Donegal Junior Football Championship

The Donegal Junior Football Championship (abbreviated as Donegal JFC) is an annual football competition organised by Donegal GAA.

Donegal Junior Football Championship
IrishCraobh Peil Sóisear Dhún na nGall
Founded1932
Title holdersNa Rossa (2nd title)
Most titlesCastlefinn Robert Emmet's (7 titles)

Na Rossa are the title holders (2023) defeating Moville in the Final.

History

The competition has been won by 44 clubs, 23 of which have won it more than once. Castlefinn Robert Emmet's are the most successful club with seven titles to their credit.

Donegal county team manager Declan Bonner brought national attention to the competition when he lined out for his club Na Rossa in 2019, notably making saves while playing as goalkeeper when his team's regular goalkeeper transferred to New York.[1][2][3]

Honours

The winning club receives the Dr McCloskey Cup. The winning club is promoted to the Donegal Intermediate Football Championship for the following season.

The Donegal JFC winner qualifies for the Ulster Junior Club Football Championship. It is the only team from County Donegal to qualify for this competition. The Donegal JFC winner may enter the Ulster Junior Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage. It often does well there, with the likes of Naomh Colmcille[4] and Red Hugh's[5] among the clubs from Donegal to win at least one Ulster Championship after winning the Donegal Junior Football Championship.

The Donegal JFC winner — by winning the Ulster Junior Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship, at which it would enter at the semi-final stage, providing it hasn't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals.

Winners and finalists

Results by team
Results by team
# Team[lower-alpha 1] Wins Years won Last final lost
1 Castlefinn / Robert Emmet's 7 1945, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1987, 2002 2008
2 Convoy 6 1941, 1942, 1963, 1995, 2005, 2020 1992
Na Dúnaibh 1948, 1957, 1977, 2012, 2016, 2021 2020
3 Urris 5 1979, 1989, 1999, 2001, 2014 2018
4 Milford 4 1990, 2000, 2004, 2013 2012
5 Erin's Hope (Stranorlar) 3 1932, 1944, 1955 —
Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1938, 1939, 1959 1974
Donegal Town / Four Masters 1943, 1965, 1975 1968
Killygordon / Red Hugh's 1946, 1981, 2018 2017
Carndonagh 1950, 1952, 2008 —
St Naul's 1962, 1972, 1984 1954
Naomh Bríd 1986, 2003, 2006 2002
Naomh Colmcille 1994, 2010, 2017 1998
6 Glenties 2 1933, 1964 1963
Na Rossa 1982, 2023 2006
Dunkineely/Naomh Ultan 1936, 2015 2014
Bundoran 1960, 1966 1970
Ard an Rátha 1967, 1970 1980
Cill Chartha 1971, 1993 1989
St Michael's 1983, 1992 1971
Gaeil Fhánada 1985, 1997 1993
Buncrana 1988, 2019 —
Naomh Muire 1991, 2007 2004
Moville 1996, 2009 —
7 Rosses Rovers 1 1934 —
Letterkenny Gaels 2022 2021
Gaoth Dobhair 1935 1982
An Clochán Liath 1937 1950
Dún Líonáin 1940 1943
Corlea 1947 1946
Liscooly 1949 —
Inch 1958 1966
Mulroy Gaels 1968 —
Ranafast 1969 —
Termon 1973 1978
Naomh Columba 1974 1973
Na Cealla Beaga 1976 1975
Glenfin 1978 1977
St Eunan's 1980 1988
Malin 1998 1996
Burt 2011 —

