirne for S.Watters,60min., Marty Heron for M.Whyte, 61min.

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Flotto
There was no winner of our weekly Flotto. The numbers drawn wwere 4, 6, 15 and 19. The nearest were Philomena Diver, Upper Monargan and Mary McCrossan, Hillhead. This weeks jackpot stands at £1,100 and this weeks selling team is Adrian Concarr

Meeting
The monthly club meeting takes place this Thursday night at 9.00 p.m.
Members and players are asked to attend.

U-10 Training
The U-10s will have training in Pearse Memorial Park on this Thursday evening at 5.30 p.m.

U-12A Match
The U-12A team will play a friendly with N. Brid in Ballintra on Friday evening. Bus will leave Pearse Memorial Park at 5.30 p.m.

U-16 Match
The U-16s will play Dungloe on Friday evening in Dungloe at 7.00 p.m.

U-12 Match
The U-12s will play N. Columba in their first Championship game in Glen on next Monday 23rd April at 6.00 p.m.

Seniors and Reserves Match
The Seniors and Reserves will play Cloughaneely in the League next week-end in Cloughaneely.

Poker Classic
The winners of the Poker Classic on friday last were 1st Bart Whelan, 2nd
Thomas Given and 3rd Paul Gallagher. Thanks to all who took part in the
event for the Minor Board

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Player Profile

Flotto Winner
We congratulate this week our Flotto winner Lee Watters who won the jackpot of £4,300.00.  The seller was Brenda McHugh.  This weeks jackpot begins at £1,000.00.

Comhairdeas le an foireann sinsear a bhfuil frid go dti an dar bhata den comortas peile na gaeltacht agus do an foireann soisear a mbeidh ag imirt in eadan Clough Fhaonalla ar an Satharn seo Chugainn.

Poker Classic
There will be a Poker Classic on Good Friday in the Community Centre at 8.00pm.

U-21s v Fanad Gaels
The U-21s will play Fanad Gaels on this Good Friday (See Divers window for time and other details).

The Senior and Reserves  v Na Gleanntai.
The Senior and Reserves  will play at home to our near neighbours Na Gleanntai. 
We hope to see a big crowd for what promisses to be an entertaining match.

Club Meeting
Our monthly Club meeting takes place on next Thursday 19th in Dohertys at 9.30pm.

Table Quiz
The table quiz takes place in the Greenhouse on Thursday 12th April at 10.00pm.

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BRIDGE
Ardara Open Cup Results

Sunday 25th March

1. J.Gallagher & F.Sweeney
2. J.Gallagher & J.McGinley
3. A.Steward & C.Carlin
4. A.Carr & E.McMennimen
5. Fr.Dan & J.C.Boyle
6. K.McKay & J.McCaulstand
7. S.Burke & S.Boyle
8. S.McGinley & P.Buckley
9. C.McLoone & C.Whyte
10. M.Gallagher & E.Burke
11. D.Ellis & J.J.Doherty
12. K.Fox & M.Buckley
13. J.McDermitt & J.McLaughlin
14. P.Concannon & L.Hardy
15. C.Boyle & B.O'Leary
16. C.Diver & P.McLoone
17. P.Carr & B.Carr
18. M.C.O'Donnell & D.McBrearty
19. J.McGroary & Partner
20. J.McCleanaghan & T.Meehan

Donegal Co Board chairman, John McConnell was elected as the new Ulster Council delegate at Monday nights Co Board meeting in Ballybofey.

McConnell defeated P.J.McGowan and Connie Maguire in a vote for the post, which became vacant when sitting delegate, Tom Daly was elected treasurer of the Ulster Council recently.

In the vote Maguire was eliminated on the first count with McConnell winning in a head to head with McGowan.

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All-County League Div.1
Ardara narrow victors
Peter Campbell reports from Towney. Photos by Thomas Gallagher

Thanks to the driving force that is Damien Diver, Ardara built up a four point lead midway through the half which was to prove the difference between these sides.

Apart from that period, there was little between these sides in a competitive and entertaining encounter.

