Introduction
By recent standards, 2006 was a largely dis-appointing year for CLG Bundobhrain, Realt na Mara although this more reflects the recent wealth of success than it the fact that it was a particularly bad year. Expectations that the Seniors might achieve promotion evaporated early but the U-14s won three Divisional titles and the U-15 Og Sport team were desperately unlucky not to add Ulster success to their Donegal title. The club introduced new referee – Brendan Ruane - during 2006, joining Paul Magee, Barry Keaney and Pat Walsh. As in other years, the promotion of Gaelic games at both St Macartan’s National School and Magh Ene College helped underpin the club’s underage success.
The annual function in the Great Northern honoured Declan McCaughey (clubman of the year), Ciarán McGarrigle (player of the year), David Smith (reserve player of the year) and Eilis McEniff (supporter of the year). The Officer Board for the year was Chairman Michael McMahon, Secretary Geraldine Breslin, Treasurer Declan McCaughey, PRO John McEniff, County Board Delegate Gerry Breslin, and Oifig na Gaelige John Campbell. Clubman Brian McEniff was Ulster Railway Cup manager. Diarmuid Doherty was chairman of Bord na nOg, Tess McCaughey secretary, Joan McEniff treasurer and Edel Carlin-Rosanio Registrar.
Senior Team
It was a poor year for the Senior team whose early hopes of promotion, having missed out in a 2005 promotion playoff, were dashed by a bad start and loss of five players during the summer. A string of victories in early Autumn secured safety and a mid-table placing. In the Intermediate Championship Bundoran had a good first round victory against Naomh Ultan but went out in the semi-final to Cloughaneely. Despite the lack of success in 2006, manager Michael Flynn and mentor Noel Carr deserve great credit for their efforts. The senior panel was Johnny Keenan, Kevin McManus, Jonathan McHale, Ciaran McGarrigle, Adam Dunmore, Paul Delaney, Diarmuid McCaughey, Niall Dunne, Dessie McNamara, Canice Nicholas, Shane O’Donnell, James Keeney, Declan O’Donnell, Richard Gillespie, Christy Keaney, Jason Brennan, Tommy Hourihane, Fergal McKiernan, Stephen Raferty, Rossa McKiernan, Dara Hoey, Darragh Fallon and Shane McGowan. Managed by Bosco Moohan, the Reserve team’s performance mirrored the seniors - mid-table and a championship semi-final exit, to Naomh Naille. The reserve squad was Mark Granaghan, Joe Spratt, Francis McGloin Brian Gavigan, Liam Travers, Eamonn Gavigan, Bosco Moohan, Adrian Flanagan, Shane Moohan, Sean McIntyre, Shane McGrath, Kieran McCann, Eamonn McCann, Paul Magee, Rory Dunne, David Smith, Ciaran McCaughey, Niall McGarrigle, Nicky Corr, Chris Chapman and Joey McNulty.
Under-8s and under-10s
The u-10s progressed well during the year playing six blitzes and hosting a Go-Games tournament. There were sufficient players to field both an A and B squad and Bundoran had a separate under-8s team The u-8 squad was: Kelvin Mulhern, Aaron Chapman, Niall Carr, Nathaniel Doherty, Timmy Govorov, Caelan Goan, Conor Carty, Paul Murphy, James Steward, Cian McEniff, Chris Conway, Aaron Jones, Orin McGann, Oran Gallagher, Cody Granaghan, Brian McHenry, Michael McCaughey, Adam McGloin, Bobby Murray and Conor Jack McManus. Some of these u-8s also made the u-10 squad, which also consisted of: Niall Cullen, Daire O’Reilly, Ryan Muller, Ryan McElhinney, Adrian Sheerin, Jason Kelly, Jane Carty, Stephen Cassidy, Jamie Brennan, Conor Dawson Dylan Stuttard, Rory Malaniff, Adam Brennan, Shane Carr, Calvin McCormack, Roderick McMorrow, Caoimhin Drummond and David Hastings. Headed by Noel Carr, the management team included Olivia Murphy, Raymond Dawson, Vlad Govorov, Gerry Sheerin and John McEniff.
