Donegal Intermediate Football Championship

Donegal Intermediate Football Championship
Irish	Craobh Peil Idirmheánach Dhún na nGall
Founded	1977
Title holders	Aodh Ruadh (1st title)
Most titles	Glenfin, Na Dúnaibh, Naomh Muire, Réalt na Mara and Termon (3 titles)

The Donegal Intermediate Football Championship (abbreviated as Donegal IFC) is an annual club football competition organised by Donegal GAA.

Initially a straight knock-out competition, a round-robin group stage was introduced in 2013. The winning club qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship (the winners of which go on to compete in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship) and are also promoted to the Donegal Senior Football Championship for the following season.

The winning club receive the Cathal McLaughlin Memorial Cup. The competition has been won by 27 clubs, 11 of which have won it more than once. Glenfin, Na Dúnaibh, Naomh Muire, Réalt na Mara and Termon are the most successful clubs, each winning three titles.

The current holders are Aodh Ruadh who defeated Cloich Cheann Fhaola in the 2020 decider.

History

Declan Bonner was player-manager of the 1989 winning team.[1] He won the Ulster Senior Football Championship with his county in 1990, followed by another in 1992 and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship of 1992 as well.

The most successful team to have emerged from the Donegal IFC in the 21st-century is Glenswilly. They went on to claim several SFC honours for the first time in club history (2011, 2013, 2016). Neil Gallagher, the future National Football League-winning captain and All Star of the 2012 and 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, won the Donegal IFC in 2005.

The 2006 final required two replays before Cloich Cheann Fhaola defeated Gaeil Fhánada.[2]

Men to have won this competition and to have played at senior level for their county include Paddy McConigley (2009),[3] Michael Boyle (2012),[4] Jamie and Paul Brennan (2015),[5] Frank McGlynn (2018)[6] and Peter Boyle (2020).[7]

Others to have played in this competition and played at senior level for their county include Michael Lynch,[5] Niall McCready[4] and Brian Roper.[4]

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship

The Donegal IFC winners qualify for the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship. It is the only team from County Donegal to qualify for this competition. The Donegal IFC winners may enter the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage.

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship

The Donegal IFC winners — by winning the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship, at which they would enter at the semi-final stage, providing they haven't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals. The last team from County Donegal to do this was Naomh Mícheál in 2004 who went on to reach the final, losing out to Ilen Rovers of Cork.[8]

Winners and finalists

Results by team

Results by team
#	Team	Wins	Years won	Last final lost
1	Réalt na Mara	3	1977, 2010, 2015	2009
	Na Dúnaibh		1981, 1988, 1993	1978
	Glenfin		1983, 2001, 2018	1997
	Termon		1991, 2000, 2012	N/A
	Naomh Muire		1994, 1998, 2013	N/A
2	Naomh Ultan	2	1984, 2002	1998
	Na Rossa		1989, 1999	2008
	Milford		1992, 2017	2016
	Buncrana		1995, 2004	2014
	Cloich Cheann Fhaola		2006, 2014	2019
	Gaeil Fhánada		2007, 2009	2006
	St Naul's		2011, 2019	2017
3	Rosses Rovers	1	1978	N/A
	Na Cealla Beaga		1979	N/A
	Roger Casements[lower-alpha 1]		1980	N/A
	Urris		1982	N/A
	Gaoth Dobhair		1985	N/A
	An Clochán Liath		1986	N/A
	Naomh Bríd		1987	N/A
	Naomh Conaill		1990	1986
	Four Masters		1996	N/A
	Carndonagh		1997	2003
	Naomh Mícheál		2003	2000
	Glenswilly		2005	N/A
	Seán MacCumhaills		2008	N/A
	Burt		2016	N/A
	Aodh Ruadh		2020	2018

Finals listed by year

Year	Winner	Opponent	Man of the Match
2020[7]	Aodh Ruadh 2-14	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-12	Nathan Boyle
2019[9]	St Naul's 1-10	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-10	Kevin Mulhern
2018[6]	Glenfin 1-10	Aodh Ruadh 0-7	Gerard Ward
2017[10]	Milford 2-11	St Naul's 0-12	Gary Merritt
2016[11]	Burt 2-11	Milford 1-12	Paul McHugh
2015[5]	Réalt na Mara 4-17	Naomh Colmcille 0-4	Shane McGowan
2014[12]	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-15	Buncrana 0-8
2013[13]	Naomh Muire 1-13	St Naul's 1-7
2012[4]	Termon 0-11	Aodh Ruadh 1-7
2011[14]	St Naul's 1-5	Naomh Columba 0-3
2010	Réalt na Mara 1-8	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-9
2009	Gaeil Fhánada 2-9	Réalt na Mara 1-7
2008[15]	Seán MacCumhaills 0-10	Na Rossa 0-7
2007	Gaeil Fhánada 0-10	Réalt na Mara 1-6
2006	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-11	Gaeil Fhánada 0-8
2005	Glenswilly 1-12	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-7
2004	Buncrana 1-7	St Naul's 0-4
2003	Naomh Mícheál 0-18	Carndonagh 0-5
2002	Naomh Ultan 2-4	Buncrana 0-8
2001	Glenfin 1-13	Malin 0-7
2000	Termon 0-16	Naomh Mícheál 0-4
1999	Na Rossa 1-13	Malin 1-11
1998	Naomh Muire 1-10	Naomh Ultan 2-6
1997	Carndonagh 1-12	Glenfin 1-11
1996	Four Masters 2-15	Carndonagh 1-5
1995	Buncrana 1-8	St Naul's 1-5
1994	Naomh Muire 0-8	St Naul's 0-3
1993	Na Dúnaibh 1-13	Na Rossa 0-9
1992	Milford 1-12	Naomh Ultan 2-8
1991	Termon 1-15	Réalt na Mara 1-7
1990	Naomh Conaill 2-12	Réalt na Mara 2-10
1989[1]	Na Rossa 3-8	Naomh Ultan 2-8
1988	Na Dúnaibh 0-6	St Naul's 0-5
1987	Naomh Bríd 0-6	St Naul's 0-5
1986	An Clochán Liath 0-8	Naomh Conaill 0-6
1985	Gaoth Dobhair 2-8	St Naul's 0-5
1984	Naomh Ultan 1-5	Cill Chartha 0-5
1983	Glenfin 2-10	Na Rossa 2-8
1982	Urris 1-5	Red Hughs 0-7
1981	Na Dúnaibh 0-13	Glenfin 0-8
1980	Roger Casements 3-5	Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-10
1979	Na Cealla Beaga 1-8	Glenfin 0-8
1978	Rosses Rovers 0-9	Na Dúnaibh 0-7
1977	Réalt na Mara 2-11	Convoy 0-11

References

Bonner, Declan (23 April 2020). "You need that glimmer of hope". Donegal News. p. 55.
Ferry, Ryan (23 April 2020). "McConigley reflects on 2007 National League success". Donegal News. pp. 52–3.
Forker, Mark (29 June 2015). "Former Donegal GAA star helps Kilkenny footballers win British junior title". Retrieved 27 October 2020.
Hughes, John (7 November 2012). "Final heartache for Aodh Ruadh". Retrieved 7 November 2012.
McNulty, Chris (25 October 2015). "Bundoran show no mercy to crush Naomh Colmcille's dreams". Retrieved 25 October 2015.
Keenan, Shaun (14 October 2018). "Glenfin comfortably beat Aodh Ruadh to win IFC A Final". Retrieved 14 October 2018.
Foley, Alan (26 September 2020). "Aodh Ruadh come good in final quarter against Cloughaneely to win IFC". Retrieved 26 September 2020.
"Easy in the end for Ilen". Irish Independent. 26 April 2004.
Foley, Alan (13 October 2019). "St Naul's hold firm to overcome Cloughaneely and lift IFC crown". Retrieved 13 October 2019.
McNulty, Chris (8 October 2017). "Late McGettigan goal wipes the pain as Milford win title". Retrieved 8 October 2017.
McNulty, Chris (15 October 2016). "History made as Burt go to the well to pip Milford to Intermediate title". Retrieved 15 October 2016.
Foley, Alan (11 November 2014). "Cloughaneely defeat Buncrana to seal Donegal Intermediate title". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
"A day for Yanks in O'Donnell Park". 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
"Finals can go any way — [St Naul's manager Barry] Meehan". Donegal News. 10 October 2019. p. 69. St Naul's are no strangers to the Intermediate final and this will be their 10th final at this level since 1985. Their record isn't the best as they were only victorious in one of those back in 2011. Since then they have lost to Naomh Muire in 2013, and most of the current side were playing in 2017 when Milford got the better of them after a close game.
Ferry, Ryan (3 October 2019). "Gaels target historic final berth". Donegal News. p. 73. It's 11 years since Na Rossa last contested a county final, but they are hoping to qualify for the Junior 'A' Championship decider this Saturday when they take on Letterkenny Gaels. In 2008, Na Rossa reached the Intermediate final but lost by three points in the final against MacCumhaills.