Finals listed by year
Year Winner Score Opponent Score Winning captain Man of the match Winning manager
1932 Erin's Hope (Stranorlar) 1-2 Glenties 0-4
1933[6] Glenties 0-2 Townawilly 0-1
1934 Rosses Rovers 1-6 Donegal Town 0-0
1935 Gaoth Dobhair 4-3 Ard an Rátha 0-11
1936 Dunkineely 3-5 Letterkenny 1-0
1937 An Clochán Liath 3-2 Cashelard 1-0
1938 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 2-3 Downstrands 0-5
1939 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-5 Castlefinn 0-5
1940 Dún Líonáin[7] 4-1 Downstrands 2-4
1941[8] Convoy 1-6 Belleek[lower-alpha 2] 0-4
1942 Convoy 2-7 Kindrum 1-4
1943[lower-alpha 3] Donegal Town 2-4 Dún Líonáin 1-6
1944 Erin's Hope (Stranorlar) 2-4 Bundoran 1-3
1945 Castlefinn 1-8 Corlea 0-5
1946 Killygordon 2-6 Corlea 0-3
1947 Corlea 5-5 Na Dúnaibh 0-2
1948 Na Dúnaibh 3-5 Cill Chartha 1-3
1949[9] Liscooly 1-6 Glenties 0-7
1950 Carndonagh 1-6 An Clochán Liath 1-2
1951 Castlefinn 2-5 St Naul's 1-4
1952 Carndonagh 2-7 Four Masters 1-0
1953 Pettigo 3-3 St Michael's 3-2
1954[lower-alpha 4] Castlefinn St Naul's
1955 Erin's Hope (Stranorlar) 2-12 Na Dúnaibh 0-1
1956 Castlefinn 2-6 Bundoran 1-4
1957[10] Na Dúnaibh 4-7 Letterkenny Lámh Dearg 3-2
1958 Inch 1-6 Bundoran 0-4
1959 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 4-7 Crossroads 0-2
1960 Bundoran 4-7 Na Dúnaibh 1-1
1961 Castlefinn 4-6 Creeslough 2-4
1962 St Naul's 5-4 Creeslough 1-3
1963 Convoy 2-7 Glenties 1-6
1964 Glenties 1-9 Castlefinn 0-3
1965 Four Masters 2-4 Ard an Rátha 1-6
1966 Bundoran 6-6 Inch 1-2
1967 Ard an Rátha 0-7 Convoy 0-5
1968 Mulroy Gaels 2-11 Four Masters 0-5
1969 Ranafast 2-9 St Michael's 0-10
1970 Ard an Rátha 2-8 Bundoran 1-8
1971 Cill Chartha 2-6 St Michael's 0-7
1972 St Naul's 0-9 Naomh Columba 0-7
1973 Termon 0-11 Naomh Columba 0-10
1974 Naomh Columba 1-5 Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-3
1975 Four Masters 1-8 Na Cealla Beaga 1-6
1976 Na Cealla Beaga 1-11 Termon 1-5
1977 Na Dúnaibh 2-8 Glenfin 1-10
1978 Glenfin 0-10 Termon 0-6
1979 Urris 2-13 Gaoth Dobhair 1-2
1980 St Eunan's 0-13 Ard an Rátha 0-5
1981 Red Hugh's 2-14 Cill Chartha 0-4
1982 Na Rossa 3-4 Gaoth Dobhair B 2-6
1983 St Michael's 1-15 Milford 0-7
1984 St Naul's 1-12 Convoy 2-6
1985 Gaeil Fhánada 3-4 Seán Mac Cumhaills B 0-7
1986 Naomh Bríd 0-9 Robert Emmet's 1-4
1987 Robert Emmet's 1-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills B 1-3
1988 Buncrana 3-6 St Eunan's B 1-6
1989 Urris 3-7 Cill Chartha B 1-6
1990 Milford 1-8 Convoy 1-6
1991 Naomh Muire 2-13 Naomh Báithín 1-4
1992 St Michael's 2-9 Convoy 0-9
1993 Cill Chartha 2-7 Gaeil Fhánada 0-9
1994 Naomh Colmcille 1-11 Naomh Mura 0-10
1995 Convoy 2-9 Robert Emmet's 0-6
1996 Moville 1-14 Malin 0-10
1997 Gaeil Fhánada 0-16 Naomh Colmcille 0-12
1998 Malin 0-13 Naomh Colmcille 0-9
1999 Urris 2-10 Naomh Pádraig, Lifford 1-5
2000 Milford 0-11 Glenswilly 0-10
2001 Urris 0-10 Robert Emmet's 0-7
2002 Robert Emmet's 1-16 Naomh Bríd 0-10
2003 Naomh Bríd 1-7 Red Hugh's 0-8
2004 Milford 0-13 Naomh Muire 0-12
2005[11] Convoy 0-10 Naomh Pádraig, Lifford 0-6
2006 Naomh Bríd 2-10 Na Rossa 0-6
2007 Naomh Muire 0-8 Naomh Pádraig, Lifford 0-7
2008 Carndonagh 0-11 Robert Emmet's 0-6
2009[12] Moville 1-9 Milford 0-10
2010[13] Naomh Colmcille 0-7 Naomh Pádraig, Muff 0-6
2011[14] Burt 3-5 Naomh Pádraig, Lifford 1-3
2012 Na Dúnaibh 0-10 Milford 0-5
2013 Milford 2-9 Urris 2-6
2014 Urris 2-9 Naomh Ultan 0-8 Danny Kelly[15]
2015[16] Naomh Ultan 2-6 Red Hugh's 2-5
2016[17] Na Dúnaibh 0-11 Naomh Pádraig, Muff 1-7
2017[18][19] Naomh Colmcille 2-7 Red Hugh's 0-8
2018[20] Red Hugh's 4-9 Urris 0-5
2019[21] Buncrana 2-12 Letterkenny Gaels 2-8
2020[22] Convoy 3-10 Na Dúnaibh 1-3
2021[23] Na Dúnaibh 1-9 Letterkenny Gaels 0-3 Ben McNutt Danny McBride
2022[24] Letterkenny Gaels 0-12 Carndonagh 0-10 Conor Browne Ronan Frain Dougie Corbett
2023[25] Na Rossa 0-15 Moville 1-10 Daniel Martin Aidan McHugh Declan Bonner

