IT proved to be a frustrating month for Finn Harps as their play-off hopes started to unravel.
Kevin McHugh’s team had high hopes going into September but lost three of their next four games against Bray Wanderers, Wexford and Cobh Ramblers.
There was also a draw away to Longford Town which meant they were effectively resigned to another year in the First Division.
To compound matters, Harps also exited the FAI Cup in a disappointing fashion. They got a favourable draw at home to struggling Cork City in the quarter-finals but the Premier Division outfit eased to a 3-0 triumph. Finn Harps goalkeeper Oisin Cooney signed for Burnley Under 21s.
Drumkeen man Sean Patton made his debut for Reading when he came on as a second half substitute in a 3-1 win over West Ham U21s in the EFL Trophy.
Coláiste Ailigh’s First Year team encountered heartbreak as they lost 2-1 after extra-time to Castleisland Community College in the delayed All-Ireland Final in Athlone.
In Gaelic Games, it was a lively month in the senior football championship.
Gaoth Dobhair were impressive and got the better of St Michael’s by six points in their semi-final.
Naomh Conaill had it tougher in their last four game and needed extra-time to defeat Four Masters.
Martin Regan’s Naomh Conaill also got a real scare in the quarter-final but a late flourish saw them beat Termon by a point.
Termon dethroned reigning champions St Eunan’s in the preliminary quarter-finals.
However, there was controversy as Termon’s last point came when they had 16 players on the field.
Action from the Termon v St Eunan’s match.
St Eunan’s opted against appealing, saying that they were mindful of the principles of sporting integrity and the fact that the incident was not the result of any deliberate act on Termon’s behalf.
St Naul’s lost their senior championship status when they were beaten by Aodh Ruadh in a play-off.
In the Intermediate Championship, Naomh Columba had a good month as they saw off Buncrana and Red Hughs to reach the decider.
Naomh Muire were frustrated as they were beaten in the semi-finals by Malin.
Na Rossa were relegated to the Junior Championship as they succumbed to Cloughaneely in a play-off.
In the Junior ‘A’ Championship, Letterkenny Gaels dug deep to defeat Naomh Brid after extra-time and reach the final.
St Mary’s, Convoy gave a good account of themselves but lost their semi to a fancied Carndonagh team. Four Masters were crowned Under 16 Division 1 County Champions after defeating Glenswilly in the final.
The Under 14 Division 1 crown went to Moville who triumphed against Ardara in the decider.
A late goal from Clare Friel gave Gaeil Fhánada the Intermediate Ladies title after seeing off Ardara in a tense struggle in Ardara.
Glenfin and Termon were impressive form as they defeated Moville and St Naul’s respectively in their senior semi-finals.
Donegal were awarded ten nominations for the PwC All Star team.
Brendan McCole, Finnbarr Roarty, Ryan McHugh, Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Moore were all in the defence category while Michael Langan was among six nominees at midfield.
Conor O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Thompson and Michael Murphy were in the forwards selection of 18 players.
Murphy was in the reckoning for Footballer of the Year, while Finnbarr Roarty was one of three selected to contend for the Young Footballer of the Year accolade.
Luke Barrett confirmed that he was leaving the Donegal senior management backroom team.
Declan Bonner was ratified as the new Fermanagh manager.
In athletics, there was real disappointment for Mark English as he just missed out on a spot in the final of the 800 metres at the World Athletic Championships in Tokyo.
English gave it his all and really went for it in his semi-final with 200 metres to go as he tried to finish in the top two which would have guaranteed a spot in a first global final.
However, the Finn Valley AC man came third and was just pushed out of one of the fastest qualifying times spots.
Brian MacIntyre was the winner of the Loreto Convent 5k road race, and Ben Carr came out on top in the Woodland NS 5k.
Odhran McBrearty (St Columba’s, Stranorlar) kicked for home impressively in the last 200 metres to see off Mouchine Fathoun (St Eunan’s College) in a brilliant senior boys race at the Secondary Schools Cross Country.
Loreto Secondary Schools’ Emma Bonner was an impressive victor in the senior girls race.
Finn Valley AC retained the McGonagle Cup at the Champions Cross Country in Stranorlar.
Two local boxers helped themselves to national Under 17 titles.
Shaun Doohan of Dunfanaghy ABC proved too strong for Martin Collins (Baldoyle) in the 80kg weight category.
Aleisha Mullis Boyle (Dunfanaghy) claimed gold in the 66kg category with an emphatic 5-0 victory against Grace Bailey (Castlebar).
Matthew McCole was defeated in the last 32 of the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Liverpool.
A Donegal boxing select got the better of Galway in an intercounty tournament as the Donegal County Boxing Board celebrated their 75th anniversary.
Local darts player Denise Cassidy was part of the Ireland Women’s team that retained the WDF World Cup title in Seoul.
There was joy at Letterkenny Golf Club as they defeated Clandeboye Golf Club to win their four Ulster Four Ball title.
Buncrana Golf Club won the Donegal Youth Golf title and Letterkenny sealed the Plate.
In Motorsport, Kevin Gallagher used his local knowledge to prevail in the annual Danny Gormley Memorial Knockalla Hillclimb.
Convoy’s Jack Harris showcased a fantastic display of rallying to claim a 0-8 second Rally 4 victory at the Bushwhacker Rally.
Michael Boyle was in excellent form as he triumphed in the Wexford Stages Rally.
In motorcycling, the impressive Rhys Irwin took a double win at Donnington in the British Superbikes Supersport Championship.
Burt’s Sadhbh McGrath helped Ireland advance to the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup where they lost out to France.
Adam McKinley from Letterkenny won a bronze medal at the European University Rowing Championships in Poland while competing for Queen’s University, Belfast.
Letterkenny Rugby Club were chosen as the Donegal winners in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
In hockey, Raphoe men’s first team lost out 2-1 to Civil Service in the Linden Cup.
In American Football, Cillian Bonner was named the Freshman of the Month for September by the Conference Carolinas
The Lettermacaward native had a great start to his American Football journey as a kicker, and in the month of September, he was in perfect form in field goals and extra points, nailing all five kicks.
