Back-to-back C championship titles for Sean MacCumhaills

Sean MacCumhaills are celebrating back-to-back Donegal Senior Football C Championship titles after Friday night's C final win over Termon at Páirc Naomh Columba in Glenswilly.

The Finnsiders laid the foundation for the win in the first half and led 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time. Dual player Paddy Hannigan scored the goal after just five minutes for a dream start for the reigning champions.

For the goal, Hannigan, after being found by Christopher Gallen in front of the Termon posts, rounded his marker to give Thomas Cannon in the Termon goal no chance from close range.

The goal opened up a 1-1 to 0-1 after Patrick Kelly for MacCumhaills and Adam McElwaine for Termon traded early points. McElwaine, who was the Termon go-to man up front, trimmed the MacCumhaills lead from a close in free after he was fouled.

But with Patrick Kelly and Stephen Summerville gaining a grip in the middle of the park, and Jacob Malone and Christopher Gallen asking questions of the Termon defence, the Finnsiders reeled off three unanswered points to open up a four-point, 1-4 to 0-3 lead by the 21 minute mark.

Summerville and Malone from play, and Kieran Thompson from a 35 metre free kicked the MacCumhaills' points.

Ronan Harkin and Mark Gallagher responded with Termon points to reduce the MacCumhaills lead to three points at the halfway mark.

Thompson drew first blood for the champions in waiting in the early minutes of the second period. Termon, who shot four second-half wides and also denied a gilt-edged goal chance, hung in and were still in the game going down the straight as Mark Gallagher and Caolan McDaid traded points with Summerville and Christopher Gallen.

But three points was as close as they got, as MacCumhaills, who were the better-balanced side over the 60-plus minutes, finished strong.

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Paddy Hannigan 1-0; Stephen Summerville 0-3,1f; Kieran Thompson 0-2,1f; Christopher Gallen 0-2; Patrick Kelly, Gavin Doherty and Jacob Malone 0- 1 each.

Termon scorers: Adan McElwaine, Ronan Harkin and Ryan McMenamin 0-2 each; Mark Gallagher 0-2,1f; Ronan Harkin 0-1 each.

Sean MacCumhaills: Daniel Crawford; Kieran Barron, Brendan Heeney, Daniel Donnelly; Gary O’Donnell, Gavin Doherty, Cathal Cannon; Pauric Kelly, Stephen Summerville; Conor Murphy, Peter Sweeney, Jacob Malone; Kieran Thompson, Paddy Hannigan, Christopher Gallen.

Subs: Joe Dunnion for K Thompson (47); Brian Lafferty for P Sweeney (60); Shane Thompson for S Summerville (61).

Termon: Thomas Cannon; James Crumlish, Shaun McDaid, Jamie Lee McLaughlin; Kieran Black, Shane Doherty, Marty Steel; Aaron Gallagher, Jamie Gallagher; Rian Nibbs, Ronan Harkin, Nathan Grant; Mark Gallagher, Aidan McElwaine, Ryan McMenamin.

Subs: Caolan McDaid for Mark Gallagher (40); Jamie Doherty for R Harkin (55); Paul McGettigan for J Gallagher (58); James Olson for M Steel (59); Jimmy McElwaine for K Black (60).

Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)