On behalf of our client, we are searching for a committed, proactive Bar Manager who would enjoy working in an exciting, fast-paced and busy environment.

The Bar Manager will promote and grow the business, hire and train staff, and ensure that patrons are receiving excellent service.

You will also be responsible for the management of inventory and resources, plan promotional events, ensure that quality and safety controls are followed, update supplier contracts, create schedules, and set business objectives.

In order to succeed as a Bar Manager, you should be observant and have the ability to think critically and efficiently. You should be a skilled communicator with excellent problem solving, observation, and interpersonal skills.

Job Details

Contract Type: Permanent Full Time

Salary: Negotiable

Location: The successful candidate will be based in the general Letterkenny area

Roles and Responsibilities:

* Manage the business aspects of the bar, such as, negotiating supplier contracts, taking inventory and reordering supplies, managing budgets, and setting goals.

* Hiring and training staff to provide excellent service to patrons.

* Creating effective schedules and quickly resolving issues to ensure that bar is well staffed during peak hours.

* Setting and enforcing quality and safety controls.

* Planning and taking part in promotional events.

* Maintaining a fun, safe atmosphere for patrons.

Essential Criteria:

* Management experience is generally preferred.

* Strong understanding of business management principles.

* Excellent problem-solving, and customer service skills.

* Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

* Willingness to work during peak hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

* Effectively delegate responsibilities and maximize resources.

* Decisiveness.

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria, along with your CV via email to nicole@hrteamservices.com by 5pm on Friday 29th November 2019.

Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) are proud to support the 20×20 National Campaign to increase female involvement in sport and physical activity by 20% during 2020. 

LYIT along with 26 other third level colleges, has’ shown its stripes’ by pledging its active support of and involvement in the 20×20 campaign. 

Photo: LYIT third year students, Aisling Nee, Nicole Gordon, Lauren Creggan and Aoife McColgan all representatives of LYIT’s ladies soccer, gaelic and basketball teams and proud ambassadors of the 20×20 campaign pictured with Danny Gillespie, Sport Centre Supervisor.

The campaign is presented by The Federation of Irish Sport and its members (National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and Third Level Institutions) and is calling on the people of Ireland and all those involved in Irish sport and physical activity to champion female sport in a concerted effort with three measurable calls to action in 2020: 

• 20% more media coverage of women in sport
• 20% more female participation 
• 20% more attendance at women’s events by the end of 2020.

The 20×20 objective is to create a measurable cultural shift in our perception of women’s sport so that it will be seen as something strong, valuable and worth celebrating, on a par with male sport. (Federation of Irish Sport 2018, Healthy Ireland 2018).

Helen Kennedy, LYIT Sport’s Centre manager welcomes the campaign, “not only is this a great initiative but a necessary one too to give parity to female sport. 

As a nation it is very important that we encourage movement to shift Ireland’s cultural perception of female sport. The Sports Centre has an action plan and a number of ongoing activities to encourage this movement including ladies only gym times and a school girl’s open day in February 2020 for Badminton and Adventure Frisbee. 

A longer-term strategy based on linkages both within LYIT and with the wider community will help sustain this upward support of women’s sport’.

Everyone can help to encourage this initiative by pledging to do just one small thing to help start this shift for female sport.

Whether you’re a teacher who can help create greater parity and opportunities for girls, a journalist who can help increase visibility of female athletes and competitions, a parent who can attend a match or a person who can simply encourage a young woman to get involved in sport, we need you to show your stripes because, as the campaign slogan says, If she Can’t See It, She Can’t Be It.

LYIT will officially launch their 20×20 support campaign on 25 November 2019 at 12.45pm in the Letterkenny Campus (Room 1102) and everyone is welcome to attend. 

IT’S TIME to cast your vote for this week’s Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub Sports Person of the Week, in association with O’Reilly’s Sportswear.

Each weekly award winner will receive a kitbag, a jacket and a bobble hat, supplied by O’Reilly’s.

The award winner will be chosen via a public vote from a shortlist selected by our panel.

