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The Donegal Democrat Archive - 1952

January 11, 1952 edition
The Annual General Meeting of the Aodh Ruadh Club Ballyshannon will be held in the Market House on Monday 21st January
January 25th, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon new park to be opened next year
Annual General Meeting hears encouraging reports
A year of continued advancement and a little achievement in various spheres is the concensus of opinion of members who reviewed the work of the Aodh Ruadh GAA club at the Annual General Meeting in the Market House on Monday night.
The financial report and balance sheet presented by the treasurers Messrs Seamus Cleary and Bob Gallagher revealed that there was a small credit balance and a loss on the years working of £1-2s. Income for the year had been £169-4s-8d compared with £133-4s-1d in 1950.
The Park account and balance sheet presented by the treasurers Messrs John McDermott and Michael Slevin, revealed that there had been a surplus of £600-18s on the capital account up to 31st December last. Total assets at that date stood at £2,883-5s.

Election of Officers at the Meeting.
Mr CA King and Mr PJ Croal acted as chairman and secretary pro-tem during the election of officers which resulted:
Chairman: Mr M. Melly
Vice Chairman: Mr B. Gallagher
Treasurers: Messrs S. Cleary and B. Gallagher
Secretary: Mr S. O'Donnell
Assistant Secretary: Mr S. Slevin
Committee: Messrs J. Gallagher, G. Lappin, J. Daly, J. Kerrigan, M. Slevin, J. McDermott.

Park Committee
Chairman: Mr. M. Melly
Vice Chairman: Mr F. O'Neill
Secretary: Mr P. O'Neill
Committee: Messrs P. McIvor, S. Kane, J. Kerrigan, P. Buggy, W. Kerrigan, T. Martin, L. Slevin, H. Daly, T. Cleary and club officers.
February 22, 1952 edition
The county secretary said that there was a good possibility of a hurling revival in Ballyshannon, but the players he had in mind were more advanced than juvenile. Already some hurling enthusiasts had purchased hurleys and there was a possibility of revival. Mr. McDermott instanced some difficulties he had in endeavouring to secure hurleys at half price for schools
March 14, 1952 edition
It was a big time for football and a game and a halt
Lagan Cup final reached All-Ireland heights
Donegal 1-6, Armagh 1-6
Ninety minutes of pulsating thrill packed football with seven thousand spectators groggy with the taste of All-Ireland brilliance so characteristic of the affray that in a nutshell describes the Dr. Lagan Cup final in which Armagh fought hard against the might of Donegal to an inconclusive finish at Pearse Park, Ballybay on Sunday.
Donegal Team: C. Halpin, P. Brogan, P. Dawson, B. Coyle, H. Boyle, J. Gallagher, P. McGeehan, M. J. Gallagher, F. O'Donnell, F. Brennan, D. Moriarty, C. McCauley, P. Coyle, T. Wickham, S. McGetrick, C. Collins, A. Rodgers, A. Carr, J. McMullin.
April 4, 1952 edition
Donegal maintain winning sequence
Before a large attendance of almost five hundred spectators, Donegal, at the Gaelic Park, Glenties on Sunday maintained, their winning sequence when their representatives defeated Fermanagh 3-9 to 2-8 in the first round of the Ulster junior championship.
Donegal team: J. Gildea, T. Byrne, P. Dawson, B. Coyle, F. Mooney, D. Bonner, P. Bonner, J. McDermott, C. Collins, J. McGettigan, L. Brogan, A. Carr, P. Coyle, G. J. Gonigle, S. Curran.
May 2, 1952 edition
Depleted Donegal were impressive at Dungannon
Donegal 3-5, Tyrone 2-8
A goal scored by D. Donnelly in the third minute of lost time at the O'Neill, Park, Dungannon on Sunday earned for Tyrone the right to meet Donegal in a replay of the Dr McKenna Cup competition at Letterkenny on May 8th.
Donegal Team: J. McDermott, P. Dawson, F. O'Donnell, J. McMullin, H. Boyle, C. Hegarty, P. McGeehin, M. J. Gallagher, J. Carroll, F. Brennan, L. Brogan, C. Collins, P. Coyle, T. Wickham, J. McGettigan.
May 9, 1952 edition
Tirconaill are Ulster junior football champions
Donegal 4-5, Tyrone 1-8
Tirconaill's onward march on the playing fields of Ireland got fresh impetus at Irvinestown on Sunday when the the junior county representative defeated Tyrone 4-5 to 1-8 in the final of the Ulster championship. Tirconaill led by 3-1 to 0-5 at half-time.
Ballyshannon players on the team were: J. McDermott, D. Moriarty, E. J. Gonigle.

