Naomh Conaill romp to Donegal Football title

Ciaran Thompson hit three points as Naomh Conaill retained the Donegal Football title overcoming Gaoth Dobhair at Ballybofen

Naomh Conaill retained the Donegal Football title as they outclassed Gaoth Dobhair 1-16 to 1-8 in the final at MacCumhaill Park.

The Glenties men had 11 different scorers with their goal coming in the second half from Charles McGuinness.

All six starting Naomh Conaill forwards notched scores from play.

They had stars all over the pitch with wing-back Ethan O'Donnell deservedly named man of the match after the most effective of displays and Ciaran Thompson also outstanding, with his 0-3 far from his only contribution to Naomh Conaill's dominant victory.

In contrast, Gweedore's big names failed to fire with Odhran MacNiallais failing to make an impression on the contest and the two McGees Neil and Eamon also unable to stem the tide.

Sunday's match was a record seventh straight Donegal final for the Glenties club, with them having won the title in 2019, 2020 and last year during that spell.

But this was surely the most impressive of all Naomh Conaill's county final triumphs as they clinched a seventh Dr Maguire Cup.

O'Donnell's run set up an immediate free for John O'Malley in the first minute and Naomh Conaill's pressing up on Daithi Roberts' kickouts caused Gweedore all manner of difficulty early on.

A sensational effort with the outside of his right boot by Odhran Doherty started a run of three long-range scores in 90 seconds to put Naomh Conaill 0-5 to 0-0 up by the 10th minute, with the other quickfire scores coming from Brendan McDyer and another veteran Anthony Thompson.

Michael Roarty finally opened Gweedore's account in the 12th but Daire O Baoill's 24th-minute point was their only other first-half score as two more glorious Ciaran Thompson efforts helped extend Naomh Conaill's lead to 0-9 to 0-2 by the interval, with the Gaeltacht men having corner-forward Cian Mac an tSaoi black carded just before the interval for an off-the-ball challenge.

An immediate Michael Carr score hinted at an improved Gaoth Dobhair second-half showing but instead another magnificent Ciaran Thompson score after he ran the length of the pitch, started another period of Naomh Conaill dominance as they extended their lead to 0-13 to 0-4 by the 42nd minute.

Man of the match O'Donnell's brilliant run set up McGuinness' 46th-minute goal and while Gweedore substitute Feargal Delaney bundled a late goal it was scant consolation for the Gaeltacht men.

SUNDAY'S CLUB GAA RESULTS

Fermanagh SFC Final

Derrygonnelly 2-8 Erne Gaels 0-9

Monaghan SFC Final

Scotstown 0-17 Inniskeen 0-14

Armagh SFC Final

Crossmaglen 2-16 Clan na Gael 1-7

Down SHC Final

Portaferry 0-20 Ballycran 0-16

Donegal SFC Final

Naomh Conaill 1-16 Gaoth Dobhair 1-8

Cavan SFC Final

Gowna 5-15 Gowna 0-13