O’Reilly’s Sportswear was founded in 2017 by well-known Twin Towns sporting brothers Steven and Martin O’Reilly.

This week’s poll closes at noon on Friday – cast your vote! Please note that our voting system allows only one vote per IP address.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE

Sean Breen (Cappry Rovers)

It was a fine weekend for Donegal teams in the Sketchers Ulster Cup finals. In the 2005 final, Sean Breen netted the winner as Cappry defeated fellow Donegal representatives Bonagee United 2-1 to take the prize. Breen’s winner capped off a fine performance in Cavan.

Catherine Grier (Irish Deaf Futsal Team)

Ramelton woman Catherine Grier netted three goals for Ireland at the World Deaf Futsal Championships in Winterthur, Switzerland. Grier was player of the match in Ireland’s 4-4 draw with Spain as the Girls in Green finished ninth.

Eoghan McGettigan (Naomh Conaill)

Naomh Conaill booked a ticket to the Ulster club SFC final thanks to Saturday evening’s fine win over Clontibret in Omagh. In an excellent all-round performance by the Glenties men, it was Eoghan McGettigan who led the way. McGettigan posted six points for good measure.

Emma McMahon (Letterkenny Institute of Technology)

Letterkenny Institute of Technology ladies defeated Dundalk IT last Thursday in the League semi-final, Dominic McGlinchey’s team winning 5-10 to 3-11. Emma McMahon scored a superb 2-5 as LyIT edged the high-scoring clash.

Dom Uhl (LYIT Donegal)

LYIT Donegal are on a roll this season with seven wins from eight starts. On Saturday, they made life difficult, but defeated Portlaoise Panthers 79-74 at An Danlann. Dom Uhl is one of the new recruits at the side this year. Not only did he score 21 points, but Uhl – who stands at 6’9” – had a big contribution in defence, too.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE

FIRE CREWS are currently tackling a blaze in the border village of Killea.

The fire broke out in the last hour or so at a commercial premises along the R237, the main Killea-Letterkenny road. 

Nearby homes have been evacuated and doused in an attempt to stop the fire from spreading. Such is the ferocity of the heat, panes of glass in some houses have been cracked. Locals reported hearing loud bangs as the fire burned.

The fire appears to have started in a shed. The cause of the blaze is unclear.

Gardaí are also on the scene with fire appliances from both sides of the border working to bring the fire under control.  Additional fire crews have been deployed to assist. 

There are no reports of any injuries.

GAVIN CULLEN feels that his new-look Cockhill Celtic is getting better with each passing week.

Seven-in-a-row Ulster Senior League champions Cockhill are in New Balance FAI Intermediate Cup action on Sunday when they host Midleton of the Munster Senior League (kick-off 2pm).

Cockhill have had designs on a lasting run in this competition for several years now, but have yet to make a big impression. 

“Any competition we enter, with the pool of players and the quality, you want to win them,” Cullen said. 

“We believe we can win them. We’ve let ourselves down at times, we’ve got bad draws at other times, players maybe have been unavailable, but that happens in football and you have to deal with that.

“We have to do that in this competition and we have to do it one game at a time. It’s Midleton next and that’s what it’s all about. 

“This team deserves to be among the best intermediate teams in Ireland. No-one has been consistently better or been as consistently successful over the last ten years.”

Cockhill overcame Bonagee United on Sunday, handing the Dry Arch Park men a first defeat of the season and also taking their own record to three wins from three in the League.

Cullen was energised by his side on Sunday.

He said: “We had a full overhaul in the summer. It’s very pleasing to get results after such a big change. It’s onwards and upwards now. It will be tough and will be very competitive this year. The games have all been tight so far and it’s all to play for. 

“We had two young lads, Bradley Callaghan and Shane Anthony Doherty, who made his debut, and were excellent. 

“That’s the benefit of having a strong reserve side and boys are training really well with us. They’re getting the rewards. This team will get better, no doubt.

