A good win at home for Naomh Muire Seniors against a Fanad Gaels side who came into this match in joint third position in the league. Fanad as always are a big strong and physical outfit ...however in what was an impressive first half, the home lads ripped into them with the Naomh Muire defence in particular snuffing out the Fanad threat. This was the base for many of the attacks and Fanad found it difficult to deal with the quick ball inside allowing Naomh Muire to build up a 2-07 to 0-03 lead at Half time.

Fanad took the game to Naomh Muire in the second half and although they narrowed the deficit to 5 points a strong , Naomh Muire upped their game in the final quarter and cancelled out any idea of a Fanad comeback. 

Overall, this was a good solid home win against a side that can be stubborn and difficult to beat. Its 2 good points and with good aspects to the performance.

The Reserves put in a much improved performance in their match following defeat on Saturday in Ballybofey and although the stronger Fanad Side won today, the lads played well and competed throughout.

Played on a lovely sunny afternoon in front of a large crowd Naomh Muire took on Fanad in the first round proper of the Intermediate championship. The home team took the lead in the sixth minute, following some early misses from both teams, with a point from Harry Harden. Points were exchanged them with both teams working hard to win the breaking ball around the middle. In a half where both defences were on top and the scores were hard to come by it was the home side who opened up a two point lead around the midway stage of the half. Indeed Naomh Muire could have been further ahead when Sean 'The Yank' Boyle was in on goal only to see his shot well saved but the Fanad goalkeeper. Fanad were made to work hard for each score as the Naomh Muire defence pressurised them each time they were on the attack. The first half finished level at 5 points a piece and everything still to play for. Fanad hit the front for the first time early in the second half with a close range free from their centre half forward. An intercepted short kick out then gave the visitors an easy score to leave them two ahead once again with the game remaining tight. The home team retained a lot of possession as they worked their kick outs well with Aidi O' Gara getting on a lot of ball at wing half back. Harry Harden once again slotted over the bar to leave the minimum between them. Fanad the had a goal chance themselves but Seán Gallagher produced another excellent save in the Naomh Muire goal to deny them. The resultant 45 was converted to push Fanad two ahead again. The decisive score came midway through the second half when Fanad produced and overlap to fire home the game's first gaol. They soon added another score from play to leave six points in it with 10 minutes left. Fanad added another goal from their midfielder who took the direct route towards goal and fired home an unstoppable shot. Naomh Muire replied with a point to leave the final score, Naomh Muire 0-07  Fanad Gael 2-09

Seniors - Naomh Muire 0-08 Seán Mac Cumhaill 0-09

A hungrier away side took the spoils in the Banks today in a disappointing home defeat for the Seniors. With a cross wind slightly favouring the lads in the first half and taking a 3 point lead- Mac Cumhaills fought hard before the break to narrow it to a point by half time.

The second half saw Mac Cumhaills get into a two point lead before being awarded a penalty which was well saved by Sean Gallagher. Naomh Muire fought back after being 3 down but couldn't get that final point which would have seen a share of the points. 

Reserves - Naomh Muire 3-11 v Mc Cumhaills 1-08

The Reserves put in a fine hour of open football with probably one of the youngest teams to take the field in recent years. Packed with Minors from both this year and last they cut through Mac Cumhaills with some really good football and finishing.

Not the best of days- However plenty to play for in what is becoming a tough and tight league. Naomh Muire will still have huge bearing on happenings in the league over the rest of the season.

Glenswilly 0-13 Naomh Muire 1-9. Glenswilly won this Div 2 top of the table clash in somewhat controversial circumstances this afternoon. The home side ran into a 4 point lead and looked like they were going to totally dominate but Naomh Muire battled back and went in even at HT.

The second half saw Naomh Muire play the better football and their finishing was really good. Glenswilly..using their experience never allowed the game to slip even when our lads were at their peak

Having led by 2 points with 6 minutes remaining to come away with a 1 point defeat from a score deep into time added on was a disappointment in Glenswilly today. Also disappointing was a ref who signalled a minute remaining when it was all square...yet continued to play a further 3 minutes until Glenswilly scored.

Having said that and with a huge Naomh Muire support leaving the Glen not disappointing was the manner in which our Seniors fought, passed and took on one of the County's big names on their own ground with some great passages of play and attacking football. Michael Murphy was contained to two scores from play and even the second half introduction of fit again Neil Gallagher wasn't enough to contain our young lads as they improve with every match.

We are past the stage of moral victories however its important to take the positives and push on...and there were positives all over the field today with a strong team performance. The league campaign is still young and Naomh Muire will drive on and be a force in it this year...well done lads...you deserved better...but that'll come with effort like this.

Naomh Muire got another won against Intermediate reserve champions Termon in a closely fought game against a physically strong Termon team. Termon opened the scoring with a penalty but Naomh Muire responded with 2 points from frees from Sean McCafferty. Termon playing with an awkward cross-field breeze added another three points before Naomh Muire worked a good point from play after patient play finished by Sean McCafferty who took the right option and took his point. The half-time score was Naomh Muire 0-03 Termon 1-03. 
The 2nd half was keenly contested with Termon battling well. Naomh Muire kept the score-board ticking over and were content to take their points. Naomh Muire brought on fresh legs and finished the game strongly in the last 10 mins to win by 2 points. Best for Naomh Muire were Jamie Boyle, Darren Gallagher and Conor Boyle. 

Team: Connor Devenney, Maurice McBride, Patrick Rodgers, Charlie Doherty, Sean McBride, Jamie Boyle, Hugh McGeady, Christopher Devlin, Darren Gallagher, James Ferry, Declan Boyle, Conor Boyle, Sean Burns, Sean McCafferty, Brian O Donnell.  Subs used: B.P Boyle, Ciaran Harden, Daniel Sharkey, Hugh Boyle, Francis Gallagher, Cathal McBride. 

Another home victory leaves our Senior side slipping into 2nd in the league following this impressive home win against Termon in the Banks.

Like the Bundoran match last week- the lads took the initiative early on and opened with a goal from a penalty and led up to HT- going in with a 4 point lead. Termon came back strong in the early part of the 2nd half and equalized with 15 gone. The boys were not in the match at this point and it looked as if Termon were going to dominate. However in an impressive final 15 mins Naomh Muire took control around the middle and eventually pulled away with superior fitness and finishing to get these all important league points. Some great passages of play and good attitude lines up an away match with Glenswilly next week.....and matches like that are what playing at this level is all about .Going on fitness and ability a win in the Glen next week is not beyond our Seniors. Mighty stuff today and well done to Danny and the boys.

In their first home match of the league campaign our Seniors put in a strong and workman-like performance in the Banks in blustery cross-field wind conditions. Bundoran, who were one of the strongest teams in this division last year and who beat Glenfin well last week were coming to the Banks hoping to launch a promotion platform but they found Naomh Muire Seniors in no mood for handing out away wins in the Banks.
The match remained scoreless for 10 minutes as both sides adjusted to the strong wind coming in across the lake. Once Naomh Muire got their opening score they simply took total control of the match and what was most impressive was their ability to move the ball quickly and to keep possession under pressure. By half-time the lads were ahead 2-5 to 0-0.
The second half saw fewer chances but again, Naomh Muire totally dominated and made good use of well won frees. Bundoran had no recovery plan and when they did make the occasional scoring chance, they found the home defence working too hard to allow scores.
This was impressive and to keep a seasoned side like Bundoran to a single score for an hour is a good outcome. To win your first match and away against McCumhaills and now the first at home to Bundoran is strong start to the 2013 campaign and although conditions were tough the response and attitude was really impressive today.

The Seniors are pictured here in their Tracksuits for the season along with Michael from Sharkey’s Club Senior sponsors 2013. The Club would like to thank Sharkey’s for their continued and valued support.

Naomh Muire: 1. Seán Gallagher, 2. Robbie O' Donnell, 3. Brian Gillespie, 4. Tomas Duffy, 5. Pádraig McCafferty, 6. Aidy O' Gara (0-01) 7. Harry Harden (0-01), 8. Paul Yank Boyle (1-00), 9. Owenie McGarvey, 10. Darragh White, 11. Tom McHugh (1-02), 12. Owen Grant (0-01), 13. Sean J Boyle (0-02), 14. Sean Yank Boyle (0-01), 15. Ciarán McGinely, 16. John Pidgeon (on for No. 15), 17. Daniel Gallagher (on for No. 8), 18. Ciarán McCafferty (on for No. 16), 19. Hugh Martin.

Bundoran: 1. Ashley Mulhern, 2. Dermot McCaughey, 3. James Keeney, 4. Johnny Boyle, 5. Shane Moohan, 6. Shane McGowan, 7. Paul Sheridan, 8. Gary Clancy, 9. Neil Dunne, 10.Peter McGonigle, 11. Adam Dunmore, 12. Darragh Hoey, 13.Adam Coyne, 14. Christy Keaney, 15. Alan Russell (0-01)`

Referee: Michael McShane

The new digital scoreboard made its debut today as well so two great results on the new facility on its first day. Well done to both teams, players and management today.

