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Soccer

Some of these early matches varied in the playing time and the number of players used. The ‘amateur clubs’ of Doaghbeg and Rossnakill played a friendly match in Drumnacraig ‘on an elegant stretch of sand banks beautifully situated on the western shores of Lough Swilly’ located on the property of Hugh Doherty in February 1885.  Gambling was an important part of the day’s proceedings. It was claimed that ‘much interest was manifested on both sides pending the result, and several bets were made’.

The game started at 2pm and was a thirteen a-side unspecified football match that lasted for around two hours and it was reported that ‘every available foot of vantage ground was occupied’ as large crowds made their way to the arena!  When the Rosnakill side appeared with their captain Mr. Lawler, a vociferous cheer was let out from the crowd.  James McAteer was the captain of the Doaghbeg side.  The fact that there was a ‘strict observance of the regulations pertaining to the game’ and that ‘clubs’ were now in operation illustrates how the game was now being taken more seriously.  Great interest was displayed by the crowd with a large portion of them speculating on the result.  The Doaghbeg Club were more than a match for their opponents and were declared victorious.  The proceedings finished about 4.30pm when the crowd dispersed to their homes satisfied with the days’ action.

1934 – In House game, Inishowen Celtic visit & dance

1936 – Urris v Doaghbeg

1933 - Doaghbeg v St.Patricks

1934 football match.JPG
1934 DOaghbeg v Inishowen.PNG
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1934 dance for Doaghbeg FC.PNG
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The Knockdonnelly Rovers team played their games in Drumnacraig on the green where the chalets are now, while the changing rooms were a byre where Peggy Ward has the house now, according to Margaret Doherty.  Their jersey was similar to the Chelsea kit of those days.  They fundraised via the 'mummers'.  They were going well until a team from Ramelton brought them down to earth with a 7-0 defeat.  Knockdonnelly had brought in players from Tamney and Rosnakill for the game. 

There was also a field over the 'Cassan' road that was used to play football. Tim McAteer has a medal that his father won, perhaps from the sports days. 

The football team from Doaghbeg in the 1930s had a great rivalry with Kerrykeel, Tommy Loughrey's team.

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Philomena Durden also recalls watching men play football in the 1950s.  Dan Callaghan, Eamonn 'Mick' McAteer, Tony Sweeney, Eddie 'Larry' Coll, Michael & Benny Coll, John Patrick & Liam Callaghan. 

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Tim McAteer recalls being moved from the football pitch in Drumnacraig due to complaints from a Mr. McClure.  They then moved to a pitch opposite Sinclair's chalet.  They also played behind the Coll house in Pollaid which turned out to be unsafe due to the hidden stones.  Gerard Coll paid the ultimate price when his knee cap was lifted from the bone, an awful injury. 

The field below Willie McAteers was also used for local kickabouts in recent years while Eunan Sweeney also recalls playing there in the 1960s and 70s.

There were also some huge gatherings above Eddie Jimmy's house in the 1990s where there would be 15 a side games with people of all ages, boys and girls, playing. 

Eddie Sweeney also recalls playing on the field below Willies.  They also played in a field behind the current 'Nanny' house.  Eddie recalls Mickey Diver with his milking can coming in to play after he had milked a cow in the middle of the garden in at Paddy Sean's.

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In 1997, Doaghbeg National School won a local soccer tournament which was held among national schools in Fanad.  On their way to victory, they defeated Croaghross 2-1, Tamney 2-1 (Christy Sweeney getting both goals in both games) while they came up against the fancied Cashel in the final.  The game was refereed by Aidan McGrory, a former pupil of Cashel and indeed quite young to be tasked with what was a huge game at the time!  Doaghbeg emerged victorious on a scoreline of 4-1, Christy scoring twice again while young Jerry ‘Diver’ Friel pounced for two goals despite his tender age.  Christy was also sent off for and proceeded to shove referee McGrory as things got heated.  Among that team were Christy Sweeney, Brendan Friel, Jonathan Friel, Jerry Friel, Michael Sweeney, Angela McAteer, Bridin McAteer, Seamus Carr and Anthony Sweeney.

 

In 2001, Doaghbeg amalgamated with Tamney NS and won another area tournament quite comfortably.  Among that team were James Moston, Patrick Durden, Michael Sweeney, Seamus Friel while their Tamney counterparts were Stephen McGonigle, Stephen Sweeney, Oisin Blaney and Gary McGonigle.  They were well beaten by Dooish NS in the next round.

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Danny and Jonny Kelly were part of the successful Fanad United teams on the 1980s and 1990s which yielded multiple Ulster Senior League titles.  These Fanad teams were truly an unstoppable force and won two Intermediate titles, in 1988 and 1995, while they were runners up in 1996.  These teams were more than a match for senior opposition and indeed they defeated some high profile teams in their time.  More details about these Fanad teams and the Kelly's' contributions can be found on the Fanad United Facebook page.

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A good host of Doaghbeg lads have also played regularly on the local Junior soccer scene.  In 2019, Jonathan Friel and Michael Sweeney were members of the Kerrykeel 71 side that won the Sunday League Division Two while in 2020 Mark and Seamus Friel won the Sunday Premier League with Kilmacrenan.

Mark and Seamus were also part of successful Fanad United sides in years gone by while Seamus regularly lined out for the Ulster Senior League side as they locked horns with the Munster, Leinster and Connacht Leagues.

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In the late 1990s, a group of Doaghbeg lads played a friendly game against Glenvar, in Glenvar, winning comfortably.  Not sure of who all played, but Michael Sweeney and his cousins Shaun Martin, Paul & Emmet Browne and a few of the Nannys would have played too.