Donegal flop in rugged McKenna cup replay
Donegal 0-9, Tyrone 2-5
With time ticking badly against them at O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny, on Sunday Donegal's senior footballers made a gallant if unsuccessful rally to gain the day over Tyrone in the replay of the McKenna cup competition.
Donegal Team: J. McDermott, P. Dawson, F. O. Donnell, C. Hegarty, H. Boyle, P. Brogan, P. McGeehan, M. J. Gallagher, J. Carroll, F. Brennan, T. Wickham, C. Collins, P. Coyle, D. J. Gonigle, L. Brogan.
June 20, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon and Saint Eunan's had close victory over Ardara in the Donegal senior league.
Ballyshannon 1-5, Ardara 0-7
Ballyshannon Team: S. Cleary, T. Gallagher, B. Gallagher, S. Flynn, P. O'Donnell, T. Martin, S. Kane, James Gallagher, J. McDermott, S. Drummond, E. J. Gonigle, M. Slevin, B. Donagher, J. Daly, J. Murphy.

Ballyshannon and Abbey Shamrocks failed to decide the issue in the first round of the junior championship game which preceded the final fixture.
Ballyshannon 0-2, Abbey 1-3
Ballyshannon team: S. McHugh, D. Martin, W. Boyce, J. Boyle, Leo Dolan, J. Murphy, M. Dolan, G. Gonigle, D. Kane, A. Daly, J. Daly, Tom Gallagher, M. Cooney, D. Treacy, P. McDermott.
June 27, 1952 edition
Fermanagh minors took their chances and won well
A Fermanagh team that barely missed an opportunity to improve their position on the score board gave a large following home supporters a happy surprise at Saint Molaise Park Irvinestown on Sunday where they defeated Donegal 2-12 to 1-8 in the first round of the Ulster minor football championship.
Donegal team: J. McGlinchy, J. O'Donnell, D. McCormack, C. McFadden, H. Gallagher, C. Toland, F. J. Harvey, T. McGinley, B. Campbell, S. Drummond, C. Breslin, N. Cunningham, P. Logue, J. A. McLoughlin, D. Breslin, J. Moss.
July 4, 1952 edition
Tirconaill's inexcusable defeat by Ulster champions
Antrim 1-7, Donegal 2-3
Faulty marksmanship proved Tirconaill's downfall at Corrigan Park, Belfast on Sunday where for the second year in succession they failed by one point to gain the verdict over the Ulster champions, Antrim, in the first round of the senior football championship.
Donegal Team: J. McDermott, P. Dawson, F. O'Donnell, B. Coyle, H. Boyle, P. Brogan, C. Hegarty, D. Curran, M. J. Gallagher, F. Brennan, C. McCauley, C. Collins, P. Coyle, T. Wickham, S. McGettrick.
July 11, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon - Donegal Derby
Donegal 1-5, Ballyshannon 1-5
Teh main sporting Gaeldom on Sunday was the meeting of Ballyshannon county champions and Donegal Town in the first round of hte senior football championship at Tirconaill Park, Donegal.
Ballyshannon Team: S. Cleary, T. Gallagher, S. Slevin, W. Boyce, P. O'Donnell, J. McDermott, S. Kane, J. Gallagher, D. Moriarty, M. Slevin, K. McCready, S. Drummond, D. Kane, J. Daly, M. Cooney.
July 18, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon are South Donegal Senior champions
Ballyshannon are South Donegal senior football champions once more and they will defend thei county honours against Saint Eunan's or Erin's HOpe in the first round of the county semi-finals on August 17th.
Ballyshannon team: S. Cleary, T. Gallagher, B. Gallagher, W. Boyce, P. O'Donnell, T. Martin, S. Flynn, J. Gallagher, J. McDermott, M. Slevin, K. McCready, 'Red' Jack Gallagher, S. Drummond, E. J. Gonigle, S. Kane.
July 25, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon juveniles get W. O.
Ballyshannon juveniles got a walk over from the local team at Bundoran on Sunday in the Divisional Championship.
Bundoran were unable to field a full team, but in a game arranged subsequently Ballyshannon won 2-3 to 1-1.
Ballyshannon team: O. R. O'Neill, S. McHugh, J. O'Neill, T. Gallagher, B. Drummond, T. Loughlin, L. Masterson, P. J. Patton, D. Dorrian, C. Flynn, M. Cullen, C. McCready, P. McCready, S. Martin, S. Ferguson.
August 8, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon minors in Divisional final
At the same venue Ballyshannon minor footballers had a convincing victory over Bundoran in teh semi-final of the south Donegal championship and have qualified to meet either Donegal or Barnesmore in the Divisional final on Sunday next prior to the Donegal - Meath game.
Ballyshannon team: S. McHugh, J. O'Neill, P. Dorrian, P. J. Patton, T. Ward, V. Dolan, P. Boyle, S. Drummond, D. Treacy, P. J. Gallagher, P. McDermott, D. Kane, M. Cooney, A. Daly, G. Gonigle.
August 15, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon minors narrow victory
At the same venue Ballyshannon minors had a one point victory over Donegal in the South Donegal minor championship final in a game taht was played at a hard gruelling pace.
Ballyshannon team: S. McHugh, J. O'Neill, P. Dorrian, P. Ward, N. Dolan, P. Boyle, S. Drummond, D. Treacy, P. J. Gallagher, P. McDermott, D. Kane, M. Cooney, A. Daly, G. Gonigle.
August 22, 1952 edition
While Ballyshannon fiddled Saint Eunan's forged ahead, Ernesiders lose the double at Ballybofey. Playing with 14 men for the greater part of the game in which they lost one of their most prominent forwards early on, Saint Eunan's at Sean MacCumhaill Memorial park, Ballybofey on Sunday dethroned the county champions, Ballyshannon by 1-7 to 1-3 in the first of the county semi-finals.
Ballyshannon team: S. McHugh, M. Dolan, P. Dorrian, P. J. Patton, T. Ward, P. Boyle, P. Ward, V. McDonagh, S. Drummond, D. Kane, P. McDermott, P. J. Gallagher, M. Cooney, A. Daly, G. Gonigle.
August 29, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon Hurling revival
Cost of hurleys retarding progress
Donegal County Board GAA at a meeting in Doohey on Sunday Mr B. Campbell chairman Glenties presiding was told of the hurling revival in Ballyshannon and of how the cost of hurleys was retarding progress.
The possibility of subsidising hurleys for senior playeres in County Donegal will be explored at a meeting of hurling and County Board Officers to be held in a short time. This decision was taken when the county secretary, Mr Hugh Daly, raised the matter with the hurling officials stating that it was a hurling revival in Ballyshannon, but the great draw back experienced was the high purchse price of hurleys which in some cases were sold at 15s each.

Ballyshannon juveniles are South Divisional Champions.
In the final of the south division juvenile championship at Ballintra on Sunday, Ballyshannon defeated Barnesmore to annex their third divisional title.
Ballyshannon 1-6, Barnesmore 0-2
Ballyshannon scorers were: T. Loughlin (0-2), Flynn (0-1), P. McCready (0-1), S. McHugh (0-2), S. Martin (1-2).
Team not listed.
September 5, 1952 edition
Meath outclassed Tirconaill - All-Ireland semi-final.
Meath 4-6, Donegal 1-4.
Park Tailteann, an Uaimh provided a lovely setting as Donegal flashed through for their first point in the first minute of their All-Ireladn junior football championship semi-final on Sunday and 10,000 spectators must have got the impression that a great hour's football was in store.
Donegal Team: C. Halpin, S. McDonagh, J. Kerrs, F. Moorey, F. Gallagher, D. Bonner, S. Flynn, A. Cunningham, L. Brogan, P. Peoples, J. McGettigan, J. Gallagher, C. Breslin, S. Curran, A. Carr.
Subs: P. McGee, D. Heagarty, P. Rogers, PJ Gallagher, E. McMonagle, P. McCole.
September 12, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon Donegal seniors play a draw.
Exchanges keen and play poor at Bundoran
Ballyshannon 2-10, Donegal 1-4.
Although the lead changed four times and the scores were level twice before the final non-deciding point was registered the county senior league game between Ballyshannon and Donegal town at Bundoran on Sunday fell far short of expectations
Ballyshannon team: B. Gallagher, T. Gallagher, S. Slevin, W. Boyce, M. Slevin, T. Martin, S. Kane, J. McDermott, Jas. Gallagher, J. McCready, K. McCready, M. Ward, PJ Gonigle, D. Kane.
September 26, 1952 edition
Dr. Lagan Cup.
Donegal share points with Tyrone
The spirited display in the concluding ten minutes of the game enabled Donegal to share the points with Tyrone in the Dr. Lagan Cup National Football League tie at Maggleagallin on Sunday where the sides finished level with a goal five points all.
After Tyrone had lead at half time by a goal and two points to four points.
Donegal Team: C. Campbell, P. McGeehin, F. O'Donnell, B. Coyle, H. Boyle. P. Brogan, D. Bonner, T. Wickham, Jim Gallagher, F. Brennan, MJ Gallager, Sean McGettrick, P. Coyle, J. McGettigan, A. Carr
October 10, 1952 edition
Improved Fermanagh extend confident Donegal
Fermanagh 1-7, Donegal 2-9
The one thousand odd spectators who travelled to Saint Molaise Park, Irvinestown to see Fermanagh and Donegal cross swords in their Lagan Cup tie may not have witnessed a classic exhibition of football, but they were recompensed with a rousing well contested game in which the Maguire coutny men fully extended the visitors who had to exert every nerve to pull out in front of the closing ten minutes.
Donegal team: J. McDermott, L. Nangle, F. O'Donnell, B. Coyle, H. Boyle, P. Brogan, P. McGeehin, T. Wickham, J. Gallagher, F. Brennan, C. McCauley, P. Peoples, A. Carr, MJ Gallagher, S. McGettrick.
October 24, 1952 edition
Donegal's National League hopes dashed by Derry
Donegal 3-7 Derry 2-12
Donegal's National League and Lagan Cup hopes for 1952 were dashed at the Sean MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey on Sunday where after a gallantly contested game by both sides the O Cathan County men dethroned the Ulster representative by 2-12 to 3-7.
Ballyshannon players on the team were: J. McDermott, J. Gallagher.

Ballyshannon juveniles in county final
Ballyshannon juvenile footballers worthily upheld the tradition of the Erne Town at the Sean MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey on Sunday when they had a convincing victory over Downings in the semi-final of the county championship.
Ballyshannon team: S. McHugh, A. McGloin, D. Dorrian, T. Gallagher, S. O'Connor, S. Herron, P. Drummond, L. Masterson, PJ Patton, C. McCready, T. Loughlin, C. Flynn, S. Ferguson, S. Martin, P. McCready.
November 14, 1952 edition
Killybegs beat Ballyshannon on the tape
Killybegs continued their winning sequence in the Donegal senior football league at Towney Park, Kilcar on Sunday when they accounted for Ballyshannon by 0-9 to 1-4 after a pulsating hours football that had spectators in the throes of excitement.
Ballyshannon team: S. Cleary, P. Boyle, T. Gallagher, S. Flynn, P. O'Donnell, Jim Gallagher, T. Martin, J. McDermott, 'Yankie' Jimmy Gallagher, K. McCready, Bob Gallagher, M. Ward, D. Moriarty, EJ Gonigle, S. Kane.
There was a very generous response to the appeal for finance by the local GAA Park Committee on Sunday and the promoter wish to express their thanks to all who contributed. Almost £60 was realised.
November 21, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon missed the boat at Ardara
Ardara 1-4, Ballyshannon 1-2
When Ballyshannon, with what was regarded as a strong team, and Ardara lined up at the Pearse Memorial Park for what was going to be a vital game for the Ernesiders, few of the moderate number of spectators would have given the homesters a ghost of chance of coming out on top.
Ballyshannon team: S. Cleary, P. Boyle, T. Gallagher, S. Flynn, P. O'Donnell, J. Gallagher, J. McDermott, K. McCready, D. Moriarty, M. Ward, EJ Gonigle, B. Gallagher, S. Kane.
November 28, 1952 edition
Ballyshannon juveniles eclipsed by Saint Eunan's despite the high score recorded against them Ballyshannon put up a plucky fight against a team that was much stronger in most sectors than their opponents
Ballyshannon team: S. McHugh, A. McGloin, D. Dorrian, T. Gallagher, C. Flynn, S. Herron, B. Drummond, PJ Patton, L. Masterson, C. McCready, T. Loughlin, M. Cullen, S. Martin, S. Ferguson, P. McCready, P. Drummond.