History

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History

History of the Donegal Philadelphia team

Founded in 1988

Founding members: Eamon Cunningham (Ardara), Ivor Gallagher (Carrigart), Manus O'Connor (Downings), Patsy and Mickey Duddy (Churchill), John Flood (Termon) Jimmy Doherty (Carndonagh), Peggy and Charlie Murray (Killybegs)

They got together and formed the club that year at junior level. They trained hard and tried hard to get off the ground. Success on the field was difficult at the beginning but the number of playing members started to rise. There was a lot of effort on behalf of the committee to keep it going.

The big break came in 1990 when Termon native Christy Ryan came to the club and with him came five excellent footballers; James Brady (Termon), Declan McNicholl (Derry), Dominic
Bradley (Derry), Eddie and Frankie Fitsimmons (Belfast).

These players were to form the back bone to the club for the next 7 years and in that time the team won seven straight Philadelphia Senior championships, three Senior North American Titles (1990,1992,1993), lost in the final of the North American championships 1994, 1996. The junior team won the Philadelphia Title three times and was beaten finalists twice. Over that time we have had great club members from all over Ireland, Some of the long term members of the club have since returned to Ireland like Manus O'Connor, Mickey Duddy, Ivor Gallagher, Dominic Bradley and his family, Eddie and Frank Fitsimmons and their families, James Brady and his family. All these people are a great loss to any club and we are forever grateful for their years of dedication and friendship.

By 1997 many of the original cast had moved on and a new crew stepped in to help those that continued running the club. People like Leo Mohen, Colette Mohen, Bill McHugh, Louie Bradley, John McDaid (Letterkenny); Barry McGroary (Drimarone); Brendan Lotty (Cork); Seamus Sweeney (Cresslough), Tommy Higgins (Galway), Dermott O'Donnell (Ramelton); Kevin O'Weidamayer and Kevin Marion (Philadelphia). However the next few years proved to be tough and the senior team lost their Philadelphia Title in 1997, 1998, & 1999 to good teams. The junior team went to the 1998 finals in Washington but lost to Florida in the final.

The 2000 season was back to winning ways with victory in both the Senior and Junior Championships that year in Philadelphia. Both teams lost their respective semi final games at the NAB Championship in Boston. 2001 and 2002 brought additional senior titles in Philly but again no success at the North American Championships. It was obvious to most members that the club needed to rebuild by taking a step down to Intermediate. Donegal GFC won their first Intermediate Title since 1990 in Philadelphia and this time they went on to Boston and beat two very good teams from Boston and San Francisco. It was a great boost for the club and long over due.