Donegal Intermediate Football Championship

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

Naomh Columba are the current holders, defeating Malin in the 2025 decider.

History

The competition has been won by 28 clubs, 13 of which have won it more than once.

Declan Bonner was player-manager of the 1989 winning team.^[1] He won the Ulster Senior Football Championship with his county in 1990, followed by another in 1992 and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship of 1992 as well.

A young Jim McGuinness first came to the attention of then Donegal manager Brian McEniff in the 1990 final.^[2]

The most successful team to have emerged from the Donegal IFC in the 21st-century is Glenswilly. They went on to claim several SFC honours for the first time in club history (2011, 2013, 2016). Neil Gallagher, the future National Football League-winning captain and All Star of the 2012 and 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, won the Donegal IFC in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

The 2006 final required two replays before Cloich Cheann Fhaola defeated Gaeil Fhánada.^[3]

Initially a straight knock-out competition, a round-robin group stage was introduced in 2013.

With its 2023 title win, Na Dúnaibh became the first club to win the competition on four occasions, having previously done so in 1981, 1988 and 1993.^[4] They were joined by CLG An Tearmainn after their defeat of CLG Naomh Columba in 2024.

Men to have won this competition and to have played at senior level for their county include Paddy McConigley (2009),^[5] Michael Boyle (2012),^[6] Kevin Mulhern (2014),^[7] Jamie and Paul Brennan (2015),^[8] Frank McGlynn (2018),^[9] Stephen Griffin (2019)^[10][11] and Peter Boyle (2020).^[12]

Others to have played in this competition and played at senior level for their county include Michael Lynch,^[8] Niall McCready^[6] and Brian Roper.^[6]

Honours

The winning club receives the Cathal McLaughlin Memorial Cup. The winning club is promoted to the Donegal Senior Football Championship for the following season.

The Donegal IFC winner qualifies for the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship. It is the only team from County Donegal to qualify for this competition. The Donegal IFC winner may enter the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage.

The Donegal IFC winner — by winning the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Intermediate 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. The last team from County Donegal to do this was St Michael's in 2004 who went on to reach the final, losing out to Ilen Rovers of Cork.^[13]

Winners and finalists

Results by team

Finals listed by year

References

1. ^ Bonner, Declan (23 April 2020). "You need that glimmer of hope". Donegal News. p. 55.
2. ^ Manning, Gordon (26 July 2025). "Brian McEniff: 'I have a huge grá for the county. I love Donegal, that's just it': An audience with the All-Ireland winning manager, hotelier, family man, talented pianist, and godfather of Donegal football". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
3. ^ Ferry, Ryan (23 April 2020). "McConigley reflects on 2007 National League success". Donegal News. pp. 52–3.
4. ^ McNulty, Chris (15 October 2023). "Downings prevail against Malin to win Intermediate Championship crown" After wins in 1981, 1988 and '93, Downings go now to the top of the IFC roll of honour.
5. ^ Forker, Mark (29 June 2015). "Former Donegal GAA star helps Kilkenny footballers win British junior title". Retrieved 27 October 2020.
6. ^ Hughes, John (7 November 2012). "Final heartache for Aodh Ruadh". Retrieved 7 November 2012.
7. ^ Foley, Alan (11 November 2014). "Cloughaneely defeat Buncrana to seal Donegal Intermediate title". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
8. ^ McNulty, Chris (25 October 2015). "Bundoran show no mercy to crush Naomh Colmcille's dreams". Retrieved 25 October 2015.
9. ^ Keenan, Shaun (14 October 2018). "Glenfin comfortably beat Aodh Ruadh to win IFC A Final". Retrieved 14 October 2018.
10. ^ Foley, Alan (13 October 2019). "St Naul's hold firm to overcome Cloughaneely and lift IFC crown". Retrieved 13 October 2019.
11. ^ McNulty, Chris (13 October 2013). "Report: Excellent Naomh Muire win Intermediate Championship". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2013. While Griffin tapped over a free for their first score on 12 minutes, the former Donegal panelist and the St Naul's captain was forced to leave the action in the 17th minute.
12. ^ Foley, Alan (26 September 2020). "Aodh Ruadh come good in final quarter against Cloughaneely to win IFC". Retrieved 26 September 2020.
13. ^ "Easy in the end for Ilen". Irish Independent. 26 April 2004.
14. ^ Ferry, Ryan (3 October 2019). "Gaels target historic final berth". Donegal News. p. 73. It's 11 years since Na Rossa last contested a county final, but they are hoping to qualify for the Junior 'A' Championship decider this Saturday when they take on Letterkenny Gaels. In 2008, Na Rossa reached the Intermediate final but lost by three points in the final against MacCumhaills.
15. ^ "Finals can go any way — [St Naul's manager Barry] Meehan". Donegal News. 10 October 2019. p. 69. St Naul's are no strangers to the Intermediate final and this will be their 10th final at this level since 1985. Their record isn't the best as they were only victorious in one of those back in 2011. Since then they have lost to Naomh Muire in 2013, and most of the current side were playing in 2017 when Milford got the better of them after a close game.
16. ^ "A day for Yanks in O'Donnell Park". 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
17. ^ McNulty, Chris (23 January 2015). "John Paul Gallagher takes over at Cloughaneely as clubs gear up for new season". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015. The Falcarragh club have been on the look-out for a new boss following confirmation that Joe McGarvey wasn’t seeking another term at the helm. McGarvey guided Cloughaneely to IFC glory when they defeated Buncrana in the final.
18. ^ McNulty, Chris (15 October 2016). "History made as Burt go to the well to pip Milford to Intermediate title". Retrieved 15 October 2016.
19. ^ McNulty, Chris (8 October 2017). "Late McGettigan goal wipes the pain as Milford win title". Retrieved 8 October 2017.
20. ^ McNulty, Chris (9 December 2019). "Mark McGinty reappointed as Glenfin manager". Retrieved 9 December 2019. McGinty took over from Liam Breen, who had guided the club to the Intermediate Championship in 2018.
21. ^ McNulty, Chris (13 November 2021). "Cloughaneely end their IFC hoodoo with replay win over Dungloe". Retrieved 13 November 2021.
22. ^ McNulty, Chris (1 October 2022). "Darren Curran goal exorcises Dungloe's ghosts to beat Naomh Columba in IFC final". Archived 2 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
23. ^ "Termon See off Naomh Columba to Land Intermediate Crown." Donegal News, 6 October 2024, https://donegalnews.com/termon-see-off-naomh-columba-to-land-intermediate-crown/.
24. ^ "Naomh Columba end famine to defeat Malin and win Intermediate title." Donegal Democrat, 5 October 2025, https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa-lgfa/1911623/naomh-columba-end-famine-to-defeat-malin-and-win-intermediate-title.html.

Explanatory notes

1. ^ Roger Casements were a Milford-based side which disbanded after losing to Convoy in the 1982 IFC semi-final — https://sites.google.com/a/gaa.ie/naomh-ultan-dunkineely-donegal/history.

Further reading

• Ó Gallchóir, An tAth. Seán (2007). The Book of Donegal GAA Facts. Letterkenny: Browne Printers Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9542806-3-5.

External links

• Official website of Donegal GAA