A decade of Big Four dominance as Championship contenders unlikely to change

Naomh Conaill 1-9 St Eunan’s 2-5 (final 2022) - Please, Not More Controversy 

A repeat of the 2021 decider, not many gave Naomh Conaill a chance, but doubt them at your peril as they came away with their third title in four seasons. 

Where did the controversy and talking fall this time? Just on the stroke of half time.  

With St Eunan’s having played with the wind in the first half and leading by two points, 1-3 to 0-4, there was a common bit of pushing and shoving which saw Shane O’Donnell shoving Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, who fell. 

O’Donnell followed that up with a pat on Mac Ceallabhuí and, to the surprise of everyone in MacCumhaill Park, was sent off by referee Mark Dorrian. 

Now with a numerical disadvantage, the St Eunan’s manager Rory Kavanagh asked O’Donnell whether there was a strike. “No, I came in and pushed him,” was the reply. O’Donnell was said to be inconsolable in the dressing room. 

The game itself was far from the nip-and-tuck you might see from two super heavyweights, but the red card alone can be traced as a major moment that blazed the trail for things to come in the future . . . you only have to study Donegal GAA’s 2023 season to learn that.