“There is real quality in the boys we’ve brought in. These guys are looking to find their feet and show what they can do. Hopefully they’ll push on and get stronger – and if they do that, we’ll benefit.”

Another of the new faces, Stephen Duffy, netted the winner against Bonagee and has been 

Cullen is hoping to welcome Harry Doherty, Laurence Toland and Lee McColgan back into some action for the weekend, while the experience of Malachy McDermott is close to be welcomed again.

Cockhill haven’t had too many national games at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds, but Sunday’s game offers them a chance to host a big crowd at home.

Cullen said: “We’ve been very unfortunate with the draw lately. We’ll take a home draw with open arms. They’ll be decent, but they won’t fancy coming up here. We’ll give it a really good go.

“We’ve beaten top teams at various stages. We have a handful of internationals now from the Regions Cup now, but is a new group and it’s hard to gauge. We still believe that we can give it a rattle.”

Midelton defeated Bonagee 4-1 in Donegal last year at this stage.

Bonagee are also in New Balance FAI Intermediate Cup action at the weekend. Jason Gibson’s team are at home to MSL opposition with Lakewood set to visit the Dry Arch on Saturday (kick-off 4pm). The Bonagee boss will welcome Sean Hume and Jordan Armstrong back from suspension.

In the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League on Sunday, Letterkenny Rovers host Fanad United at Leckview Park. Eamon McConigley’s Letterkenny can move within two points of early leaders Bonagee with a won.

FIXTURES

 

Saturday, November 23, 4pm

FAI Intermediate Cup

Bonagee United v Lakewood

 

Sunday November 24, 2pm

 

FAI Intermediate Cup

Cockhill Celtic v Midleton

 

bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League

Letterkenny Rovers v Fanad United

DONEGAL STAR Eoghan Ban Gallagher is targeting a return towards the end of the 2020 Allianz League.

The Killybegs man suffered a broken ankle before Donegal’s Super 8 game against Kerry in July.

Gallagher, who was an All-Star nominee in 2018, opened up on the mental anguish of the injury at a conference last month, but says he’s on the road to recovery again.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the pitch again,” he told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub at the launch of the new Donegal jersey this week.

“It’s progressing well. I’m making slow, but steady progress. I’m an impatient patient, though, so Kevin Moran and Cathal Ellis aren’t telling me my date for coming back. 

“I’m happy with the progress I’m making. I’m hoping to play a few National League games anyway. 

“I don’t know how realistic that is, but I’m aiming for that anyway.”

Listen to the full interview below …

Donegal Daily Motoring Columnist Brian McDaid reminisces on just how good F1 once was.

Just when you are about to write off this year’s F1 season the penultimate round in Brazil on Sunday last has brought back memories of just how good F1 once was.

Maybe it was because the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ silverware are respectively in the trophy cabinets of Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team that strategies change to that of a passionate type. We finally got real racing, compared to the cat and mouse moves both in qualifying and in race day that seem to have overtaken the sport over the last few seasons.

And maybe it was just Brazil and the passion that this country has to the sport and its drivers and the teams. Or maybe the 25th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest formula one drivers Ayrton Senna still a native hero in his home Brazil has produced one of the best weekends racing of the entire 2019 championship.

The late Ayrton Senna in the Honda powered McLaren which was considered to be one of the most successful F1 racing cars

Champion’s mixed year

The Silver Arrows won the championship with a healthy lead in the points table but both the Mercedes team and their number one driver Lewis Hamilton, now on his 6th World championship title didn’t have things easy on their way to victory. The death of Niki Lauda in June was unsettling for Hamilton. Lauda, a three times champion himself was the biggest factor in bringing Hamilton to Mercedes and was clearly shaken by the Austrian’s passing.

Hamilton also had a faster Ferrari to deal with all season and if that wasn’t enough, he has, at the very least, two up and coming world champion contenders in the making snapping at his heels with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Lucozade 

In the quarter of a century that has past since the death of the great Ayrton Senna, I’ve been thinking how much sponsorship has changed and reshaped Formula 1. In the early 90’s it was Lucazade that was the biggest energy drink of the day and the nearest it got to cars was when the orange wrapping on the old bottle was stuck over headlights in foggy weather to produce a makeshift fog light.