Rowing

In July 1855 at the Rathmullan Regatta, John Martin from Doaghbeg won a race between two curraghs with only one man in each boat.

In July 1856 in Buncrana, James Martin won first prize in a Curragh Race and won himself £1.  Second in the race was a McAteer man from Doaghbeg who won 2d, 10s. 

Sports Days

These were a common occurrence in Doaghbeg in the early part of the century.  These were held on an annual basis at the ‘Drumnacraig’ football grounds.  Huge crowds would attend these events with people coming from Letterkenny, Ramelton and all of Fanad to compete.

1931 Doaghbeg sports notice.PNG
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In 1932 – here's some articles relating to fundraising and the event itself;

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1932 sports Ramelton.PNG
1932 dance sports.PNG
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We believe these team members were;

  • Patrick Martin (House 27, 1911 Census and later Carryblagh, father of Hugh Michael Martin)

  • John ‘Roe’ McAteer (son of James from House 19, 1911 Census and father of current ‘John Roe’ family members)

  • Dan Martin (brother of Patrick in House 27). 

  • James McAteer (brother of John ‘Roe, father of Brian who helped create the site).

  • John ‘Jimmy’ Sweeney (from House 26, 1911 census, father of Bried, PJ, Tommy, uncle of Eddie 'Dan Jimmy' Sweeney etc).

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1933 Portsalon Cup

The referee here was Charles 'Den Hudie' McCarron. Not many Doaghbeg men on the team!

Some of the team members were Cormac Logue - Kerrykeel, Cutliffe may have been Kerrykeel, Mickey Logue - Kerrykeel, later of Milford, Tommy Loughrey - Kerrykeel.

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GAA

Doaghbeg National School were also victorious in the ‘Cumann Na Bunschoill’ tournament, a GAA competition for small schools in the early 1990s.  This was a great achievement given numbers at the school were low. 

 

Doaghbeg were also victorious in a local parish tournament held in 2009, 2010 and 2011.  The competitions in 2009 and 2010 were 7 a side competition and were held on the GAA pitch in Traigh-a-Locha in the early part of each year.  They defeated Ballylar in both finals.  Ciaran McElwaine from Ballylar picked up the player of the tournament award in 2009.  Among those teams were;

Ciaran McIntyre, Noel Sweeney, Frank Sweeney, Michael Sweeney, Eamon Sweeney, Christopher Sweeney, Mark Friel, Brendan Friel, Jonny Friel, Jerry Friel (who transferred out of the parish in 2010!), Columba McVeigh, Seamie Friel, Patrick McConigley, Mark McConigley.

The competition in 2011 was a 15 a side encounter and Doaghbeg were paired with the club’s minor team.  Again, Doaghbeg emerged victorious in the final defeating Rosnakill with Michael Sweeney picking up the player of the tournament award.

Another memorial competition was held in 2018 where once again it was a 15 a side competition.  Doaghbeg were on the ‘Fanad North’ side with players from Shannagh, Ballure, Araheera, Pollaid, Carryblagh and Ballinacrick.  They defeated ‘Fanad West’ by a single point in the semi final but were defeated by Fanad South in extra time in the final in what was a well-attended and competitive tournament. 

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Doaghbeg folk also have a strong connection with the Fanad Gaels club down through the years.  Eddie Sweeney held most roles at the club and also managed several underage teams including the Fanad Gaels U14 side that brought home the club's first 'A' title in 1995 after defeating St.Eunans in a low scoring game.  Eamon Sweeney, Frank Sweeney and Patrick McConigley were part of that side.

Eamon and Patrick were also part of the team that won a Junior title in 1997 while history was made in 2007 when an Intermediate title arrived to Fanad.  Both lads, along with Christy Sweeney, Michael Sweeney, Mark Friel, Mark McConigley, Ciaran McIntyre & Jerry Friel, were part of the panel.

The same feat was repeated in 2009 but Christy and Mark Friel missed out this time round, while Noel Sweeney got his hands on the 2009 cup.

In 2013, Patrick, Mark Friel, Mark McConigley, Seamus Friel, Michael Sweeney, Jerry Friel and Brendan Friel were all part of the side that won an All Ireland Junior title at the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta championships.

In 2014, Jerry Friel captained Fanad Gaels reserves to an Intermediate championship with Conor McConigley, Brendan 'Nanny' Friel and Eamonn Sweeney part of the side.

In recent times, Brandon McClafferty and Joshua McAteer are playing regularly for the Fanad Gaels senior and reserve sides.  They were both part of the U18 side that won a Division Two league and championship double in 2018. 

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Patrick McConigley also featured for Donegal seniors too, notable in 2007 when they won a Division 1 NFL title.

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Greyhound racing

There was a greyhound called 'Doaghbeg' that ran in the 1930s/1940s.  Not sure who owned it but it appeared in several racecards that appeared in newspapers.

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Horse Racing

Not much info here, but Dan 'Rosie' Martin used to own a horse called the 'Bold Rebel Boy' (photo on Facebook) while Frank Sweeney also owned a horse called the 'Chocolate Soldier'.  Both would have been raced in local races.  

There was also a racehorse called Doaghbeg which was foaled in 1985 and owned by Clifford Storey. 

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Darts

Darts was a common pastime in Doaghbeg, here's an article we stumbled upon while doing our research.

1979 darts results.JPG

Miscellaneous

1930 - Dan Rosie Martin horse trotting

1979 - indoor football

1930 Dan Martin horse.PNG
1979 indoors football.JPG
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