C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair

C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair

Founded:	1931
County:	Donegal
Nickname:	Green Army
Colours:	Green and White
Grounds:	Áras Mhic Eiteagáin, Machaire Gathlán
Coordinates:	55°04′56.97″N 8°18′34.29″W / 55.0824917°N 8.3095250°WCoordinates: 55°04′56.97″N 8°18′34.29″W / 55.0824917°N 8.3095250°W
Playing kits
Standard colours
Senior Club Championships
All Ireland Ulster champions Donegal champions Football: - - 14

C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair grounds in Machaire Gathlán

C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair^[1][2] is a GAA club based in the parish of Gweedore in northwest County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. They are one of the strongholds of Gaelic football in County Donegal.^[3]

Their home ground is at Machaire Gathlán, and they are currently the most successful club in both the Donegal Senior Football Championship and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta.

History

The first records of Gaelic football being played in Gaoth Dobhair date back to 1918. Up until the late 1920s, there was no official club, but two teams in the parish. (One consisting of players from the east of Derrybeg church, and the other comprising players from the west of the church.) Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Ghaoth Dobhair would later be founded in 1931. Their traditional rivals are Dungloe and Falcarragh but their biggest rivals are St Eunans of Letterkenny. The two clubs are Donegal's 'Big Two' and usually have feisty and tough matches that are full of drama and great football skill from under 12 level right up to senior level. Ghaoth Dobhair are known for their physical,handpassing and 'never say die attitude' style of play.^[2]

Gaoth Dobhair has produced many county footballers over the years and the club's players have been awarded All Stars on 4 occasions: Kevin Cassidy in 2002, and him again in 2011 alongside full-back Neil McGee, who received another one in 2012. Underage development has improved in recent times with successes in the under-14, under-15, under-16 and under-21 levels after a long drought. In the summer of 2012, after years of planning and development, a new pitch was built beside the clubhouse.^[1][4]

Honours

Gaoth Dobhair have won a total of 14 Donegal Senior County Championships, more than any other club in Donegal. They are also the most successful team in Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta history, with nine wins. The last of their Senior County Championships was won against rivals St Eunan's on 30 September 2006 at Mac Cumhaill Park, Ballybofey. In the summer of 2012, Ghaoth Dobhair won the Donegal and All-Ireland Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta on their own pitch.

Three players in their history have been part of All-Ireland winning squads and this was Peter, Eamon and Neil McGee in 2012 when Donegal won their second All-Ireland title.

• 14 Donegal Senior Football Championships (1935, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1961, 2002, 2006)
• 12 Donegal Senior Leagues (1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1970, 1973, 2003, 2006)
• 4 Donegal Under 21 Championships (1971, 1984, 1991, 2005)
• 9 Donegal Under 18 Championships (1933, 1934, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1976, 1987, 1999, 2014)
• 4 Donegal Under 16 Championships (1958, 1962, 2011, 2012)
• 2 Donegal Under 15 Championships (2011, 2012)
• 4 Donegal Under 14 Championships (1967, 1986, 2010, 2012)
• 1 Donegal Under 13 Championship (1985)
• 1 Donegal Under 12 Championship (1985)
• 14 Donegal County Gaeltacht Championships (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)
• 9 Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta (Náisiúnta) (1969, 1975, 1976, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013)

Current senior panel

• Manager: Tom "Beag" Gillespie

No. Player Position Club 1 Christopher Sweeney GK Gaoth Dobhair 2 Ciaran Ferry Def Gaoth Dobhair 3 Neil McGee* Def Gaoth Dobhair 7 Kevin Cassidy* Def Gaoth Dobhair 6 Eamon McGee* Def Gaoth Dobhair 10 James Carroll* For Gaoth Dobhair 16 Fionan Diver For Gaoth Dobhair 8 Peter McGee* (c) Mid Gaoth Dobhair 4 Manus Weed Def Gaoth Dobhair 12 Eoin Ward For Gaoth Dobhair 9 Daniel Curran* Mid Gaoth Dobhair 14 James Gallagher* For Gaoth Dobhair 5 Paul Mulligan For Gaoth Dobhair

No. Player Position Club 17 Ronan Mac Niallais* Mid Gaoth Dobhair 18 Noel Kelly For Gaoth Dobhair 19 Joe Duffy Def Gaoth Dobhair 11 Odhrán Mac Niallais* For Gaoth Dobhair 20 Manny Gallagher For Gaoth Dobhair 13 Thomas Diver For Gaoth Dobhair 21 Christopher Roarty Def Gaoth Dobhair 22 Danny McGarvey Def Gaoth Dobhair 23 Micheal Roarty For Gaoth Dobhair 25 Colin Ferry For Gaoth Dobhair 15 Dan McBride Def Gaoth Dobhair 24 Michael McElvey Mid Gaoth Dobhair 26 Shaun Doherty For Gaoth Dobhair 27 Frank McGee For Gaoth Dobhaor

'*' means capped at County Level

References

1. "Gaoth Dobhair notes". Donegal Democrat (Johnston Press).
2. "A brief History of Gaoth Dobhair GAA club".
3. Cullen, Damian (20 September 2012). "Final countdown". The Irish Times (Irish Times Trust). Retrieved 20 September 2012. The strongholds of Gaelic football in the county – particularly since the turn of this century – such as Gweedores Gaoth Dobhair, Letterkennys St Eunans, Ardara, Four Masters from Donegal Town and Naomh Conaill from Glenties have all been well represented on the pitch this summer.
4. Foley, Alan (2 June 2012). "History on side of Gweedore". Irish Examiner (Thomas Crosbie Holdings). Retrieved 2 June 2012.

External links

• Official website of C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair