Donegal Celtic
Encyclopedia
Donegal Celtic is a semi-professional, Northern Irish
football
club playing in the IFA Premiership
. The club, founded in 1970, hails from Belfast
and plays its home matches at Donegal Celtic Park
. Club colours are green and white in Celtic
-style hoops. The current manager is Paddy Kelly.
With no facilities, kits, pitch or equipment the first few years were spent playing friendlies and entering local summer competitions, which helped to enhance and promote their reputation and name. They registered their chosen name with the Irish Football League, taking the name from the area in which they were based, Lenadoon, Gweedore
, Glenveagh
are all local areas named after towns in County Donegal
, with the Celtic part being taken on due to the massive local following for Scotland's Glasgow Celtic F.C., and formerly Belfast Celtic
.
Donegal Celtic has youth setup, covering boys aged from U10 - U18, and a girl’s set-up at U14 with five U16 internationals in the squad. Donegal Celtic Ladies senior side won the 'Belfast Cup' in 2004.
Donegal Celtic senior men’s team has a chequered and colourful history. After continually applying for Irish League entry they were denied on several occasions and forced to play amateur football, along with County Armagh
team Lurgan Celtic
. With accusations of a sectarian selection process and with the threat of court action looming both clubs finally gained entry into the Irish League 2nd Division for the season 2002-2003.
The club managed to finish in 6th place in their first year in the Irish League proper, which due to a league shake-up was enough to earn promotion to the First Division. The club's second season in Irish League football was marred by poor home form and an inability to cope with the change in standard finishing in 8th place.
Donegal Celtic finished the 2004-05 season in 3rd place losing out on a promotional play-off place to Lurgan team Glenavon and also lost the Intermediate Cup final on penalties at Stangmore Park, Dungannon, to the same team. At the start of the 2010/11 season, former Cliftonville F.C.
Captain and Manager Marty Tabb was appointed manager at the start of the season, but was sacked a couple of weeks later. The current management structure of Paddy Kelly, Marty McKiernan and Gerard Loughran has solidly improved and the team and in season 2005/06 finished 2nd to Crusaders earning the right to play over two legs for a place in the Premier League, which they achieved on 10 May with a 3-1 aggregate victory against Institute. The team also managed to capture the Intermediate Cup, defeating Coagh United 2-0 in the final. This was the only cup in junior football the team was yet to win.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club playing in the IFA Premiership
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
. The club, founded in 1970, hails from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and plays its home matches at Donegal Celtic Park
Donegal Celtic Park
Donegal Celtic Park, also known as Suffolk Road and Celtic Park or more recently The NSR due to the recent expansion, is the home of IFA Premiership team Donegal Celtic. It is situated in the Suffolk Road in west Belfast...
. Club colours are green and white in Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
-style hoops. The current manager is Paddy Kelly.
History
Donegal Celtic was formed in 1970 when a group of young men who had a huge interest in football decided to form a team in the Lenadoon district of west Belfast.With no facilities, kits, pitch or equipment the first few years were spent playing friendlies and entering local summer competitions, which helped to enhance and promote their reputation and name. They registered their chosen name with the Irish Football League, taking the name from the area in which they were based, Lenadoon, Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
, Glenveagh
Glenveagh
Glenveagh — covering 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh , some 20 km from Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland — forms the heart of the Glenveagh National Park , the second largest national park in Ireland...
are all local areas named after towns in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, with the Celtic part being taken on due to the massive local following for Scotland's Glasgow Celtic F.C., and formerly Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic Football Club was a football club in Northern Ireland that was founded in 1891, and was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949.-History:...
.
Donegal Celtic has youth setup, covering boys aged from U10 - U18, and a girl’s set-up at U14 with five U16 internationals in the squad. Donegal Celtic Ladies senior side won the 'Belfast Cup' in 2004.
Donegal Celtic senior men’s team has a chequered and colourful history. After continually applying for Irish League entry they were denied on several occasions and forced to play amateur football, along with County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
team Lurgan Celtic
Lurgan Celtic F.C.
Lurgan Celtic is an intermediate, Northern Irish football team based in Lurgan, County Armagh, and plays in IFA Championship 2. Its home ground is Knockrammer Park...
. With accusations of a sectarian selection process and with the threat of court action looming both clubs finally gained entry into the Irish League 2nd Division for the season 2002-2003.
The club managed to finish in 6th place in their first year in the Irish League proper, which due to a league shake-up was enough to earn promotion to the First Division. The club's second season in Irish League football was marred by poor home form and an inability to cope with the change in standard finishing in 8th place.
Donegal Celtic finished the 2004-05 season in 3rd place losing out on a promotional play-off place to Lurgan team Glenavon and also lost the Intermediate Cup final on penalties at Stangmore Park, Dungannon, to the same team. At the start of the 2010/11 season, former Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
Captain and Manager Marty Tabb was appointed manager at the start of the season, but was sacked a couple of weeks later. The current management structure of Paddy Kelly, Marty McKiernan and Gerard Loughran has solidly improved and the team and in season 2005/06 finished 2nd to Crusaders earning the right to play over two legs for a place in the Premier League, which they achieved on 10 May with a 3-1 aggregate victory against Institute. The team also managed to capture the Intermediate Cup, defeating Coagh United 2-0 in the final. This was the only cup in junior football the team was yet to win.
Men's Senior Squad 2010-11
Note: All players who currently hold an Irish passport are eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, in accordance with the case of Daniel Kearns ruled by FIFA.Intermediate honours
- IFA Reserve LeagueIFA Reserve LeagueThe IFA Reserve League is an intermediate Association football league in Northern Ireland consisting of the reserve teams of the twelve IFA Premiership clubs.-Current members:*Ballymena United Reserves*Carrick Rangers Reserves*Cliftonville Olympic...
: 1- 2007/08
- Irish Intermediate Cup: 2
- 2005/06, 2009/10
- Steel & Sons CupSteel & Sons CupThe Steel & Sons Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North East Ulster Football Association . The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Christmas Day...
: 1- 2003/04
- Northern Ireland Intermediate LeagueNorthern Ireland Intermediate LeagueThe Northern Ireland Intermediate League is an amateur intermediate league based in the north-west region of Northern Ireland.- Clubs in membership :* Ardstraw* Churchill United* Draperstown Celtic* Dungiven Celtic* Magherafelt Sky Blues...
: 8- 1989/90, 1990/91, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1998/99, 1999/00; 2001/02
- Northern Ireland Intermediate League Challenge Cup: 6
- 1988/89, 1989/90, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1998/99, 2001/02
- Northern Ireland Intermediate League Cup: 7
- 1988/89, 1989/90, 1991/92, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2001/02
- Seamus Mallon Cup: 1
- 2005/06