On a cold an blustery Easter Sunday afternoon these two neighbours went into battle in front of a large crowd. Playing with the elements in the first half it was the visitors who started brightly with a point in the opening two minutes from young Ciarán McCafferty following a great run and layoff from full back Brian Gillespie. Harry Harden then fired wide from the right hand wing as Naomh Muire pushed forward trying to make the most of the wind advantage. 
Dungloe, moving the ball quickly, opened their account on seven minutes with a point from the lively Adrain Hanlon. The hard working Paul 'The Yank' Boyle fired wide two minutes later as Naomh Muire looked to respond. The visiting defence were alert moments later when they thwarted a certain gaol with Dungloe having to recycle the ball resulting in a wide. Naomh Muire went on the attack again but notched their third wide as the half drew to a close. Then a quickly taken free put in the Dungloe midfielder to slot over an easy score to nudge Dungloe in front by a point. Some good play saw Naomh Muire finish the half stonger and they converted two free to go in at half time one point up. A fairly even match with scores being exchanged left the half time score, Dungloe 0-05 Naomh Muire 0-06.
Playing with the breeze and the hill in the second half, the home team leveled things up inside the first three minutes with an Adrian Sweeney free. Owen Grant shot wide for Naomh Muire following a good move up the left hand side. Paul Boyle restored Naomh Muire's lead minutes later with an excellent point from distance. Then the turning point of the game occurred when Naomh Muire had the chance to go two points up only for Shaun Boyle's effort to come back off the post. Dungloe gained possession and broke quickly down the field where they fed Adrian Sweeney who laid it off to the corner forward who slotted it past Shaun Gallagher to push Dungloe two points ahead. Two frees from former county man Sweeney in the 13th and 15th minute extended the home team's lead and he followed this up with a long range point from play to leave five points in it after 17 minutes. Naomh Muire introduced Hugh Martin for Darragh White and Shaun 'The Yank' Boyle for Ciarán McCafferty shortly afterwards as they attempted to freshen things up. Adrian Sweeney, playing at full forward then scored another point from play before Ciarán McGinely replied with a close range free. Naomh Muire enjoyed a spell of possession now but failed to convert it into scores. An off the ball incident in the 23rd minute saw referee Mickey Mulhern issue a straight red card to Dungloe's Adrian Hanlon for striking. Naomh Muire mounted several good attacks as they went in search of gaols. Shaun 'The Yank' fired narrowly wide before a five man move saw Pádraig McCafferty in on gaol but the defence stood firm. Both teams exchanged points at the end as the time ran out. 

Teams and Scorers: 
Naomh Muire: 1. Shaun Gallagher, 2. Robert O' Donnell, 3. Brian Gillespie, 4. Daniel Gallgher, 5. Pádraig McCafferty, 6. Thomas Duffy, 7. Harry Harden (0-02), 8. Paul Boyle (0-02), 9. Owenie McGarvey, 10. Darragh White, 11. Tom McHugh, 12. Ciarán McCafferty (0-01), 13. Shaun J Boyle (0-01), 14. Ciarán McGinley (0-03), 15. Owen Grant
Referee: Mickey Mulhern

The first league match of the 2013 season resulted in an away win for the Seniors in the county ground in Ballybofey. MacCumhaills, managed this year by former Donegal captain Brendan Dunleavy were expected to make the most of home advantage and a tough pre-season training regime - but it was Naomh Muire who ran out deserving winners despite letting slip a 6 point lead.
Having led by 5 points at half time- Naomh Muire pulled further ahead in the second half. However a 15 minute period saw the home side score unanswered points to draw level with 5 minutes left. Although the momentum was now strongly with MacCumhaills - the young Naomh Muire side responding with great character to pull 2 points ahead and ended up winning by a narrow margin although they were the better side by far on the night. This was a strong team performance with everyone on the pitch giving it their all and when it was put to them...they responded like a strong team does. A great start to their league campaign and on to Rosses Park Dungloe on Sunday for a tough away fixture again. 
Great away support tonight in Ballybofey, so lets get the numbers up to Dungloe on Sunday. Maith Sibh.
29/03/13 Seán Mac Cumhaill 0-09  Naomh Muire 0-10

Naomh Muire Minors recorded their second Minor League victory coming after last weeks win over Dungloe. This game was played on a cold and windy day in Fintra.

Very often a lion's den for any underage side to go and get a result. Our Minors battled for the complete hour in Killybegs and it was this high work rate and their effort without the ball that stood them well. Naomh Muire played with a strong breeze in the first half and led 0-8 to 0-2 at HT. 

Their second half performance was probably more impressive as Naomh Muire frustrated the home side who only added 2 points with a cold hard breeze. This again was a team effort throughout the match and their tackling and ability to win the ball back which was the major difference. This young Minor team are still developing so whereas the victory is welcomed - there is still much to be worked on in the year ahead and that hard work will continue in the months ahead.

Next match is home to Aodh Rua next week