BY RYAN FERRY

DUNGLOE have already clinched the Division 2 Minor League title this season and they are hoping to make it a double with the championship crown on Friday night.

The Rosses side defeated Letterkenny Gaels in the Division 2 League Final.

The championship hasn’t been completely straight-forward as they were granted two walkovers, lost to Urris and Ardara, and beating Malin.

However, they come into the final off the back of a good semi-final win over Cloughaneely and are feeling good about themselves.

“It’s been an enjoyable year,” said Dungloe coach Adrian Hanlon, who works closely with manager, JP McCready.

“The boys have put in a lot of hard work to get here.

“It’s been a bit stop-start at times and there were a few weeks without a game.

“Naomh Columba and Carndonagh didn’t field against us so we had a break of three or four weeks before we played Ardara, and they beat us easily that day.

“We have a young team. Only three of the boys are overage for next year so we were more looking to then but it’s gone fairly well this year.”

Ronan O’Donnell, Danny McCready and Christopher O’Donnell were all part of the Donegal minor panel this season and will be key players on Friday.

Cianan McDaid and Kyle Bonner are also integral to their cause, although Liam Ferry misses out with a broken hand.

The team saw off Cloughaneely by 3-8 to 0-13 in Magheragallon two weeks ago in the aftermatch of Storm Amy and have been training hard since then.

“It was a tight day for a game.

“Denis Boyle’s son (Donnachadh) caused us a lot of problems in the first half.

“He played against Na Rossa the week before in seniors and was very good as well.

“But we switched Odhran Bonner onto him at half-time and Odhran did very well to be fair to him.

“It was a tough game and there wasn’t much in it. We were lucky enough that we got two goals which helped us.”

Ardara played in Division 1 of the league but have been in the second tier for the championship.

Dungloe lost to them by 1-4 to 0-14 at Rosses Park and former Donegal star Hanlon appreciates that his men will have to perform to their best if they want to collect the silverware.

“They have a lot of talent.

“Eoghan ‘Ban’ (McNelis) played at midfield against us and he scored three two-pointers and you wouldn’t see that kind of quality at senior level.

“Then you have Shane Sweeney at full-forward who is very dangerous and Gavin Sweeney as well.

“Then you have young Ross Diver at corner-back who is a tight player.

“They have a lot of talent so they will be hard to stop.”

Verdict: Ardara