Seventh heaven as Naomh Conaill win Donegal SFC with plenty to spare

Naomh Conaill strolled to victory to retain their Donegal SFC against Gaoth Dobhair.

Naomh Conaill 1-16 Gaoth Dobhair 1-8

Martin Regan’s side picked up a seventh title, with their first only coming as recently as 2005, and their fourth in five years.

A team famed for their tenaciousness and structure, they enjoyed a relatively fuss-free afternoon where they were comfortable from start to finish, playing with ease and scoring as they pleased.

In all, they had 10 different scorers and the scene under the autumnal Ballybofey sky was a familiar one, the hoards of blue and white on their way through Fintown with the ‘Pandy’.

They had enjoyed a titanic three-game struggle in 2019 against Gaoth Dobhair, eventually defeating the then Ulster Club champions thanks to a late John O’Malley point and the same player struck the first two scores of the 2023 decider.

Gaoth Dobhair never got going and after 10 minutes found themselves five points down, with Odhran Doherty slashing over a brilliant third Naomh Conaill point and Brendan McDyer and Anthony Thompson also scoring.

By half-time it was 0-9 to 0-2, with Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí and Ultan Doherty on target for the Glenties-based team, either side of Ciaran Thompson’s brace - one from distance and another from an angle.

Gaoth Dobhair’s opening score was from Michéal Roarty on 12 minutes and a long-ranger from Daire Ó Baoill. Their trouble was exasperated with a black-card waved at Cian McEntee. It seemed a long, long way back at the break.

The second half followed a similar vein to the first, with Gaoth Dobhair, through Michael Carroll and Ethan Harkin, putting over frees either side of another Ciaran Thompson point.

But Naomh Conaill then wheeled off 1-2 in six minutes, with McGuinness the main feature of that stage of the match. He scored a point and then finished off a move in the 46th minute that made the score 1-13 to 0-5, slapping home after man of the match Ethan O’Donnell and linked up with Brendan McDyer.

All that was missing at this stage was the cherry and another inclusive move saw Eunan Doherty get in on goal only for Daithi Roberts in the Gaoth Dobhair goal to make a top-class save and touch it onto the crossbar.

Points followed at both ends with Eunan Doherty and Keelin McGill getting their names scratched on the scoresheet for Naomh Conaill and substitutes Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde and Kieran Gillespie for Gaoth Dobhair.

Fearghal Delaney did give those who travelled from the west a late consolation goal when he tucked in from close range after Eamon McGee had challenged goalkeeper Stephen McGrath to a high ball.

Naomh Conaill only had three days in 2019 to celebrate their victory over Gaoth Dobhair prior to taking on the Cavan champions, Castlerahan, at Kingspan Breffni Park. This year they’ve three weeks before making the same journey to face Gowna and will be hoping to make an inroad as Donegal’s representatives in the province.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Charlie McGuinness 1-2; John O’Malley 0-3, 2f; Ciaran Thompson 0-3; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí 0-2; Odhran Doherty, Brendan McDyer, Anthony Thompson, Ultan Doherty, Keelin McGill, Eunan Doherty 0-1.
Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Fearghal Delaney 1-0; Michéal Roarty, Daire Ó Baoill, Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde, Kieran Gillespie 0-1; Michael Carroll 0-3, 2f; Ethan Harkin 0-1, 1f;

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Jason Campbell, AJ Gallagher, Ultan Doherty; Kevin McGettigan, Anthony Thompson, Ethan O’Donnell; Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson; Brendan McDyer, Odhran Doherty, Eunan Doherty; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Charles McGuinness, John O’Malley. Subs: Eoin Waide for Campbell (44), Keelan McGill for McDyer (51), Logan Quinn for McGettigan (56), Seamus Corcoran for O’Malley (58), Mark McDevitt for Mac Ceallabhuí (60)

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Aidan Breathnach, Neil McGee, Gary McFadden; Niall Friel, Seaghan Ferry, Michéal Roarty; Daire Ó Baoill, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride; Michael Carroll, Odhran Mac Niallais, James Ó Baoill; Ethan Harkin, Eamon McGee, Cian McEntee. Subs: Stephen Donna McFadden for Ferry (half-time), Kieran Gillespie for McEntee (38), Cathal de Burca and Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde for Roarty and J Ó Baoill (51), Feargal Delaney for Breathnach (54)

Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy