Sean Clerkin: 'Four teams in the frame for the Intermediate Championship'

Malin, Naomh Columba, Termon, and Buncrana are the big four in the Donegal Intermediate championship while Milford are also in with an outside chance.  

That is the view of double-winning Intermediate championship manager Sean Clerkin. The Monaghan native was manager of the Buncrana winning teams of 1995 and 2004. He also guided Donegal to Ulster minor championship success and managed his adopted county at U-21 level. 

Buncrana are among six clubs competing in this year’s championship as previous winners of the second tier championship.

Bundoran,Termon are also double winners while Gaeil Fhánada, and Burt are one time winners. 

Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses are the only club to capture the Cathal McLaughlin Cup three times- 1994, 1998, 2013.

“Naomh Columba and Malin have been beaten in the last two finals, Naomh Columba lost the 2022 final to Dungloe and Malin lost to Downings in last year’s final,” says Clerkin. 

“Malin played in Division One and did well so you would have to think they are going to have to be in the shake-up. 

“Buncrana and Termon were the form teams in Division Two of the league and both were promoted to Division One. 

“They are definitely going to be in the mix too though looking at the draw Termon, Malin, and Naomh Columba all play each other and they are most definitely in the toughest group.” 

Malin are the only Division One team in the championship. They will be joined by Buncrana and Termon next season following promotion from Division Two at the end of the league season just completed.   

Milford, Naomh Muire, Naomh Columba, Gaeil Fhánada, Red Hughs, and Na Rossa are the other teams who played in Division Two this season. 

Bundoran were relegated from the top flight after a poor season in Division 1 where they won just one game, 

And Na Rossa and Red Hughs will play in Division Three next season following their drop from Division Two.  

“The outcome of those games between Malin,Termon and Naomh Columba will have a major bearing on the championship and their placing in the top eight and ultimately the strength of the quarter-final opponents.  

“Buncrana, on the other hand, would appear to have the easier draw with Letterkenny Gaels away and Na Rossa at home, two Division Three teams in their first two games. 

“They have also drawn Milford at home, another of the teams which are a good bet for the last eight, and Naomh Muire away, which is a tricky tie. 

“They will be without Caolan McGonagle for the first two games after suffering a concussion early in the Division Two league final defeat to Four Masters. 

“They should finish high up in the top eight and as I expect Malin, Termon, Naomh Columba, and Milford to make the quarter-finals, that leaves three remaining places up for grabs. 

“Bundoran, Fanad Gaels, Burt, and Naomh Muire, all previous winners, are the possible contenders for those last three places. 

“They all have championship pedigree. I know Bundoran had a bad run in the league but they have Shane McGowan back and they finished the league with a big win over Aodh Ruadh. 

“Fanad have a good record too in recent years in the championship and they have taken one or two of the big teams out.  

“Burt are one of the greatest clubs to put a championship run together when you least expect it. They had a decent run in the league and just missed out on promotion.  

“They literally came from nowhere in 2016 to win the championship. They defeated a fancied Milford in the final after a replay. Ronan McLaughlin was the manager in 2016 and he returned as manager again this year.  

“I would definitely not rule them out as dark horses. Naomh Muire won the All-Ireland junior Gaeltacht and had a decent run in Division 2 of the league. They are also capable of upsetting the odds. 

“The intermediate championship has been very competitive in recent years with four of five teams capable of winning in any given year. 

“It is not an easy championship to win and I am not expecting anything different this year.  

“Red Hughs should be good enough to retain intermediate status with Na Rossa and Letterkenny Gaels looking like the sides that will most likely battle it out to stay in the championship,” says Clerkin.