The only energy drink before Redbull came along and changed everything

Since then it wasn’t good enough for a company to sponsor teams now they wanted to own them completely. Red Bull bought what originally started out as Stewart Grand Prix which evolved into Jaguar before Red Bull bought the controlling share. In the early days of that racing team it was a Northern Ireland man Gary Anderson who was one of the car designers.

Although the like of Redbull in one way for their investment into the sport I do feel that there teams DNA has become very diluted, pardon the pun from what a traditional F1 team once was.

If you consider that Redbull have used Costhworth, Ferrari, Renault and Honda engines since it was formed in 2005 it’s not that easy for the purest of motorsport fans to follow and support this sponsor driven team. If you compare them to the likes of Ferrari team it’s a completely different type of supporter and sometimes it’s as much about the car and its heritage as it is about its drivers.

Jordan and “Big D”

Ireland’s own Eddie Jordan Racing team had more heritage to it than the present day teams have and even became a F1 team when drivers like future world champions like Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna and even Michael Schumacher drove for Eddie Jordan and his fledgling team. They made it way up through the ranks, and tracing his career before that, when Eddie Jordan was a racing driver himself, it was Donegal’s Derek Mc Mahon Racing team that Eddie was a part of.

Eddie Jordan in the lead in one of Derek Mc Mahon Racing team cars in the seventies.

Eddie Jordan would be the first to tell you if it wasn’t for “Big D” in the early days promoting and supporting drivers there might never have been a Jordan F1 Team which had traces of the DNA of that old Derek Mc Mahon Racing Team in is blood from all them years ago.

The Late Derek Mc Mahon with one of his drivers, Eddie Jordan who was part of the Derek Mc Mahon Racing team.

A card from Eddie Jordan to the Late Derek Mc Mahon affectionally known as “Big D” thanking him for for his help in putting Eddie’s motoring racing career on track.

All about the undercut.

All this season it has been about the undercut and double stacking which all happened in the pits. Red Bull are on 1. 8 seconds to change a set of four wheels, Hamilton a little longer, when we arrive in the pits unannounced, minus part of his from wing.

And the default setting deep within former world champion Vettel tripped again at the weekend when his young team mate Leclerc passed him for position after the restart with the end result of the two Ferrari trying to swap a front and back wheel on both car and both of the team ending up out of the race in the final laps.

Vettel and Leclerc on track tyre change battle which came unstuck putting them both out of the race.

On the 25th anniversary of the great Ayrton Senna’s death it was Honda that powered the first three cars to the podium at the weekend. When the dust settled the same weekend that Martin Brundle got a chance to drive Senna’s old Honda powered McLaren, the MP4/4 considered to one of the most successful cars in F1 around an emotional home track of that great Brazilian driver.

Brundle described how the gear lever on Senna’s Old car was manually connected deep into the gear box as was the throttle cable was manually connected to the turbo, the sound of that V6 turbo going around the track had the fans in tears as memories of that great driver fired up great memories.

Happy Motoring folks.

A DONEGAL Irish summer college has been condemned in an official Government report for failing to have child protection policies in place.

The Department of Education Inspector also described leadership at Coláiste Chú Chulainn in Gaoth Dobhair as ‘weak’.

The college had 79 students on the course when it was inspected on June 6 this year.

The Inspector’s report has just been released.

And it is damning in its assessment on the total lack of child protection measures, saying the college had failed in all five of the department’s rules.

The college – which changed its name recently to Colaiste Ghaoth Dobhair – failed to have all staff Garda vetted, didn’t inform staff of its policies and didn’t have any child protection statement in place.

It is run by Kevin Cassidy.

“The practice of the college did not comply with checks 1,2,3,4 and 5 and therefore the college was not compliant with the checks that were made during the inspection visit,” said the Inspector.

