Donegal Senior Football Championship
| Donegal Senior Football Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobh Peil Sinsear Dhún na nGall |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Title holders | St. Eunan's, Letterkenny (13th title) |
| First winner | Bundoran |
| Most titles | Ghaoth Dobhair (14 titles) |
| Sponsors | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta |
The Donegal Senior Football Club Championship or the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Donegal SFC is an annual GAA club competition between Donegal clubs operating at the highest level. The winners qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.
In recent years the final has been played at MacCumhail Park in Ballybofey. The most recent championship was won by St. Eunan's, who defeated Naomh Conaill in the 2012 final. The two teams have formed "one of the most modern of Donegal rivalries", having regularly been the two best sides in the county in recent times, i.e. since the turn of the century.[1]
History
The 1997 Donegal Senior Football Championship descended into controversy when Naomh Adhamhnáin, having beaten Aodh Ruadh in the final by a scoreline of 1-11 to 2-07, had their title stripped off them in the boardroom in infamous circumstances.[2]
In 2002, Na Cealla Beaga were thrown out of the Championship at the semi-final stage after breaking the rules.[3]
Jim McGuinness assisted Naomh Conaill to success in the 2000s before becoming an All-Ireland winning manager with Donegal.[4] Naomh Conaill, as county champions, made it all the way to the final of the 2010 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship by defeating Cavan champions Kingscourt in the preliminary round, Monaghan champions Clontibret in the first round proper, and Tyrone champions Coalisland in the semi-final.[5]
With interest in Gaelic football at an all-time high after the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, the Senior County Final was broadcast live on TG4.[6]
Top winners
| Team | Wins | Years won | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghaoth Dobhair (Gweedore) | 14 | 1935, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1961, 2002, 2006 |
| 2 | St. Eunan's (Letterkenny) | 13 | 1948, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1983, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 |
| 3 | Aodh Ruadh (Ballyshannon) | 12 | 1929, 1932, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1951, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1997, 1998 |
| 4 | An Clochan Liath (Dungloe) | 7 | 1930, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1940, 1957, 1958 |
| Naomh Iósaef (St. Joseph's, Bundoran/Ballyshannon) | 7 | 1956, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 | |
| 5 | Na Cealla Beaga (Killybegs) | 6 | 1952, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 |
| Seán MacCumhaills (Ballybofey) | 6 | 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1971, 1977 | |
| Ard an Rátha (Ardara) | 6 | 1923, 1926, 1928, 1981, 2000, 2004 | |
| 6 | Chíll Chartha (Kilcar) | 5 | 1925, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1993 |
| 7 | Bun Dobhráin (Bundoran) | 3 | 1920, 1934, 1979 |
| Na Ceithre Máistrí (Donegal) | 3 | 1982, 1984, 2003 | |
| 8 | Naomh Columba (Glencolumbkille) | 2 | 1978, 1990 |
| Naomh Conaill (Glenties) | 2 | 2005, 2010 | |
| 9 | Baile Dhún na nGall (Donegal) | 1 | 1924 |
| Glenswilly | 1 | 2011 | |
| Caisleán na Finne (Castlefin) | 1 | 1922 | |
| Ruagairí Leitir Ceanainn (Letterkenny Rovers F.C.) | 1 | 1927 |
Roll of honour
| Year | Winner | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 2012[7][8] | St. Eunan's 1-07 | Naomh Conaill 0-09 |
