Donegal contingent power North London Shamrocks to first senior football final

There’s a large contingent of Donegal players representing North London Shamrocks who will take part in their first-ever London football final this weekend. 

From a team that was only formed in 2005 and won the intermediate championship a decade ago, the club based in Palmersgreen in North London has gone from strength to strength over the years and will hope to go one step closer this weekend when they play the experienced St Kiernan’s in the decider in McGovern Park. 

Letterkenny native Ciaran Greene has been involved in the club since moving across the water a decade ago and has seen the positive explosion the club has taken in welcoming Donegal people to the North London Shamrocks club, with the panel boasting almost 20 Donegal players on a panel managed by 2012 All-Ireland winner Peter Witherow.  

“I came over in 2014 to London and got in touch with a fellow St Eunan’s man Niall McClafferty, and for me, I feel that’s where it all started on the Donegal side,” Greene said. 

“Over the years a number of Donegal men started to come to London and really got invested in the club. Once the likes of Michael Boyle from Termon and Peter Withrow from St Michael’s started to play and coach the team, the whole thing blew up then.” 

Witherow and Boyle bring their expertise as All-Ireland winners under Jim McGuinness, with the latter having coached Gaoth Dobhair in 2018 to their first Ulster club title in their history. 

For Greene, he sees the ginormous improvement the club has made over the years and is hoping they can go one step further this weekend. 

“When I moved over in 2014, we were an intermediate club, and since we won that championship we’ve always been challenging,” he said.  

“Since Michael and Peter got involved in the management team, there’s just been such a positive change in terms of recruitment and in terms of training. 

“They’ve really taken it to another level. Not just in terms of football, but also, the people in the club have been great in terms of helping Donegal lads come to London and find jobs and accommodation, and just try and help them as best they can. 

“Even Donegal companies are helping them out. My company is 3D Personnel, and there’s six Donegal men involved in that company that are with the club. 

“This is our first final at senior level which is amazing. We’ve been in three semi-finals, but this is the big one, so, we know that we will be going in as underdogs so we just need to show up on the day. 

“We have players like Michael Carroll, Joe McGill, and Paddy Dolan, they’re all quality players. We’re lucky to have a lot of players that are in playing with London, most are from Donegal, and Michael Boyle is there as their coach too. 

“We won’t be far away. St Kiernan’s are a good side and are also based in North London, so it’s a bit of a derby, so hopefully we perform on the day and get over the line.” 

Donegal players: Michael Miller (St Eunan’s); Odhran Hilley (Naomh Colmcille); Ciaran Diver (Moville); Michael Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair); Daniel Clarke (Naomh Colmcille); Joe McGill (St Mary’s, Convoy); Johnny Sweeney (Ardara); Liam Kelly (St Michael’s); Michael Lynch (Naomh Colmcille); Nathan McElwain (Termon); Liam O’Mara (Glenfin); Patrick Dolan (St Mary’s, Convoy); Owen Skelly (Dungloe); Sean McGonagle (Na Rossa); Ultan Boyle (Naomh Muire); Conor McGonagle (Gaeil Fhanada); Odhran Blaney (Gaeil Fhanada).  

Management: Peter Witherow (St Michael’s); Brian Connaghan (Killybegs); Shaun Shields (Milford); Keith Egan (Robert Emmetts); Ciaran Greene (St Eunan’s); Michael Boyle (Termon).