'Four of the big five big teams to make it through to the semi-finals' - SP Barrett

Termon, Buncrana, Milford, Naomh Columba and Malin were seen as the big five contenders for the Intermediate Championship title from day one, and with the quarter-finals upon us this weekend, it doesn’t look like that has changed, but this weekend will see one of those teams eliminated.

Termon tops the league table with four wins from their four games, while Buncrana and Milford are in second and third place respectively with a point difference of 10 separating them after they each won three games and drew one in the league format.

Meanwhile, Naomh Columba take up fourth place after losing just one of their four games, while Malin are still there or thereabout. The remaining quarter-finalists are Buncoran, Naomh Muire (Lower Rosses), and Red Hughs.

There are also two relegation semi-finals down for decision this weekend with Gael Fhánada taking on Burt while Na Rossa play Letterkenny Gaels.

In what will be a gripping weekend in the second-tier of Donegal football, the county’s U-20 boss Shaun Paul Barrett ran the rule through the upcoming games and how he sees them panning out.

Termon v Red Hughs

Saturday, O’Donnell Park, throw-in 3.30pm

It will be a replay of last weekend’s fixture with first-place Termon taking on Red Hughs following on from their low-scoring 0-6 to 0-5 win with the men from the Burn Road happy to come out with the points despite already being qualified.

But while Red Hughs will be out for revenge, Barrett cannot see anything other than a victory for Caolan McDaid’s side.

“Last week was obviously a very defensive game,” Barrett admitted. “Six points is a very poor return for Termon who have a number of quality forwards.

“Termon are a good team, they have Ricky Gallagher and Jamie Grant, then you add Bobby McGettigan and Ryan McFadden in the middle of the field. And then they have Enda McCormick and Daire McDaid up front, who are two marquee forwards.

“Red Hughs probably have an overreliance on Calvin Bradley for scores, and I believe Termon will have figured out how to break down the Red Hughs’ defence, and with McCormick and McDaid, they have the men to hit big scores.

Verdict: Termon

Milford v Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses

Saturday, Falcarragh, throw-in 3.30pm

Three points separated these teams in the Division 2 table this season with Milford finishing just above Naomh Muire, and three points separating them when they met, the Milford men emerging on a 3-6 to 2-6 scoreline.

“This is an interesting tie,” Barrett said. “Milford has had a good championship so far and James McGinley has brought in a lot of young lads in the last year or so.

“They have a lot of good players like Rory O’Donnell, Dylan Dorrian, and Shane and Darragh Black. They also have my own lad Kane Barrett, and Finn and Conor Coll, another two young lads who have come in the last year or so to the squad.”

But the Milford native is not taking this opposition side for granted highlighting the great work that has been done at the club, including their All-Ireland Junior Gaeltacht success earlier this season.

“Naomh Muire won the All-Ireland Junior Gaeltacht and they had a good league season,” he said. “Players like Ferdia Doherty, Adam O’Brien, Darragh White, Daniel Devlin, and Eoin Martin will greatly benefit from a good league campaign.

“Danny O’Donnell is a good coach and he will know a lot of the Milford lads well because was the Milford manager when they last won the Intermediate championship in 2017, so he’ll have his homework done but I’m just going to edge it to Milford.”

Verdict: Milford

Bundoran v Naomh Columba

Sunday, Gerard Gallagher Memorial Park, throw-in 12.30pm

Naomh Columba has been knocking on the door for the last few years but just haven’t got over the line.

Despite struggling in the Division 1 league after getting promoted last season, they’ve turned their fortunes around to come up tops with a good championship campaign edging past Burt and Malin by one point, and will take even greater satisfaction knowing that they beat Bundoran already in the championship by eight points in a truly comprehensive win.

And with the added firepower of Aaron Doherty back from the county team, Barrett believes their all-round squad will stand to the Glen men over Bundoran.

“Aaron Doherty is their star man and of course, he was missing during the league but is back now for the championship,” he said.

“Philip Doherty is also in the county squad while they have the likes of Eric Carr, Lanty Molloy, who both played U-20 for the county, and Shane Callaghan who played county minor.

“Bundoran had a poor league campaign too in Division One and were relegated. They only won one game against Aodh Ruadh, in the last round of the league.

They’ve got Jamie Brennan back from the county and they are a different proposition with Jamie on board. Michael McEniff is back from Canada and has given them a good lift too.”

“Michael’s brother Cian is another good young player and of course, Shane McGowan is back as well. Shane is a quality player and they have a young lad Kyle McNulty, I was interested in him for the county U20s.”

Verdict: Naomh Columba

Buncrana v Malin

Sunday, Carndonagh, throw-in 2pm

“Buncrana are another team for the last few years and have been one of the fancied teams in recent years. But have not delivered. Gary Duffy has added Eamon McGee to the management team this season.

“They had a good league campaign and were promoted to Division One and they are unbeaten in the championship. They won three of their games and drew with Milford.

“I watched them against Milford in the league and they played well that day. John Campbell is a big man for the up front and Darach O’Connor and Dylan Mulholland are good forwards too.

“Caolan McGonagle has not played for them in the championship so far. I don’t know what the story is with Caolan. The last time I saw him a couple of weeks ago he was wearing one of those special boots. He had suffered an ankle injury.

“Malin were beaten in the final last year. They had a good league but seem to have struggled in the championship but have made it to the last eight. They are ultra-defensive and may struggle to put up match-winning scores.

“But they have quality players in Christopher McLaughlin, Conor and Sean O’Neill, Josh Conlon, Matthew Byrne and Terence Doherty.”

Verdict: Malin

Relegation semi-finals

Gaeil Fhánada v Burt

Saturday, O’Donnell Park, throw-in 5pm

Verdict: Gael Fhánada

Na Rossa v Letterkenny Gaels

Saturday, Davy Brennan Memorial Park, Glenties, throw-in 5pm

Verdict: Na Rossa