| 2011[9][10] | Glenswilly 1-08 | Naomh Mícheál 0-09 |
| 2010[11] | Naomh Conaill 1-15 | Na Cealla Beaga 0-08 |
| 2009[12] | St. Eunan's 0-13 | Naomh Conaill 0-07 |
| 2008[13][14] | St. Eunan's 2-13 | Termon 1-08 |
| 2007[15] | St. Eunan's 0-12 | Glenswilly 1-03 |
| 2006[16] | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-05 | St. Eunan's 0-06 |
| 2005[17] | Naomh Conaill 1-05, 0-10 (R) | St. Eunan's 0-08, 1-05 (R) |
| 2004[18] | Ard an Rátha 1-09 | Seán MacCumhaills 0-04 |
| 2003[19] | Four Masters 0-15 | Termon 0-09 |
| 2002 | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-11 | St. Eunan's 0-10 |
| 2001 | St. Eunan's 1-10 | Four Masters 0-08 |
| 2000 | Ard an Rátha 1-09 | St. Eunan's 0-07 |
| 1999 | St. Eunan's 1-19 | Aodh Ruadh 1-11 |
| 1998 | Aodh Ruadh 1-11 | Naomh Columba 0-11 |
| 1997 | Aodh Ruadh 2-7 (won on objection) | St. Eunan's 1-11 |
| 1996 | Na Cealla Beaga 1-8 | Naomh Columba 1-7 |
| 1995 | Na Cealla Beaga 0-10 | Naomh Columba 1-6 |
| 1994 | Aodh Ruadh 2-10 | Naomh Columba 1-10 |
| 1993 | Chíll Chartha 0-12 | Na Cealla Beaga 0-10 |
| 1992 | Na Cealla Beaga 0-12 | Naomh Columba 0-09 |
| 1991 | Na Cealla Beaga 2-07 | Red Hughs 0-11 |
| 1990 | Naomh Columba 0-10 | Na Cealla Beaga 0-09 |
| 1989 | Chíll Chartha 1-09 | Aodh Ruadh 0-09 |
| 1988 | Na Cealla Beaga 2-10 | Chíll Chartha 2-08 |
| 1987 | Aodh Ruadh 2-10 | Chíll Chartha 1-07 |
| 1986 | Aodh Ruadh 1-08 | Red Hughs 0-05 |
| 1985 | Chíll Chartha 0-09 | Four Masters 0-07 |
| 1984 | Four Masters 0-09 | Ard an Rátha 1-02 |
| 1983 | St. Eunan's 0-08 | Ard an Rátha 0-03 |
| 1982 | Four Masters 1-04 | Chíll Chartha 0-06 |
| 1981 | Ard an Rátha 1-07 | Four Masters 0-06 |
| 1980 | Chíll Chartha 1-13 | Ard an Rátha 0-08 |
| 1979 | Bundoran 0-09 | MacCumhaills 1-05 |
| 1978 | Naomh Columba 1-12 | Ghaoth Dobhair 0-10 |
| 1977 | MacCumhaills 0-08 | Ghaoth Dobhair 0-05 |
| 1976 | St. Joseph's 1-13 | Four Masters 0-05 |
| 1975 | St. Joseph's 1-11 | MacCumhaills 1-05 |
| 1974 | St. Joseph's 1-08 | St. Eunan's 1-03 |
| 1973 | St. Joseph's 1-08 | MacCumhaills 1-06 |
| 1972 | St. Eunan's 2-12 | Clanna Gael 1-08 |
| 1971 | St. Joseph's 2-10 | MacCumhaills 0-11 |
| 1970 | St. Joseph's 1-16 | St. Eunan's 0-04 |
| 1969 | St. Eunan's 0-10 | St. Joseph's 1-04 |
| 1968 | St. Joseph's 1-10 | MacCumhaills 0-05 |
| 1967 | St. Eunan's 1-13 | St. Joseph's 1-09 |
| 1966 | No Final | |
| 1965 | St. Joseph's 1-11 | Glenties 0-10 |
| 1964 | MacCumhaills 1-11 | Dungloe 1-03 |
| 1963 | MacCumhaills 1-06 | Chíll Chartha 0-04 |
| 1962 | MacCumhaills 1-09 | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-07 |
| 1961 | Ghaoth Dobhair 2-05 | Dungloe 0-06 |
| 1960 | St. Eunan's 0-11 | Ghaoth Dobhair 0-03 |
| 1959 | MacCumhaills 2-07 | Chíll Chartha 1-06 |
| 1958 | Dungloe 2-06 | St. Eunan's 2-05 |
| 1957 | Dungloe 0-12 | Ballyshannon 1-04 |
| 1956 | St. Eunan's 0-8 | Ballyshannon 1-02 |
| 1955 | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-07 | St. Eunan's 1-04 |
| 1954 | Ghaoth Dobhair 3-06 | Dun na nGall 0-05 |
| 1953 | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-05 | Carndonagh 1-04 |
| 1952 | Na Cealla Beaga 0-09 | St. Eunan's 1-05 |
| 1951 | Ballyshannon 1-06 | Dun na nGall 1-05 |
| 1950 | No Final | |
| 1949 | Ghaoth Dobhair 2-12 | St. Eunan's 3-04 |
| 1948 | St Eunan's 1-07 | Ghaoth Dobhair 2-01 |
| 1947 | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-09 | St. Eunan's 0-03 |
| 1946 | Ghaoth Dobhair 0-07 | St. Eunan's 0-06 |
| 1945 | Ghaoth Dobhair 4-05 | Ballyshannon 1-06 |
| 1944 | Ghaoth Dobhair 4-10 | St. Eunan's, 3-4 |
| 1943 | Ballyshannon 1-9 | Convoy 2-1 |
| 1942 | Ballyshannon 2-8 | Glenties 1-4 |
| 1941 | Ghaoth Dobhair 0-10 | Glenties 2-3 |
| 1940 | Dungloe 3-08 | Ballyshannon 1-03 |
