CLG Naomh Columba

{{Infobox GAA club

| club gaa = Naomh Columba

| irish = CLG Naomh Columba

| crest =

| founded = 1964

| province = Ulster

| county = Donegal

| nickname = Glen, Gleann

| colours = Gold and Green

| grounds = Páirc na nGael

| coordinates = {{coord|54|57|08.48|N|8|21|07.55|W|display=it|region:IE_type:landmark}}

| pattern_la = _greenborder

| pattern_b = _2yellowshoulderstripes

| pattern_ra = _greenborder

| pattern_sh = _yellow_stripes_adidas

| pattern_so = _hoops gold

| leftarm = fcd02f

| body = 09a461

| rightarm = fcd02f

| shorts = 09a461

| socks = 09a461

| f3 = 2|

}}

CLG Naomh Columba is a Gaelic football-only GAA club based in Gleann Cholm Cille in the south-west of County Donegal in the west of Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. The club fields both men's and ladies' teams from underage as far as senior level. They enjoy an intense rivalry with their neighbours, Cill Chartha (Kilcar), although the rivalry has subdued somewhat in the last number of years as the clubs have played in different divisions.

History

Naomh Columba, in their current existence were founded in 1964, although football was played in the parish for decades before this and a Junior club existed since 1944.Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, 2008 They have won the Donegal Senior Football Championship twice, in 1978 and 1990.

Michael Oliver McIntyre captained the team to the 1978 title.

The club also won the Donegal Junior Football Championship in 1974. The club has won 2 Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta titles and 7 Division 1 League titles. The club's most successful season came in 1978, when they claimed the championship, league and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta treble, as well as the county under-21 title. They remain the only Donegal club to complete this treble, although Gaoth Dobhair won a league, championship and Ulster championship treble in 2018.The Book of Donegal G.A.A. Facts, 2007 (sixth edition)

Naomh Columba were once one of the most feared and respected teams in Donegal, reaching 6 senior county finals in 9 years between 1990 and 1998, but since their relegation to the Intermediate Championship and Division 3 of the league in 2007, the senior team have struggled to make any great impact on the Donegal club scene. 2024 saw the club's return to Division 1 of the Donegal league, and the return of the Naomh Columba-Cill Chartha derby.{{cite web | url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1472952/the-glen-kilcar-division-1-rivalry-back-after-22-year-gap.html | title=The Glen-Kilcar Division 1 rivalry - back after 22 year gap | date=11 April 2024 }}

They defeated Na Cealla Beaga in the 1990 Donegal SFC final.{{cite news|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/219570/killybegs-1991-one-of-the-greatest-donegal-teams.html|title=Killybegs 1991, one of the greatest Donegal teams|date=14 October 2016|accessdate=14 October 2016|quote=They lost the 1990 final to Naomh Columba… They were champions again in '92 — they defeated Naomh Columba in the final…}} Among the winning players were Noel Hegarty and two uncles of Dessie Farrell, Noel Carr and Séamus Carr.{{cite news|first=Connie|last=Duffy|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/news/501559/new-dublin-gaa-boss-had-strong-donegal-connections.html|title=New Dublin GAA boss had strong Donegal connections|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019|quote=In fact, two of Farrell's uncles, Noel Carr and Seamus Carr, won a county title alongside Hegarty for Naomh Columba in 1990.}} Indeed, Séamus Carr at half-forward was man of the match in the final, scoring five points (each one from play), while John Joe Doherty was captain.{{cite news|first=Harry|last=Walsh|url=https://donegalnews.com/2015/10/1990-naomh-columba-end-twelve-year-jinx/|title=1990: Naomh Columba end twelve year jinx|work=Donegal News|date=15 October 2015|accessdate=15 October 2015}} 1978 captain McIntyre (by then a team mentor alongside Paddy "Beag" Gillespie and Seán Burke) played at full-forward in the 1990 final, which Hegarty won a with a last minute free. However, the club lost the 1992 final to the same team.

The Donegal county team which won the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship had two Naomh Columba players on the panel — Noel Hegarty and John Joe Doherty.{{cite news|first=Liam|last=Ryan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/where-are-they-now-donegal-s-all-ireland-champions-of-1992-1.307772|title=Where are they now: Donegal's All-Ireland champions of 1992|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=14 May 2001}} John Joe Doherty was selected as an All Star in 1993. As of 2022, Aaron Doherty was playing for the county team at senior level, having featured, and scored, in a number of matches during the 2022 National League campaign.