References
  1. McNulty, Chris (28 September 2019). "Declan Bonner to the fore as Na Rossa reach Junior semi-finals". Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  2. McNulty, Chris (21 September 2019). "Declan Bonner plays as Na Rossa reach Junior quarter-finals". Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  3. "Donegal boss Bonner on life as a 54-year-old goalkeeper". RTÉ Sport. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  4. "Ulster club JFC final: Naomh Colmcille make history". Hogan Stand. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  5. "Red Hugh's beat Limavady to win Ulster junior football title". The Irish News. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  6. "Donegal News". Donegal Democrat. Ballyshannon. 28 October 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 7 June 2020 – via www.irishnewsarchive.com.
  7. Dún Líonáin or Fort Leenan were an army side based in the Carrigans area - http://www.hoganstand.com/county/donegal/article/index/240661
  8. "Belleek defeated in Junior final". Donegal Democrat. Ballyshannon. 2 May 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 7 June 2020 – via www.irishnewsarchive.com.
  9. "Liscooly win first championship title". The Derry People. Letterkenny. 15 October 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 7 June 2020 – via www.irishnewsarchive.com.
  10. "Downings take county junior final". The Derry People. Letterkenny. 12 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 7 June 2020 – via www.irishnewsarchive.com.
  11. "Convoy sweating on Dolan". Donegal News. 3 October 2019. p. 73. Laurence McMullan starred the last time Convoy won the Junior Championship in 2005 when he was 20…
  12. Porter, Liam (17 September 2009). "Moville hang on to clinch victory". Inishowen Independent. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  13. Craig, Johnny (25 October 2010). "Naomh Colmcille are the Donegal Junior Champions". Inish Times. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  14. Foley, Alan (18 October 2011). "Burt make it a double with first ever Junior title". Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  15. McNulty, Chris (23 January 2015). "John Paul Gallagher takes over at Cloughaneely as clubs gear up for new season". Donegal News. Retrieved 23 January 2015. Donegal Junior champions Urris have also had a change of the guard as Mark Gilmore has been appointed to the hotseat at Straid. Danny Kelly led Urris to the Junior title, overcoming Naomh Ultan in the final and the Inishowen side went on a memorable march to the Ulster JFC final, where they lost out to Rock St Patrick's of Tyrone.
  16. Foley, Alan (10 October 2015). "Injury time winner means Naomh Ultan win dramatic Junior A final replay against Red Hugh's". Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  17. McNulty, Chris (9 October 2016). "Dramatic finish sees Downings snatch victory over Muff in Junior A Final". Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  18. McNulty, Chris (14 October 2017). "Naomh Colmcille hold off Red Hugh's comeback for Junior Final glory". Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  19. McLaughlin, Gerry (16 October 2017). "Naomh Colmcille claim Donegal junior honours". The Irish News.
  20. McNulty, Chris (13 October 2018). "James Carlin to the four as Red Hugh's finally end their wait for championship glory". Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  21. McNulty, Chris (12 October 2019). "Buncrana's late surge takes Junior title from Letterkenny Gaels grasp". Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  22. Foley, Alan (4 October 2020). "JFC winners St Mary's Convoy are singing in the rain". Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  23. Foley, Alan (14 November 2021). "Downings put right the wrongs of 2020 to win Junior A title with ease". Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  24. McNulty, Chris (16 October 2022). "Letterkenny Gaels end their wait with JFC final win over Carndonagh". Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  25. McLaughlin, Gerry (14 October 2023). "Brilliant Na Rossa clinch Junior A title at Moville's expense". Retrieved 14 October 2023.

Explanatory notes
  1. Titles for clubs based in the same area and with a common heritage are aggregated.
  2. Fermanagh side Belleek contested the Donegal Junior final.
  3. Donegal County Board awarded the junior title to Donegal Town although the referee had noted the final score as Dún Líonáin 2-5 Donegal Town 2-4.
  4. Castlefinn awarded the final after St Naul's walked off the field with the score at St Naul's 1-1 Castlefinn 0-1.

Further reading
  • Ó Gallchóir, An tAth. Seán (2007). The Book of Donegal GAA Facts. Letterkenny: Browne Printers Ltd. ISBN 978-09542806-3-5.
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