Diver suffered a recurrence of his shoulder injury in the first half but was able to continue in the second half.

There was a little 'history' attached to the encounter as Ardara took the points from the game last year when Kilcar failed to field.

This time around it was obvious that the home side were not going to concede the points as easily. They were in front after only 40 seconds.

Ardara had to switch Eamon Doherty onto the livewire Declan Gallagher and when they got going, they were soon on level terms thanks to points from Michael Doherty and a Jonathan Boyle free.

Stephen Gildea put them in front and they had a chance to increase that further when Aodh Brennan broke through, only to be brought down inside the 'square'. However Jonathan Boyle pulled his penalty kick well wide of the posts.

However, points from Gildea and a Boyle free, Ardara were ahead by 0-5 to 0-2 by the 20th minute.

Kilcar finished the half strongly to leave them a point in front at the break - Kilcar 0-6, Ardara 0-5.

Kilcar also got off to a good start in the second half, pointing after just 20 seconds.

Francis Diver reduced the margin but Michael Hegarty, with the score of the game from an impossible angle, put Kilcar two clear once more.

Then came the Ardara dominant period with points from Aodh Brennan, Don Earley (fist) and Fergal Heena to put them in front.

Kilcar drew level in the 42nd minute, but four points from Jonathan Boyle (three from frees), put Ardara in control by the 53rd minute - 0-13 to 0-9.

The final ten minutes saw Kilcar try in vain to bridge the gap, but all they could muster were three points.

For Ardara, Brendan Boyle kept a tight rein on Hegarty, while apart from Damien Diver, Michael Doherty, Fergal Heena and Don Earley showed well, while Jonathan Boyle was in sparkling form.

Ardara: Conor Curran; Joe Doherty, Eamon Doherty, Niall O'Donnell, Martin McShane, Brendan Boyle, Darren Maguire, Francis Diver (0-1), Damien Diver, Michael Doherty (0-1), Aodh Brennan (0-1), Fergal Heena (0-1), Don Earley (0-1), Jonathan Boyle (0-6, five frees), Stephen Gildea (0-2). Subs., Stephen McHugh for D.Maguire, Kenneth Doherty for N.O'Donnell, Jimmy Brennan for A.Brennan.

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Flotto
There was no winner of our weekly Flotto. 
The numbers drawn were 7, 12, 23 and 24. 
The nearest were English Paddy Gallagher, Kentuckey and M. Barrett, Downstrands.  This weeks jackpot stands at £4,300.00 and this weeks selling team is James McHughs team.

U-10 and U-12 Training
The U-10s begin training this Thursday evening in Pearse Memorial Park.
They will train in conjunction with the U-12s.  Training will begin for both
teams at 6.00 p.m.  Bus will leave Narin at 5.45 p.m.

U-14 Training
The U-14s will train on Wednesday and Friday evening at 6.00 p.m.

Senior, Reserves and U-21 Training
Senior, Reserves and U-21s will train on Friday evening at 7.30 p.m.

Membership
Membership is now due and players are reminded it is their last chance as all players have to be fully paid up members of the Club.  As the first round of the Ulster Championship is only a few weeks away and will be an all ticket match all those who are paid up members will be eligible for tickets.
Membership can be had from Mairead Whyte and Sinead Gallagher.

Poker Classic
The winners of the Poker Classic in the Central Bar on Sunday night last were
1st - Paddy Given, 2nd Anthony Molloy and 3rd John Cassidy.  This was a fiund raiser for the Minor Board and we thank all who took part.

Table Quiz
Table quiz winners in the Central Bar were May Kearney, Conal Melly, John Mcbrearty and Noel Boyle.  Winners in Brennans were Coleen O'Corrbhui, Conal O'Churbhui, James McBrearty, Michael Stewart.  The next quiz will be on on Holy Thusday night in the Greenhouse with Quiz master Frank McGhee.

Club Meeting
The monthly Club meeting takes place on next Monday night 9th in Dohertys at
9.30 p.m.  All members and players are asked to attend.

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