Notable players

Aaron Doherty — 2019 Ulster SFC winning panelist; 2022 Ulster SFC playing finalist; 2024 Ulster SFC winner
John Joe Doherty — 1992 All-Ireland SFC winner
Noel Hegarty — 1992 All-Ireland SFC winner
Finian Ward — 1974 Ulster SFC and two-time Railway Cup winner {{cite web | url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/507691/finian-ward-a-back-to-back-donegal-sports-star-in-1979.html | title=Finian Ward - a back-to-back Donegal Sports Star in 1979 | date=11 January 2020 }}
Pádraig Carr – 1983 Ulster title winner with Donegal {{cite web | url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1254864/one-of-the-greatest-club-rivalries-to-be-re-ignited-next-year-between-naomh-columba-and-kilcar.html | title=One of the greatest club rivalries to be re-ignited next year between Naomh Columba and Kilcar | date=22 July 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/gaa/it-day-after-shankill-bomb-27971733 | title='It was the day after the Shankill bomb: Players were terrified.' | date=24 October 2023 }}
Paddy Hegarty – brother of Noel;{{cite news|first=Pat|last=Nolan|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/sport/donegals-manus-boyle-explores-dessie-17795919|title=Donegal's Manus Boyle explores Dessie Farrell's Tir Chonaill county roots|date=22 February 2020|accessdate=22 February 2020|quote='He grew up in the summers along with John Joe Doherty and the Hegarty brothers, Noel and Paddy', [Manus] Boyle explains.}} 1987 All Ireland U-21 Championship winner and county senior player in the 1990s {{cite web | url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/gaa/it-day-after-shankill-bomb-27971733 | title='It was the day after the Shankill bomb: Players were terrified.' | date=24 October 2023 }}
Noel McGinley – 1998 Ulster SFC finalist{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Nulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2011/07/1992-2011-the-best-xv-not-to-win-ulster/|title=1992–2011: The best XV not to win Ulster…|work=Donegal News|date=22 July 2011|accessdate=22 July 2011|quote=The Naomh Columba man is remembered as being on the receiving end of a barge from Derry's Geoffrey McGonagle in the build-up to Joe Brolly's winning goal in the Ulster final of '98.|archive-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402182556/http://donegalnews.com/2011/07/1992-2011-the-best-xv-not-to-win-ulster/|url-status=dead}}
Michael Oliver McIntyre{{cite news|first1=Alan|last1=Foley|first2=Peter|last2=Campbell|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/653345/when-donegal-minors-lit-up-the-summer-of-1996-their-story-and-where-are-they-now.html|title=When Donegal minors lit up the summer of 1996. Their story and 'where are they now?'|date=30 July 2021|access-date=30 July 2021|quote=Molloy was assisted by Michael Oliver McIntyre from Naomh Columba and Downings' Paddy McBride, with Barry Campbell of Kilcar and Dr Austin O'Kennedy, Four Masters, also on the sideline.}}

Managers

Years !Manager
class="wikitable"
1964–{{c.}} 1990?	{{N/A}}
1990	Michael McNelis
{{c.}} 1990–2008?	{{N/A}}
?	John Joe Doherty{{cite news\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7669780.stm\|title=Mulgrew and Bonner's joint ticket\|publisher=BBC Sport\|date=14 October 2008\|accessdate=14 October 2008\|quote=Doherty has also managed his own club Naomh Columba and the Donegal under-21 team.}}
2008–2009	Noel Hegarty{{cite news\|first=Alan\|last=Foley\|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalsport/The-heroes-of--3992.4856965.jp\|title=The heroes of '92 - Where are they now?\|work=Donegal Democrat\|date=8 January 2009\|accessdate=8 January 2009\|url-status=dead\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180946/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/the-heroes-of-92-where-are-they-now-1-1989654\|archivedate=18 December 2015\|quote=Having only made his championship debut a year earlier, Hegarty and Tony Boyle were the babies of that team. A builder and developer, he is currently player-manager of his hometown club.}}
2010–2011	Anthony Molloy
2012	Paddy J. McGinley
2013	Brendan Doherty
2014	Paddy J. McGinley
2015–2016	Brendan Doherty
2017–2018	Paddy J. McGinley
2019–2021	Pauric O'Donnell{{cite news\|first=Chris\|last=McNulty\|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/naomh-columba-seek-new-manager-for-2021/\|title=Naomh Columba seek new manager for 2021\|date=16 December 2020\|accessdate=16 December 2020\|quote=Former goalkeeper O'Donnell succeeded Paddy J McGinley in the post for the start of the 2019 season.}}
2022-2023	Paddy J. McGinley{{Cite web \|last=Campbell \|first=Peter \|title=Back to the future at Naomh Columba as Paddy J McGinley returns as manager \|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/749274/back-to-the-future-in-glen-as-paddy-j-mcginley-back-as-senior-team-manager.html \|access-date=2022-04-11 \|website=www.donegallive.ie \|date=21 February 2022 \|language=en}}{{cite web \| url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1194815/paddy-j-mcginley-happy-to-lay-naomh-columba-s-cards-firmly-on-the-table.html \| title=Paddy J McGinley happy to lay Naomh Columba's cards firmly on the table \| date=14 June 2023 }}
2024	Brendan Doherty{{cite web \| url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1412471/naomh-columba-announce-brendan-doherty-as-the-new-senior-manager-for-2024.html \| title=Naomh Columba announce Brendan Doherty as the new senior manager for 2024 \| date=2 February 2024 }}

Honours

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+Naomh Columba honours !scope=col\|Honour !scope=col\|No. !scope=col\|Years
scope=row\|Donegal Senior Football Championship \|2 \| 1978, 1990
scope=row\|Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta \|2 \| 1978, 1986
scope=row\|Donegal Senior League \|7 \| 1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1995
scope=row\|Donegal Junior Football Championship \|1 \| 1974
scope=row\|Donegal Under-21 Football Championship \|2 \| 1978, 1987
scope=row\|Donegal Minor Football Championship \|2 \| 1975, 1986

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Naomh Columba honours

!scope=col|Honour

!scope=col|No.

!scope=col|Years

scope=row|Donegal Senior Football Championship

| 1978, 1990

scope=row|Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta

| 1978, 1986

scope=row|Donegal Senior League

| 1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1995

scope=row|Donegal Junior Football Championship

| 1974

scope=row|Donegal Under-21 Football Championship

| 1978, 1987

scope=row|Donegal Minor Football Championship

| 1975, 1986

References

Category:Gaelic games clubs in County Donegal

Category:Gaelic football clubs in County Donegal

Category:The Rosses