| 1939 | Ballyshannon 0-6 | Ghaoth Dobhair 0-4 |
| 1938 | Ghaoth Dobhair 1-7 | Ard an Rátha 0-5 |
| 1937 | Ballyshannon 3-8 | Ghaoth Dobhair 4-2 |
| 1936 | Dungloe 2-8 | Ard an Rátha 2-2 |
| 1935 | Ghaoth Dobhair 2-8 | Bundoran 0-3 |
| 1934 | Bundoran 1-5 | Dungloe 0-4 |
| 1933 | Dungloe 3-2 | Bundoran 1-3 |
| 1932 | Ballyshannon 1-7 | Dungloe 0-1 |
| 1931 | Dungloe 2-4 | Ballybofey 2-2 |
| 1930 | Dungloe 3-2 | Letterkenny 2-3 |
| 1929 | Ballyshannon 0-7 | Killygordon 0-5 |
| 1928 | Ard an Rátha 1-4 | Killygordon 0-3 |
| 1927 | Letterkenny Rovers | |
| 1926 | Ard an Rátha 0-05 | Letterkenny Rovers 0-02 |
| 1925 | Chíll Chartha | |
| 1924 | Dun na nGall 3-02 | Dungloe 1-04 |
| 1923 | Ard an Rátha 0-3 | Ballybofey 0-1 |
| 1922 | Castlefin By 3 Points | Glenties |
| 1921 | No final | |
| 1920 | Bundoran 2-04 | Killygordon 1-02 |
References
- ^ "St. Eunan's take favourites tag into final". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ "First Senior County Title". St. Eunan's website.
- ^ Foley, Cliona (19 September 2002). "Furious Killybegs thrown out of championship". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 19 September 2002.
- ^ "Two final meetings that shaped strands of history". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ "Naomh Conaill's adventure continues with Coalisland test". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ "From Sam Maguire to Dr Maguire – St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill do battle in County Final". Donegal Daily. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
A huge crowd is expected at MacCumhaill Park at a time when gaelic games in the county have never had a higher profile. Nothing beats being there, as the GAA slogan goes, but for the neutrals who can't be in Ballybofey, the game is live on TG4 from throw-in at 4pm.
- ^ Keys, Colm (5 November 2012). "Eunan's survive storm". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ Keys, Colm (5 November 2012). "Eunan's accept Glenties gift in freak finish to Donegal final". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ "Murphy is the star as Glenswilly triumph". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Murphy magic proves key as Glenswilly secure first Donegal crown". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "McLoone proves too hot". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ "All too easy for Eunan's". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ Comack, Tom (26 November 2008). "All County League Division 1A final Double chasing St. Eunan's face Naomh Conaill". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
And having written their own piece of club history last month when they won back-to-back championship crowns for the first time, the team of 2008 are also chasing a league and championship double for the second year in-a-row.
- ^ "Kavanagh, Haran set up Eunan's". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
- ^ "Final glory at last for Eunan's as Glenswilly fail on their big day". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2007.
- ^ "Gweedore cash in as smash and grab raid sinks Eunan's". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
- ^ "Historic first title for Naomh Conaill". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 10 October 2005. Retrieved 10 October 2005.
- ^ "DONEGAL SFC : Brilliant Boyle is Ardara ace". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 4 October 2004. Retrieved 4 October 2004.
- ^ "DONEGAL SFC FINAL : Masters marvels". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 13 October 2003. Retrieved 13 October 2003.
External links
- Official website of Donegal GAA
- Donegal at Hogan Stand
- Donegal Club GAA
