WE OFTEN HEAR club players proclaiming how ‘it’s been a long road’ as they reflect on their seasons – but for the players of one Donegal club that statement has certainly been true this week.
13 players from the Naomh Columba squad are based outside of Donegal and tomorrow’s Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Intermediate Football Championship semi-final against Burt will be the third time in six days they’ll be back home for a Championship fixture.
Last Sunday in Dunkineely, Naomh Columba – from remote Glencolmcille in the south-west of Donegal – saw a seven-point lead slip against St Naul’s in a quarter-final.
Ryan McNern’s goal had Glen 1-8 to 0-6 ahead at half-time and the lead increased in the second half but, despite having Cathal Lowther sent off, St Naul’s hit back to draw level and force a replay.
[adrotate group=”85″]That replay took place on Wednesday night in Ardara. Stephen Griffin was absent from the St Naul’s team because of a pre-planned holiday while Conor McDevitt was unable to line out as he was working in Limerick.
Goals by Philip Doherty and Gavin McGinley helped Naomh Columba win 2-7 to 0-3 and set up tomorrow’s semi-final against Burt in Glenswilly at 2pm.
Naomh Columba’s squad often make some of Donegal football’s longest journeys to the likes of Malin and Cloughaneely in Division Two of the All-County Football League.
[adrotate group=”38″]And this week, they’ve been on the road quite a bit.
Michael Maguire, Declan McGuire and Ryan McNern are all working in Dublin, while Barry Carr, Pauric Ward, Philip Doherty, Paul Doherty, Pauric Cunningham, Conor Kennedy and Ryan Gillespie are at college in the capital. On top of that, Christopher Byrne and Jamie J McGinley returned from their college base in Sligo.
Stephen Jones was counting his lucky stars this week. Usually based in Limerick, were he attends UL, Jones was this week on placement at St Columba’s Comprehensive School in Glenties.
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