C.L.G. Naomh Columba
C.L.G. Naomh Columba is a Gaelic football only GAA club based in Gleann Cholm Cille, County Donegal, Ireland. The club fields both men's and ladies' teams from underage as far as senior level. They enjoy an intense rivalry with neghbours, Cill Chartha, although the rivalry has subdued somewhat in the last number of years as the clubs have played in different divisions.
C.L.G. Naomh Columba | |||||||||
Founded: | 1964 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County: | Donegal | ||||||||
Nickname: | Glen | ||||||||
Colours: | Gold and Green | ||||||||
Grounds: | Páirc na nGael | ||||||||
Coordinates: | 54°57′08.48″N 8°21′07.55″W | ||||||||
Playing kits | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Senior Club Championships | |||||||||
|
History
Naomh Columba, in their current existence were founded in 1964, although football was played in the parish for decades before this and a Junior club existed since 1944.[1] They have won the Donegal Senior Football Championship twice, in 1978 and 1990.
The club also won the Donegal Junior Football Championship in 1974. The club has won 2 Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta titles and 7 Division 1 League titles. The club's most successful season came in 1978, when they claimed the championship, league and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta treble, as well as the county under-21 title. They remain the only Donegal club to complete this treble, although Gaoth Dobhair won a league, championship and Ulster championship treble in 2018.[2]
Naomh Columba were once one of the most feared and respected teams in Donegal, reaching 6 senior county finals in 9 years between 1990 and 1998, but since their relegation to the Intermediate Championship and Division 3 of the league in 2007, the senior team have struggled to make any great impact on the Donegal club scene.
They defeated Na Cealla Beaga in the 1990 Donegal SFC final.[3] However, they lost the 1992 final to the same team.[3]
The Donegal 1992 All-Ireland winning team had two players from Naomh Columba in the panel - Noel Hegarty and John Joe Doherty.[4] John Joe Doherty was selected as an All Star in 1993.
Notable players
- John Joe Doherty — 1992 All-Ireland SFC winner
- Noel Hegarty — 1992 All-Ireland SFC winner
- Finian Ward — 1974 Ulster SFC and two-time Railway Cup winner
- Pádraig Carr – 1983 Ulster SFC winner[5]
- Paddy Hegarty – 1987 All Ireland U-21 Championship winner and county senior player in the 1990s; brother of Noel
- Noel McGinley – 1998 Ulster SFC finalist[6]
Honours
Honour | No. | Years |
---|---|---|
Donegal Senior Football Championship | 2 | 1978, 1990 |
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta | 2 | 1978, 1986 |
Donegal Senior League | 7 | 1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1995 |
Donegal Junior Football Championship | 1 | 1974 |
Donegal Under-21 Football Championship | 2 | 1978, 1987 |
Donegal Minor Football Championship | 2 | 1975, 1986 |
Managers
Years | Manager |
---|---|
1964–c. 1990? | N/A |
1990 | Michael McNelis |
c. 1990–2008? | N/A |
2008–2009 | Noel Hegarty[7] |
2010–2011 | Anthony Molloy |
2012 | Paddy J. McGinley |
2013 | Brendan Doherty |
2014 | Paddy J. McGinley |
2015–2016 | Brendan Doherty |
2017–2018 | Paddy J. McGinley |
2019–present | Pauric O'Donnell |
References
- Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, 2008
- The Book of Donegal G.A.A. Facts, 2007 (sixth edition)
- "Killybegs 1991, one of the greatest Donegal teams". 14 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
They lost the 1990 final to Naomh Columba… They were champions again in '92 — they defeated Naomh Columba in the final…
- Ryan, Liam (14 May 2001). "Where are they now: Donegal's All-Ireland champions of 1992". The Irish Times.
- Campbell, Peter (15 July 2008). "Donegal heroes of 1983". Donegal Democrat. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
- Nulty, Chris (22 July 2011). "1992–2011: The best XV not to win Ulster…". Donegal News. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
The Naomh Columba man is remembered as being on the receiving end of a barge from Derry’s Geoffrey McGonagle in the build-up to Joe Brolly’s winning goal in the Ulster final of ‘98.
- Foley, Alan (8 January 2009). "The heroes of '92 - Where are they now?". Donegal Democrat. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
Having only made his championship debut a year earlier, Hegarty and Tony Boyle were the babies of that team. A builder and developer, he is currently player-manager of his hometown club.