Naomh Conaill oust Gaoth Dobhair to reach sixth successive SFC final

Dare anyone write them off? Naomh Conaill reached a sixth successive Donegal senior football championship final after pulling away from Gaoth Dobhair in the final quarter.

Naomh Conaill 0-13
Gaoth Dobhair 1-8

For long spells, Gaoth Dobhair stayed with Naomh Conaill, but Martin Regan’s warriors went to the trenches again.

They hit six points in a row to take control and those were needed as Gaoth Dobhair battled back.

Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde blasted in a goal in added time, but Gaoth Dobhair went a 20-minute period without a score in part two. In the first half, they had a barren 17-minute scoreless spell. It was in those intervals where Naomh Conaill made hay.

Naomh Conaill ease past Glenfin and into Senior B final

Naomh Conaill had 17 points to spare as they booked a place in the Senior B Football Championship final.

Naomh Conaill were two in front at the interval when skies darkened and opened. Had there been music, even it would have been dark. Yet, the backdrop wasn’t befitting of what was an often gripping contest.

When Gavin McBride sailed over a 38th minute free, Gaoth Dobhair were level, 0-7 apiece, but Naomh Conaill hit the next three points.

The restored Dermot Molloy found the range from 40 metres and it proved an inspired kick. From there, Naomh Conaill had the final firmly in their sights.

Odhran Doherty scored two in quick succession, the second of them a monster hit from the left that raised a huge cheer from those clad in blue and white.

Charles McGuinness, Ciaran Thompson and Eoin Waide stretched the margin further and it was enough for Naomh Conaill to withstand a couple of late moments of danger.

Odhrán Mac Niallais was included for a first Championship start of 2022 and a majestic point from the stand side drew Gaoth Dobhair level after Odhran Doherty opened the scoring inside the first minute.

Dáire Ó Baoill scurried through to put Gaoth Dobhair ahead before Danny Curran came up from full-back to take a quick mark from Mac Niallais and open a two-point lead.

Gaoth Dobhair were intent to flex some early muscle and James Ó Baoill had the ball in the net in the ninth minute, but referee Seamus McGonagle had already blown for a touch on the ground by Gavin McBride.

Naomh Conaill kicked five on the spin to turn the tide.

Seventeen years ago, Brendan McDyer played in Naomh Conaill’s maiden Donegal SFC triumph and he rolled back the years with a tidy point off the outside of his boot to open up a two-point lead, 0-5 to 0-3, in the 26th minute.

Gaoth Dobhair enjoyed plenty of early possession, but in those moments Naomh Conaill showed all their experience.

It was perhaps becoming ominous looking when Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí fisted over for Naomh Conaill, but Mac Niallais had Gaoth Dobhair within two, 0-6 to 0-4, at the changeover.

These two shared the MacCumhaill Park sod over an epic final trilogy in 2019 when Naomh Conaill finally prevailed on a foundering October Wednesday. As they parted ways at half-time, there were some exchanges, although the temperature gauge was swiftly turned down.

Naomh Conaill - appearing in their ninth successive semi-final - were dealt a major blow in the warm-up when Leo McLoone pulled up injured.

Sickness also deprived Naomh Conaill of John O’Malley’s services. In their absence, Keelan McGill and Molloy were promoted.

Mac Ceallabhuí landed a beauty from the right-hand side to cancel out Niall Friel’s effort at the other end.

It was level pegging when McBride culled over a neat free, but Molloy nailed a splendid attempt from 40 metres.

Molloy’s moment of magic was the spur for Naomh Conaill as they move into the showpiece again.

Gaoth Dobhair rallied late and Mac Giolla Bhríde finished for a goal. It was too little, too late, however for Trevor Alcorn’s men. Ultimately, their train just ran out of steam in the second half.

Naomh Conaill’s, though, moves menacingly down the tracks again. A seventh final in eight years awaits.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Odhran Doherty 0-3; Ciaran Thompson, Charles McGuinness 0-2, 1f each; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí 0-2; Eunan Doherty Brendan McDyer, Dermot Molloy, Eoin Waide 0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde 1-0; Odhrán Mac Niallais 0-2; Gavin McBride James Ó Baoill 0-1, 1f each; Danny Curran, Niall Friel, Dáire Ó Baoill, Ethan Harkin 0-1 each.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Kevin McGettigan, AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell; Ethan O’Donnell, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide; Ciaran Thompson, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí; Brendan McDyer, Odhran Doherty, Eunan Doherty; Keelan McGill, Charles McGuinness, Dermot Molloy. Subs: Marty Boyle for McDyer (32), Daniel Gildea for Molloy (57), Stephen Molloy for O’Donnell (57), Hughie Gallagher for O.Doherty (60+2).

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Fergal Delaney, Danny Curran, Gary McFadden; Niall Friel, Neil McGee, Seaghan Ferry; Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde, Micheál Roarty; Odhrán Mac Niallais, Eamon McGee, James Ó Baoill; Dáire Ó Baoill, Ethan Harkin, Gavin McBride. Subs: Fionnan Coyle for Delaney (50), Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde for N.McGee (54). Darragh Ferry and Eoin De Burca for Friel and Harkin (57), Aidan Breathnach for J.Ó Baoill (59).

Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh).