CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola

{{Infobox GAA club

| club gaa = Cloughaneely GAA

| irish = CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola

| crest =

| founded =

| province = Ulster

| county = Donegal

| nickname =

| colours = Blue and White

| grounds = Páirc Chloich Cheann Fhaola

| coordinates = {{coord|55|08|24|N|8|5|57|W|display=it|region:IE_type:landmark}}

| pattern_la = _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes_alt

| pattern_b = _3_stripes_neck_white

| pattern_ra = _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes_alt

| pattern_sh = _adidas blue

| pattern_so = _color_3_stripes_white

| leftarm = 1030df

| body = 1030df

| rightarm = 1030df

| shorts = FFFFFF

| socks = 1030df

| f3 =

|}}

CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola is a Gaelic football and handball club for the parish of Cloughaneely, County Donegal, Ireland. The club is based in Falcarragh. It also covers the area to the village of Gortahork, as well as Meenlaragh and Magheroarty. The club fields both men's and ladies' teams from underage as far as senior level.

The club has a rivalry with St Michael's.{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Ferry|title=Cloughaneely targeting improved performance|work=Donegal News|date=23 July 2020|page=60|quote=Cloughaneely manager Michael Lynch is looking for an improved performance as he takes his side to the Bridge this Saturday to take on local rivals St Michael's at 7.30pm… 'We got a bit of a beating last week', said Lynch, who is in his fourth year as manager…}}

Its honorary president, Fr Seán Ó Gallchóir, is a statistician who compiled The Book of Donegal GAA Facts.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/get-your-gaa-facts-right-fr-sean-launches-new-edition-of-invaluable-book/|title=Get your GAA facts right — Fr Seán launches new edition of invaluable book|date=30 July 2020|accessdate=30 July 2020}} John Horan gave him a GAA President's Award in 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/315796|title=GAA President's Award winners announced|work=Hogan Stand|date=26 February 2021|accessdate=26 February 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2021/02/two-donegal-men-scoop-gaa-presidents-awards/|title=Two Donegal men scoop GAA President's Awards|work=Donegal News|date=26 February 2021|accessdate=26 February 2021|quote=…has served CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola in various roles over the years and is currently the Honorary President of his Club.}}

History

As of 2018, the club was competing in the Donegal League Division 1, and in the Senior Football Championship (SFC).{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2018/04/cloughaneely-back-in-the-big-time/|title=Cloughaneely back in the big time|work=Donegal News|date=7 April 2018|accessdate=7 April 2018}}

Manager Joe McGarvey led the club to the 2014 Donegal IFC but resigned shortly afterwards, to be replaced by backroom team member John Paul Gallagher.

Former captain, John Harley, was killed in a traffic collision in 2019. Another player, Daniel Scott, was killed in the same collision.{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2019/04/spirited-cloughaneely-stand-together/|title=Spirited Cloughaneely stand together|work=Donegal News|date=13 April 2019|accessdate=13 April 2019|quote=It was particularly testing for the Cloughaneely GAA club who lost their senior star John Harley, as well as Daniel Scott who wore the blue and white with pride.}}{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/01/29/clubs-united-in-grief-words-cannot-express-the-sense-of-loss-and-devastation/|title=Clubs united in grief: 'Words cannot express the sense of loss and devastation'|date=29 January 2019|accessdate=29 January 2019}} Captained by Harley's brother Mark, the club reached the final of the IFC in 2019.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/listen-every-day-we-go-out-john-harley-is-with-us-cloughaneely-hope-to-emerge-from-dark-clouds/|title='Every day we go out, John Harley is with us' — Cloughaneely hope to emerge from dark clouds|date=11 October 2019|accessdate=11 October 2019}} The club won the IFC in 2021.

Cloich Cheann Fhaola's home defeat of Milford in the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship marked the first time in twelve years that the club had won a senior championship game.{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Ferry|title=End-of-Championship Awards|work=Donegal News|date=26 October 2023|page=69}} Two weeks after that the club defeated Four Masters as well.

Notable players

Jason McGee — 2019 Ulster SFC winner and past Australian rules football trialist{{cite news|url=https://www.oceanfm.ie/2018/03/14/jason-mcgee-to-commit-to-donegal-u20s/|title=Jason McGee to commit to Donegal U20s|publisher=Ocean FM|date=14 March 2018|accessdate=14 March 2018}}{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Comack|url=https://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/audio/sport/267202/listen-cloughaneely-s-jason-mcgee-gives-his-reaction-to-aussie-trial.html|title=Cloughaneely's Jason McGee gives his reaction to Aussie rules trial|work=Donegal Democrat|date=26 August 2017|accessdate=26 August 2017}}
Charlie McGeever{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/charlie-mcgeever-and-a-tale-of-cup-finals-world-cup-winners-and-ones-that-got-away/|title=Charlie McGeever and a tale of Cup finals, World Cup winners — and ones that got away|date=3 May 2020|accessdate=3 May 2020}}
Kevin Mulhern — 2010 Ulster Under-21 FC winner and 2010 All-Ireland Under-21 FC finalist{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2016/02/five-minutes-with-kevin-mulhern/|title=FIVE MINUTES WITH… Kevin Mulhern|work=Donegal News|date=3 February 2016|accessdate=3 February 2016}}
Chris Boylan - 1993 U12 county championship .

Managers

Years !Manager
class="wikitable"
1952–20??	{{N/A}}
?–{{c.}} 2014	Joe McGarvey
2015–{{c.}} 2017	John Paul Gallagher{{cite news\|first=Chris\|last=McNulty\|url=https://donegalnews.com/2015/01/john-paul-gallagher-takes-over-at-cloughaneely-as-clubs-gear-up-for-new-season/\|title=John Paul Gallagher takes over at Cloughaneely as clubs gear up for new season\|work=Donegal News\|date=23 January 2015\|accessdate=23 January 2015}}
{{c.}} 2017–present	Michael Lynch{{cite news\|first=Chris\|last=McNulty\|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/michael-lynch-reinstalled-as-cloughaneely-manager/\|title=Michael Lynch reinstalled as Cloughaneely manager\|date=8 January 2020\|accessdate=8 January 2020}}{{cite news\|title=Lynch is back at the helm for Cloughaneely\|work=Donegal News\|date=28 January 2021\|page=59\|quote=Michael Lynch has returned to the Cloughaneely hotseat for the 2021 season. This will be Lynch's fifth year at the helm. He took over from John Paul Gallagher ahead of the 2017 season.}}{{cite news\|first=Ryan\|last=Ferry\|title=Glenfin gear up for Division 1\|work=Donegal News\|date=31 March 2022\|page=70\|quote=Michael Lynch is back in charge of the Falcarragh men again this year and they are usually well able to handle themselves in Division 1.}}

Honours

Donegal Intermediate Football Championship (3): 2006, 2014, 2021
Donegal Junior Football Championship (3): 1938, 1939, 1959
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Dhún na nGall - Sinsír (?): …1998, 2017{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2017/05/02/listen-kevin-mulhern-hopes-gaeltacht-win-can-kick-start-cloughaneely/|title=Kevin Mulhern hopes Gaeltacht win can 'kick start' Cloughaneely|date=2 May 2017|accessdate=2 May 2017|quote=On home soil at Pairc Naomh Fionnan, Cloughaneely — led by the timeless Denis Boyle — defeated Glenfin by five points in the final to capture their first Donegal senior Gaeltacht title since 1998.}}

References

Category:Gaelic games clubs in County Donegal

Category:Gaelic football clubs in County Donegal

Category:The Rosses