Naomh Conaill edge 14-man St Eunan's to regain Donegal SFC title

Naomh Conaill 1-09 St Eunan's 2-5

Naomh Conaill captain Kevin McGettigan paid tribute to the people of Creeslough just before he lifted the Dr Maguire Cup, which his side reclaimed in Donegal following a narrow win over holders St Eunan's.

A minute's silence when you could hear a pin drop as far as Barnesmore took place beforehand. The soft sending off of Shane O’Donnell in first-half injury time was something that will fill the weary reflections in Letterkenny - the St Eunan’s forward had pushed over Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, who didn’t make a big deal of it in the slightest.

O'Donnell followed up with what could be best described as a weak fling of the arm. Referee Mark Dorrian, having consulted with linesman Val Murray, reached for the red card.

Faced with a massive wind, it was Martin Regan’s Naomh Conaill who, despite a two-point deficit by the interval and even before O’Donnell’s travails, would’ve been more encouraged.

Whereas in the final last year, which Rory Kavanagh’s side won 1-11 to 0-4 having barely had a glove laid on them, this time Naomh Conaill were gobbling up the turnovers.

The boys in blue scored the first two points, with Mac Ceallabhuí and Brendan McDyer piercing shots into the breeze, although St Eunan’s, with their first even half-meaningful attack managed a goal.

Conor O’Donnell played a quick ball forward to his brother Shane on 13 minutes and with Eoin McGeehin proving a willing run across the front, was found before rounding Stephen McGrath to put his team 1-0 to 0-2 in front.

However, Naomh Conaill, picking their method of attacks intrinsically and finishing them well, soon levelled at 0-4 to 1-1 with a Charlie McGuinness free and then a top-class long-ranger from McDyer.

Only late in the half did St