“The quality of the course’s management and leadership was weak; there were significant deficiencies in mandatory policies and procedures.

“Overall, the quality of teaching and learning was satisfactory; students were encouraged to use Irish but they were not given sufficient opportunities to consolidate the newly acquired language.”

The Inspector said appropriate planning of lessons was not available during the June inspection and there was no evidence that progress was made on the recommendations of the last inspection in 2016.

The college was given the chance to respond to the latest round of criticism before the report was published and these were included in the inspector’s report.

The Steering Committee said it would correct all its mistakes.

It promised that liaison teams would be named, that staff would attend an in-house course five weeks before college and that each staff member would be given a folder containing school policies. It also said all adults would be garda vetted.

The college also said it had applied for funding to Udaras na Gaeltachta for new premises for 2020 following criticism in 2016 and 2019 for lack of resources and use of IT during lessons.

The inspector did find an enjoyable atmosphere and a good relationship between students and teachers and students praised the college during a follow-up focus group.

Residents of the Garrygort community close to Kerrykeel and Milford have expressed serious reservations over plans to construct two wind turbines in their neighbourhood.

Members of the local community told the Tirconail Tribune that they do not want these turbines in such close proximity.

They point to the unacceptable noise levels, visual pollution and intereference to daily life of the people and animals, flicker effect along with the potential for serious deterioration in the value of land and sites in the area.

A number of residents who contacted the newspaper this week say that leaflets on behalf of Garrymore Windfarms Ltd. were delivered to households this week inviting them to an information evening on Tuesday.

The event in the supper room of the Milford Parochial Hall on Tuesday evening will run from 7.00 to 9pm.

Householders in the area that these turbines will be fully visible from the town of Milford and they do nothing to enhance the landscape.

The Tribune reports that the names of an architect’s office in Northern Ireland are on the leaflet for those seeking further information.

The residents of the Garrygort area said it is important for the wider community to come to the information evening and to make their concerns known to the developers of the project.

A Donegal bar has really rolled out the barrel after deciding to refurbish their toilets.

Blake’s Bar in Letterkenny decided their gent’s washrooms could do with a makeover after many years of use.

But they didn’t settle for an old wash-hand basin and urinal.

Owner Kevin Blake decided to recruit his wife Ann who just happens to run La Maison interior design to get her thinking cap on.

The new sink in the gent’s toilets in Blakes.

And the result is a new toilet that is worth visiting time and time again.

Ann’s bright idea was to use old beer kegs for both the sinks and also the cistern of the toilets.

If that wasn’t enough, the pub is also using old beer taps as hot and cold taps to ensure punters wash their hands before going back to their drinks.

Finished off with some amazing music memorabilia, one regular has dubbed the toilet makeover as Donegal’s newest tourist attraction.

Kevin says he is delighted with the unusual makeover which was undertaken by Paul Doherty Construction.

“The reaction has been great. We wanted something different and Ann came up with this idea.

“It’s already become a talking point and we never thought it would look as good. Everyone knows we enjoy the banter in Blakes so this is just another something to chat about,” he said.

The pub was 1842 and is a regular watering hole for locals including those who love their sport.

More recently the pub has introduced unplugged acoustic music nights on Thursdays and Sundays which are going down really well with punters.

You could say that the pub continues to be flush all these years later.

RYANAIR’S policy of charging extra fees has been ruled as ‘abusive’ by a Spanish court.

A passenger complained about the policy, which was introduced last year and charged people additional fees for bringing any more than one personal item into the cabin.

The passenger launched proceedings after she was force €20 to bring her 10kg luggage on board the flight from Madrid to Brussels, 

The budget airline allows only small bags onto the cabin, provided they can be placed under the seat. Larger bags, weighing a maximum of 10kg, require a luggage fee.

The court ordered Ryanair to refund her the €20 plus interest.

The court, however, rejected the passenger’s demands for an additional €10 for the suffering experienced.

The judge ruled that the hand luggage could be easily have been carried in the cabin. The judge said the the charge – which she deemed ‘invalid’ in Spain – was abusive and ‘curtailed the rights that the passenger has recognised by law’.

The ruling cannot be appealed.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “This ruling will not affect Ryanair’s baggage policy, as it misquoted the [European Court of Justice] and misinterpreted the airlines’ commercial freedom to determine the size of their cabin baggage.”

DONEGAL Town’s Jack Keaney helped UCD to win the Rustlers Harding Cup yesterday.

UCD defeated Maynooth 3-0 in Belfast to give the Belfield University its 20th success in the Freshers-only competition.

Harvey O’Brien, Tomas O’Connor and Colm Whelan netted the goals for the Diarmuid McNally-managed UCD.

Keaney made the move to UCD from Sligo Rovers on a scholarship in July. Keaney came through the underage ranks at Sligo and played 54 times for Sligo’s first team, scoring six goals. 

A Judge has said dog owners look very differently at their pets than people who do not own dogs.

Judge Paul Kelly was speaking in the case of a young Co Donegal woman charged with not having her dog under control or having a muzzle or chain on it.

Shauna Galagher appeared at Falcarragh District Court after her German Shepherd dog attacked her neighbour.

The court heard Ms Gallagher, 23, had her dog at her home at Moyle Park on September 1st last year.

The dog, whom she had owned since it was a pup, became excited when it came across neighbour Sarah McGoldrick.

It jumped up on her and bit her on the forearm leaving her with two puncture wounds.

The young mum had to receive medical treatment from her local doctor for the wounds.

Solicitor for Ms Galagher, Mr Rory O’Brien told the court that the dog was licensed but that he was not muzzled or on a lead when he came out of the rear of the house.

He said it was a “human error” and the dog was normally under control and well behaved.

Since the incident, Ms Gallagher’s partner had put up a fence and bolts to keep the dog enclosed.

“It was a once-off isolated incident,” added Mr O’Brien.

However, Judge Kelly said people who owned dogs took a different view from people who didn’t own them.

Judge Kelly described it as a “terrifying ordeal” for the injured party to be attacked by a dog and particularly a German Shepherd.

There was an obligation on such dog owners to have the animal on a leash and muzzled.

“That’s why the laws are in place.” saying the victim of the attack had received a “nasty injury” as a result.

He ordered Ms Gallagher to pay Ms McGoldrick €250 for her costs including medical treatment.

DONEGAL Sinn Féin Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has accused the government of being being dishonest about home help.

Senator Mac Lochlainn was reacting after his colleague and Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson, Louise O’ Reilly received a Parliamentary Question reply from the HSE which shows the number of home help hours promised in Budget 2020 is less than half of what is needed.

“The government have had a freeze on home help hours due to their recruitment embargo for most of the year and it has meant that the waiting list for home help has exploded to 7,225 across the State with hundreds waiting in Donegal,” Senator Mac Lochlainn.

“Fine Gael then tried to pull a fast one in Budget 2020 by making out the provision of one-million hours of home help would clear the whole waiting list. 

“Sinn Féin called them out on this trickery at the time and we now have proof from the HSE that one-million hours will barely cover half the people on the waiting list and thousands will be left without home help.”

The numbers provided to Sinn Féin by the HSE show that some 2.5million home help hours would be needed to clear the waiting list in 2020 and give everyone 6.5 hours of care per week, at a cost of €59 million for the year.

Senator Mac Lochlainn said: “Instead of delivering for those who need home care, we had a cynical attempt by the government to try and trick the public.

“This situation is ridiculous- supporting people to be cared for in their own home rather than in care homes or nursing units actually saves the State money. 

“And on top of this, government are further wasting huge sums of money on private home help providers instead of investing in a working public home help system.

“It would have only taken €59m to ensure everyone on the home help waiting list got the home help they need, but Fine Gael again chose otherwise- their actions for the last 8 years show that.”

HEAD COACH Niall McDermott has put LYIT Donegal’s encouraging start to the new campaign down to their pre-season work.

LYIT Donegal have won seven from eight in Men’s Division One and face a big top-of-the-table joust away to leaders Ballincollig on Saturday afternoon.

Last season, LYIT Donegal won just four League games across the season.

Now, though, they’re putting and a 79-74 win over Portlaoise Panthers at an energised An Danlann was further evidence of their progress.

“It’s refreshing coming out of games disappointed when you’ve won,” McDermott told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub. 

“Last year, we could have lost by 15 points and were saying that we played well enough. 

“We’ve won seven from eight and this is by far our best start to a season.”

LYIT Donegal let a 43-21 lead slip and, for a brief spell in the third quarter, the Panthers were in front. Inspired by Manny Payton’s introduction early in the fourth, LYIT Donegal eked out the win.

Payton, one of the closed season recruits, was named Player of the Month before the game and he top scored again with 23 points.

McDermott said: “Manny has been phenomenal this year. He wasn’t at his usual high standards, but he said at the start of the fourth quarter: ‘Don’t worry, I know I haven’t been hitting well, but I’ve got you’. 

“He delivered on his word in that fourth quarter. He came out gunning and made some brilliant plays at both ends. We’re blessed to have talent like that.

“We won the game because of the individual talent. We didn’t do a good job finding the right option in offence, but that’s part of the learning experience.” 

18 September 2019; LYIT Donegal players, from left, Mario Alvarez Garcia, Emmanuel Payton, Dom Uhl and Andy McGeever pictured at the 2019/2020 Basketball Ireland Season Launch and Hula Hoops National Cup draw at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

McDermott noted an increased pre-season this time around with his squad playing as many as a dozen games before the start of the regular season.

“We were ready for the season and were able to hit the ground running,” the LYIT Donegal coach said. “We had enough to win. The experience from the first two months and the number of wins got us over the line. Sometimes it’s good not to be at your best and win.

“It was a good result, but we weren’t so happy with the performance. 

“We were up by over 20 points in the first half.  Some of the players thought the game was over and the intensity dropped, especially in the third quarter. Basketball is a game of momentum and once that goes against you, it’s hard to get back.”

On Saturday-week, LYIT Donegal will host Tolka Rovers in a Cup quarter-final – their first time on such a stage, but one they’re really relishing.

The return of Letterkenny native Andrew McGeever and other additions like Dom Uhl and Mario Garcia have helped kick LYIT Donegal on.

McDermott has warned that his men have to be at their best on Saturday as they head for Ballincollig.

He said: “This is a huge game against Ballincollig. A performance like that one won’t be enough to get anything there. 

“They’re the best team in the League, but this gives us something to work on. We need to be on top of our game and hopefully that’s out of our system now.”

DERRY City are seeking to join the Donegal Schoolboys and Youth Leagues with the matter to be discussed by delegates at Monday’s annual general meeting.

Last night, Derry City representatives – including the club’s Head of Youth Academy, Paddy McCourt – met with members of the Donegal Schoolboys/Youth League committee in Letterkenny.

Derry have forwarded two proposals for consideration.

In correspondence to affiliated clubs, the Donegal Schoolboys/League secretary Steve Coll has outlined Derry City’s proposals.

The Brandywell club have requested that their Under-14 be allowed to play ‘development matches’ within the Letterkenny North West Division.

Derry City have also asked that they be allowed to enter their Under-16 team in the Under-18 Youth League in 2020.

“Both requests can be opened for discussion under AOB at the Donegal Schoolboys/Youth League AGM Monday 25th November,” clubs have been advised.

“A further meeting between Letterkenny/North West clubs and the Derry City FC delegation, to discuss the 1st proposal in more depth, was also requested by both LK/NW representatives, and Derry City F.C.”

A leading Donegal company is seeking dryliners.

Gormley Passive Ltd is looking for experienced Dryliners for sites in Donegal.

Applicants must have Safe Pass and Manual Handling. Immediate start. Good Rates but candidates must have experience.