U-12s and u-14s
The Bundoran u-12 squad were very competitive throughout their season and were well in contention for a place in the divisional final until successive defeats in Dungloe and Killybegs in their last two games. At the start of the year there were barely enough players for the A side but with tireless work by managers Brian McEniff, Billy Gavigan and Barry McEniff, by the end-season a B side was fielded. The squad was: Conor Corbett, Brian Carr, Barry Flynn, Dylan O’Reilly, Diarmuid Spratt, Donal O’Keefe, Matthew Ward, BJ McEniff, Aoife McEniff, Brandon McEniff, Ultan Cullen, Pauric Rooney, Eoin Dillon, Shaunagh Goan, Darren Boyle, Thomas White, Gary Hegarty, Max Muller, Luke Govorov, Sean Redmond, Neil Murphy, Sean Maguire and Padraig Malaniff.
Bundoran u-14s dominated the Southern Board regional competitions but made no impression at County level. Unbeaten in all Divisional games, they easily won their Feile, League and Championship finals, However, they twice lost to Milford and once to St Eunans in County semi-finals. The squad was: Niall McGonigle, Brandon Goodwin, David Stuttard, Eanna McNulty, Barry Flynn, Johnny Boyle, Ciaran Carty, Adam Coyne, Gary Clancy, Brian Cassidy, Nathan Carlin-Rosanio, Neal Chapman, Stephen Reilly, Gerard Gillespie, Lee Creevy, Conor Doherty, David Cassidy, Rory O’Reilly, Sean McGloin and Braonnain Drummond. The u-14 management team was Conor McEniff, Conor Barrett and Diarmuid McCaughey.
Under 15s and u-16s
The Bundoran under-15 squad won the Regional and County Og Sport 7-a-side blitzes and represented Donegal at the Ulster finals in Ballinderry. They performed magnificently in the league stages cruising through to the semi-finals where they beat Armagh champions Granemore but with a player sent off in the semi-final, and hence missing for the final, they were not strong enough for Derry side Kilrea. A total of fourteen players were used through the different blitzes: Ashley Mulhern, David Stuttard, Brandon Goodwin, Sean Keenaghan, Niall McCaughey, Peter McGonigle, Matthew McCabe, Rhys Goodwin, Nathan Carlin-Rosanio, Michael McEniff, Jonny Ward, Gavin Croghan, Neil Chapman and Stephen Reilly.
The under-16’s league form was up and down with good home wins but dis-appointing away form. They went out in the championship to eventual county champions Killybegs, losing narrowly in Fintra and drawing at home to end a frustrating year for manager Bosco Moohan and mentors Fintan Lynch and PJ Ward. The under-16 squad included the u-15 panel plus Colin Lynch, William Hastings, Ryan Walsh, Niall Gillespie, Kevin Cassidy, Jamie Spratt, Shane Moohan, Richie Morris, Peadar O’Keefe, Stephen Ryan, Grant Wattleworth, Terry Munday and Gearoid Ward.
Minors and u-21s
Under the management of Paul Magee and Johnny Keenan, a very young minor side began their league campaign in style with early wins over Naomh Columba and Naomh Ultan but they subsequently lost to both Naomh Mhuire and Na Rossa. The year ended ignominiously when their championship final against Naomh Mhuire was abandoned twenty minutes in and they were thrown out of the competition. The squad was as for the u-16s plus Sean McIntyre, Damien McGowan, Chris Chapman, Adam Dunmore and Ciaran McCaughey. Managed by Pat Walsh, the u-21s - a side with plenty of promise and a good chance of winning the Division 2 title - comfortably won their opening ties against Letterkenny Gaels and Burt and had reached the semi-final against Downings at end-November.
Girls teams
Bundoran fielded a record four Ladies teams this year under-12s, under-14s, under-16s and a junior side. All performed well throughout the season but no titles were won.