Explanatory notes

Roger Casements were a Milford-based side which disbanded after losing to Convoy in the 1982 IFC semi-final — https://sites.google.com/a/gaa.ie/naomh-ultan-dunkineely-donegal/history.

External links

Official website of Donegal GAA

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[glimmer_of_hope-1] Bonner, Declan (23 April 2020). "You need that glimmer of hope". Donegal News. p. 55.

[2] Ferry, Ryan (23 April 2020). "McConigley reflects on 2007 National League success". Donegal News. pp. 52–3.

[3] Forker, Mark (29 June 2015). "Former Donegal GAA star helps Kilkenny footballers win British junior title". Retrieved 27 October 2020.

[aodhruadh_07112012-4] Hughes, John (7 November 2012). "Final heartache for Aodh Ruadh". Retrieved 7 November 2012.

[dsh_25102015-5] McNulty, Chris (25 October 2015). "Bundoran show no mercy to crush Naomh Colmcille's dreams". Retrieved 25 October 2015.

[dsh_14102018-6] Keenan, Shaun (14 October 2018). "Glenfin comfortably beat Aodh Ruadh to win IFC A Final". Retrieved 14 October 2018.

[dsh_26092020-7] Foley, Alan (26 September 2020). "Aodh Ruadh come good in final quarter against Cloughaneely to win IFC". Retrieved 26 September 2020.

[8] "Easy in the end for Ilen". Irish Independent. 26 April 2004.

[10] Foley, Alan (13 October 2019). "St Naul's hold firm to overcome Cloughaneely and lift IFC crown". Retrieved 13 October 2019.

[11] McNulty, Chris (8 October 2017). "Late McGettigan goal wipes the pain as Milford win title". Retrieved 8 October 2017.

[12] McNulty, Chris (15 October 2016). "History made as Burt go to the well to pip Milford to Intermediate title". Retrieved 15 October 2016.

[13] Foley, Alan (11 November 2014). "Cloughaneely defeat Buncrana to seal Donegal Intermediate title". Retrieved 11 November 2014.

[14] "A day for Yanks in O'Donnell Park". 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

[dn_10102019-15] "Finals can go any way — [St Naul's manager Barry] Meehan". Donegal News. 10 October 2019. p. 69. St Naul's are no strangers to the Intermediate final and this will be their 10th final at this level since 1985. Their record isn't the best as they were only victorious in one of those back in 2011. Since then they have lost to Naomh Muire in 2013, and most of the current side were playing in 2017 when Milford got the better of them after a close game.

[16] Ferry, Ryan (3 October 2019). "Gaels target historic final berth". Donegal News. p. 73. It's 11 years since Na Rossa last contested a county final, but they are hoping to qualify for the Junior 'A' Championship decider this Saturday when they take on Letterkenny Gaels. In 2008, Na Rossa reached the Intermediate final but lost by three points in the final against MacCumhaills.

[9] Roger Casements were a Milford-based side which disbanded after losing to Convoy in the 1982 IFC semi-final — https://sites.google.com/a/gaa.ie/naomh-ultan-dunkineely-donegal/history.