THERE was plenty to ponder over the weekend with the second series of fixtures in the RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta SFC. Here’s who stood out:
NOEL O’DONNELL (Termon)
WITH goalkeepers Michael Boyle and Conor Tinney in America, Paddy McDaid was in something of a jam when it came to his number 1 shirt for the weekend.
He turned to O’Donnell, who lined out for his first Gaelic football game since his underage days with the Burn Road Club.
An international soccer player with the Irish Deaf Team, O’Donnell didn’t disappoint and made two stunning saves, both of them from Sean ‘Yank’ Boyle, as Termon secured a draw at Naomh Muire.
FRANK MCGLYNN (Glenfin)
THE Donegal star controlled Glenfin’s defence in Falcarragh on Sunday during a vital win over Cloughaneely. It was a typical McGlynn display that drove his side to victory. Got forward to get an important point late in the second half.
EAMON WARD (Glenswilly)
DOESN’T seem to put a foot wrong when it comes to the crunch. The experienced Clontibret native rolled the sleeves up and got into battle mode for Glenswilly in the most testing of conditions on Sunday evening. A rock that gives their rearguard a solid feel to it.
PAURIC CARR (Kilcar)
A TENACIOUS performance by Carr helped Kilcar get the better of their old rivals Killybegs. Carr made a number of telling interceptions and was on top form throughout.
DARREN CURRAN (Dungloe)
CURRAN was a real driving force as Dungloe came from behind to defeat Ardara. Curran capped an excellent display with the crucial goal that turned the tide in his team’s favour.
MARK MCHUGH (Kilcar)
RIGHT on the stroke of half-time, McHugh struck the back of the net to give Kilcar the first-half edge on Killybegs. McHugh is back to something approaching his best as he showed in a top-class display as Kilcar scored a big win.
CIAN MULLIGAN (Gaoth Dobhair)
NETTED the first-half goal in Gaoth Dobhair’s win over Sean MacCumhaills and the under-21 ace was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition. Mulligan was to the fore for the Gaeltacht side.
CHRISTY TOYE (St Michael’s)
IT was a vintage Christy Toye display as St Michael’s steamrolled Four Masters. Toye helped St Michael’s dominate the midfield battle and scored two points for good measure.
ODHRÁN MACNIALLAIS (Gaoth Dobhair)
MACNIALLAIS gave a masterclass for Gaoth Dobhair in Ballybofey. He scored five points and was at the hub of everything that was good about the Gaoth Dobhair performance, while his display of fielding was the stuff of exhibition (as shown in the above picture, courtesy of Chris Doherty).
ANDREW KELLY (St Michael’s)
A PLAYER who is really maturing, Kelly has upped his game to become one of St Michael’s most consistent performers. Hit four points – three of them from play – against Four Masters. The instinctive nature of some of his points really stood out.
DARREN MCGINLEY (Glenswilly)
AN UNDER-RATED campaigner for Glenswilly, McGinley had a memorable evening at the office as Michael Canning’s team defeated Malin on Sunday. Seized on a mistake by ‘keeper Darragh McLaughlin for a goal and helped himself to two points.
CONOR WARD (Glenfin)
TURNED in a lively display in Glenfin’s attack and hit four points as Glenfin defeated Cloughaneely. Ward’s kicking was all the more impressive given the difficult conditions in which he was operating.
BRENDAN MCDYRE (Naomh Conaill)
AFTER suffering from injury trouble, McDyre is back to himself again. Set up a goal for Leon Thompson and scored the other himself as Naomh Conaill sent out a statement of intent in a win over St Eunan’s at O’Donnell Park.
SEAN ‘YANK’ BOYLE (Naomh Muire)
BOYLE created problems for Termon’s defence from start to finish. Terrorised Termon and was only denied goals by the brilliance of the goalkeeper, Noel O’Donnell, who thwarted him twice.
LEON THOMPSON (Naomh Conaill)
SCORED 1-5, all of it from play, in a dynamic and deadly performance. St Eunan’s couldn’t handle the tricky livewire. On this form, Thompson is one of the best in the county.