Please send in your letter of interest with experience to gormleypassive@gmail.com

DONEGAL PROFESSIONAL Jason Quigley will be part of TG4’s coverage of the IABA Men’s and Women’s Irish National Senior Elite finals.

Quigley will be one of the analysts on TG4’s show from the National Stadium.

 All 17 Fights will be broadcast Live on YouTube Spórt TG4, while TG4 will have live coverage from 7:30-11pm.

The live coverage of the IABA Irish National Senior Elite Boxing Finals will be presented by Micheál Ó Domhnaill with commentary and analysis by Quigley, Kellie Harrington, Kenneth Egan, Darren O’Neill and Seán Bán Breathnach.  

TG4’s live YouTube commentary will be provided by Cárthach Bán Breathnach.

Quigley returns to action in two weeks’ time when he faces Abraham Cordero in California. It will be his first fight under new trainer Andy Lee.

The IABA is running the Elite Championships for a second time this year ahead of the European qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 at the Copper Box Arena in London next March. 

There will be one final World qualifier for the 32nd Olympiad in Paris next May. The National Elite Championships are proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane Hire.

TG4’s Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said:  “TG4 is looking forward to broadcasting the IABA National Senior Elite Finals from the National Stadium. It is important to give the free-to-air television audience an opportunity to see some of the best boxers from all over Ireland. It is a privilege to be working closely with the IABA to provide live coverage of this event which has such national sporting importance.”

Full schedule of bouts – IABA National Men’s and Women’s Elite Championship Finals, live from the National Stadium in Dublin

6:00pm      Ring Parade & Anthem   *Live on YouTube

6:25pm      Male 49kg Final        Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drogheda)  v  Sean Mari (Monkstown D)

6:40pm      Female 64kg Final    Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa)  v  Ciara Ginty (Geesala)

6:55pm     Female 81kg Final     Nell Fox (Rathkeale) v Leona Houlihan (Crumlin)

7:10pm     Male 60kg Final        Barry McReynolds (Holy Trinity)  v  Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy)

7:35pm     Female 48kg Final    Shannon Sweeney (St Annes)  v  Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)

7:54pm     Male 75kg Final        Jason Harty (Rathkeale)  v  John Joe Nevin (Crumlin)

8:13pm     Male 81kg Final       Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles)  v  Emmett Brennan (Docklands)

8:32pm     Female 57kg Final    Michaela Walsh (Monkstown A)  v  Emma Agnew (Dealgan)

8:51pm    Female 51kg Final     Niamh Early (Ryston)  v  Ceire Smith (Cavan)

9:10pm     Male 52kg Final       Jude Gallagher (Two Castles)  v  Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s)

9:29pm     Male 57kg Final       Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh)  v  Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott)

9:48pm     Male 69kg Final        Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim)  v  Callum Walsh (Riverstown)

10:07pm   Female 69kg Final    Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans)  v  Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)

10:26pm   Male 63kg Final       Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)  v  George Bates (St Mary’s Dublin)

10:45pm   Male 91+kg Final     Antoine Ó Griofa (Celtic Eagles/Defence Forces)  v  Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone)

11:05pm   Female 54kg Final    Zara Breslin (Tramore)  v  Sarah Haghighat (St Brigids, Edenderry)

11:20pm   Male 91kg Final      Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)  v  Daniel O’Brien (Santry/Defence Forces)

Emergency services are at the scene of a three-car crash on the Letterkenny to Ballybofey road this afternoon.

The incident occurred at Drumkeen after 1pm.

Gardaí and ambulance services have attended the scene.

Traffic is moving slowly in the area.

It is not yet known if there are any injuries.

A driver traveling over the sped limit and also on cannabis was caught in Buncrana yesterday.

The Buncrana Road Policing Unit detected the driver travelling at 121kph in Burt yesterday afternoon in a 100kph zone.

The driver was also tested and proved to be positive for cannabis.

A Garda spokesman said “Speed can and does kill. Driving under the influence can and does kill.

“One poor decision made when getting/whilst behind the wheel of a car could be the death of you or someone else.”