BY RYAN FERRY

THERE will be a real Donegal feel to the London Senior Championship Final this Sunday as North London Shamrocks take on Tir Chonaill Gaels at McGovern Park.

The Shamrocks won the Championship last season and are aiming to go back-to-back.

It’s a big occasion for North London Shamrocks as their second string will also play in the Junior ‘B’ Final against Fulham Irish.

It will be a busy day for former St Eunan’s star Ciaran Greene who is captain of the reserve team and also serves as a selector under Peter Witherow, who represented St Michael’s with distinction and won the All-Ireland with Donegal in 2012.

Ronan McGeehin (St Eunan’s) is in nets for North London Shamrocks this season, while Liam Kelly (St Michael’s), Joe McGill (St Mary’s, Convoy), Michael Miller (St Eunan’s), John McDyre (Na Rossa), Ciaran Diver (Moville), Nathan McElwaine (Termon), Michael Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair), Oran Hilley (Naomh Colmcille), Oran Blaney (Gaeil Fhánada), Paddy Dolan (St Mary’s, Convoy), and Conor McGonigle (Gaeil Fhánada) are all part of the senior panel.

Brian Conaghan (Killybegs) and Stevie Collins (St Eunan’s) are on the management team while Eimear Alcorn (Termon) is physio.

Keith Egan (Robert Emmets) is Club Chairman while Shaun Shields (Milford) is Treasurer.

Former Donegal goalkeeper Michael Boyle (Termon) will keep goals for the reserves, while Greene, Owen Scally (Dungloe), Pauric Gillen (Moville) and Matthew McGovern (St Eunan’s) are all involved.

Greene says there are challenges to running clubs in London but says they are fortunate to have a good committed playing group.

“It’s not easy.

“Some players have to travel an hour or so after work to make training.

“The core group would all be up close to Tottenham’s stadium in North London but there is travelling involved for some boys on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

“Michael Carroll is working down towards Southampton at the moment and he has been coming up once a week for training, and that could be a five-hour round-trip.

“But we have a good group there and the boys enjoy playing together.

“Most of the boys’ family were over for the final last year and it was a great weekend so they are all coming over this year. It’s only an hour away.”

The Donegal contingent has grown considerably at North London Shamrocks in recent years, and Greene says they put a focus on helping people relocating to get mobilised on their career path and socially.

“People like myself who have been involved for years are helping get work and set up over here.

“The first part when someone is thinking about joining is helping them get organised – what do they want to do and where do they want to live.

“Maybe 70% of it is helping people with their career and getting things going for them.

“It maybe didn’t work out at home or they need a break, so we can help them on another avenue.

“A lot of that is construction don’t get me wrong but we have boys doing finance and journalism.

“We have good contacts to help people get a start and it’s up to them then.

“The likes of Paddy Dolan, John McDyre and Sean McMonagle have set up their own business now and they are flying and the likes of myself, Nathan McElwaine, Daniel Clarke and Michael Boyle are all with 3D.

“Brian Conaghan from Killybegs is a selector and he had his own company and Oran Hilley from Newtown worked for him.

“The club were able to help me in the same way and I’m still here in London now 12 years later, and it’s the same with Peter (Witherow).

North London Shamrocks defeated Fulham Irish in their senior semi-final while Tir Chonaill Gaels made light work of Round Towers.

David O’Donnell (Burt), Shaun Wogan (Glenswilly) and Michael Greene (Naomh Muire) are all players for the Gaels, while Kilcar’s Maurice Carr is part of the management team.

Tir Chonaill Gaels will also be involved in the Junior Final on Saturday against Tara, and Gary Kane (St Naul’s) and JP O’Donnell (Dungloe) will be part of what is primarily a team made up of homegrown players.

All things considered it should be a super weekend for the Donegal diaspora in Ruislip.

Greene said:“It’s a great final for us up against Tir Chonaill Gaels and all the players they have had from Donegal down through the years.

“The Shamrocks has now turned into a big Donegal club. The first person to play was Niall McClafferty from St Eunan’s and then it took off from there.

“They are based in Greenford in West London and they are a good team.

“It should be a tight final.”