2021 Donegal Senior Football Championship

Football league season

Donegal S.F.C.Season| 2021

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Champions| St Eunan's (15th title)
Winning captain| Niall O'Donnell[1]
Man of the Match| Shane O'Donnell[2]
Winning manager| Rory Kavanagh
Matches played| 46[3]

← 2020

2022 →

The 2021 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 99th official edition of Donegal GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Donegal. 16 teams competed, with the winner representing Donegal in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.

Naomh Conaill was defending champion after defeating Cill Chartha in a penalty competition held after extra-time of the 2020 final.

Naomh Conaill advanced to the 2021 final, but lost to St Eunan's.

## Team changes

[edit]

The following teams changed division since the 2020 championship season.

### To S.F.C.

[edit]

Promoted from 2020 Donegal I.F.C.

* Aodh Ruadh \- (I.F.C. Champions)[4]

### From S.F.C.

[edit]

Relegated to 2021 Donegal I.F.C.

* ?

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## League stage

[edit]

The competition began with a league stage.[4] The draw for the first two rounds was held in June 2021, with the identity of the 2020 Championship winner still unknown, a first such event in the competition's history.[5]

Round 1
12 September 2021
13:30  | Na Cealla Beaga | 1–7 — 1–13[4] | Glenswilly | Eamonn Byrne Memorial Park
Man of the Match: ???

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12 September 2021
15:00  | Ard an Rátha | 1–10 — 2–6[4] | Réalt na Mara | Pearse Memorial Park
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

12 September 2021
15:30  | Gaoth Dobhair | 4–21 — 2–7[4] | Milford | Machaire Gathlán
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

12 September 2021
18:00  | St Eunan's | 1–12 — 1–14[4] | Kilcar | O'Donnell Park
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

18 September 2021
14:00  | Naomh Conaill | 0–11 — 0–08 | Glenfin | Davy Brennan Memorial Park
Man of the Match: ???

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| National report
Local report |

* * *

19 September 2021
14:00  | St Naul's | 1–11 — ?–?? | Termon | Páirc Gearoid Ó'Gallochoir
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

19 September 2021
14:00[6] | Four Masters | ?–?? — ?–?? | Aodh Ruadh | Páirc Tírconaill
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

19 September 2021
16:00  | Seán MacCumhaills | 2–06 — 1–11 | St Michael's | Páirc Sheáin MhicCumhaill
Man of the Match: Colm McFadden

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* * *

Round 2

[4]

25 September 2021
15:00  | Milford | 1–15 — 1–13 | Ard an Rátha | Moyle Park
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

25 September 2021
15:30  | St Michael's | 1–08 — 2–17 | Gaoth Dobhair | The Bridge
Man of the Match: ???

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25 September 2021
16:00  | Termon | ?–?? — ?–?? | St Eunan's | Termon
Man of the Match: ???

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25 September 2021
16:30  | Réalt na Mara | 1–18 — ?–?? | Na Cealla Beaga | Gaelic Park
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

26 September 2021
14:00  | Glenswilly | ?–?? — ?–?? | Seán MacCumhaills | Páirc Naomh Columba
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

26 September 2021
14:00  | Glenfin | 1–09 — 0–11 | St Naul's | Páirc Tabhoige
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

26 September 2021
14:00  | Aodh Ruadh | 1–10 — 2–07 | Naomh Conaill | Fr Tierney Park
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

26 September 2021
17:30  | Kilcar | 1–17 — 0–03 | Four Masters | Páirc Taobhoige
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

Round 3

The Round 3 draw was made on 26 September, giving the following fixtures: Ard an Rátha v Kilcar, Seán MacCumhaills v Réalt na Mara, Naomh Conaill v Termon, St Naul's v Glenswilly, Gaoth Dobhair v Glenfin, Na Cealla Beaga v Milford, St Eunan's v Aodh Ruadh and Four Masters v St Michael's.[7]

* Ard an Rátha v Kilcar Report
* Seán MacCumhaills v Réalt na Mara Report
* Naomh Conaill v Termon Report
* St Naul's v Glenswilly
* Gaoth Dobhair v Glenfin Report Report
* Na Cealla Beaga v Milford Report
* St Eunan's v Aodh Ruadh
* Four Masters v St Michael's

Round 4

The Round 4 draw was made in early October, giving the following fixtures: Kilcar v Gaoth Dobhair, Aodh Ruadh v Ard an Rátha, Réalt na Mara v St Eunan's, Termon v Seán MacCumhaills, Glenswilly v Naomh Conaill, St Michael's v Na Cealla Beaga, Glenfin v Four Masters and Milford v St Naul's. Three clubs had by then advanced to the knockout stages – Gaoth Dobhair, Kilcar and Naomh Conaill. Going into Round 4, played on the weekend of October 9, St Eunan's, Glenswilly, St Naul's, St Michael's and Aodh Ruadh sat in the remaining five places.[8]

* St Michael's 3–10 — 1–07 Na Cealla Beaga[9]
* Termon 1–12 — 1–18 Seán MacCumhaills[9] Report
* Milford 0–09 — 2–16 St Naul's[9]
* Réalt na Mara 1–07 — 0–14 St Eunan's[9]
* Glenswilly 0–15 — 1–15 Naomh Conaill[9]
* Aodh Ruadh 1–16 — 2–07 Ard an Rátha[9] Report
* Glenfin 0–20 — 0–06 Four Masters[9] Report
* Kilcar v Gaoth Dobhair ?

## Knock-out stage

[edit]

### Quarter-finals

[edit]

Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill, the last two clubs to win the competition, were paired with each other in the quarter-final draw. Seán MacCumhaills and Kilcar met in the other quarter-final on that side of the draw. On the other side of the draw St Eunan's and St Naul's played each other in one quarter-final, while St Michael's and Aodh Ruadh played each other in the other quarter-final.[10]

16 October 2021
Quarter-final  | Kilcar | 1–17 — 0–02 | Seán MacCumhaills | Pearse Memorial Park, Ardara
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs)
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

16? October 2021
Quarter-final  | St Michael's | 0–00 — 0–00 | Aodh Ruadh | ???
Referee: ???
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

17 October 2021
Quarter-final  | St Eunan's | 2–12 — 2–05 | St Naul's | ???
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gael Fhánada)
Man of the Match: ???

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* * *

17 October 2021
Quarter-final  | Naomh Conaill | 1–10 — 0–08 | Gaoth Dobhair | MacCumhaill Park
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary's, Convoy)
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

### Semi-finals

[edit]

The semi-final meeting of Kilcar and Naomh Conaill was shown live to a national audience on TG4.[11] Naomh Conaill won, after a late Patrick McBrearty goal that would have brought the sides level, was ruled out.[12]

23 October 2021
Semi-final  | St Eunan's | 0–10 — 0–05 | St Michael's | MacCumhaill Park
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gael Fhánada)
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

24 October 2021
Semi-final  | Naomh Conaill | 0–11 — 0–8 | Kilcar | O'Donnell Park
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary's, Convoy)
Man of the Match: ???

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| Report |

* * *

### Final

[edit]

It was Naomh Conaill's fifth consecutive appearance in the final.[10] The game was televised live on TG4.[12] A minute's silence was held before the game in memory of Martin Griffin, whose sudden death occurred the previous day.[1][13] St Eunan's won.[1]

7 November 2021
3:15pm[12]
Final  | St Eunan's | 1–11 — 0–4 | Naomh Conaill | MacCumhaill Park
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary's, Convoy)[1]
Man of the Match: Shane O'Donnell[2]

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| Report |

* * *

## Relegation play-offs

[edit]

Eight clubs (Glenfin, Glenswilly, Réalt na Mara, Ard an Rátha, Milford, Na Cealla Beaga, Termon and Four Masters) entered the draw for the relegation play-offs once the quarter-final line-up was confirmed.[9]

## Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

[edit]

Main articles: 2021 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and 2021–22 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship

St Eunan's advanced to the 2021 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.

Watty Graham's knocked St Eunan's out of that competition with an injury time point from Danny Tallon winning the game at O'Donnell Park, despite St Eunan's scoring the only goal and leading for much of the game and Shaun Patton saving a penalty.[14]

## Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh

[edit]

Caolan Ward was named as the recipient of the annual Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh.[15]

## Television rights

[edit]

The following matches were broadcast live on national television, unless otherwise indicated:

Round  | RTÉ  | TG4

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Semi-finals[11] |

| Naomh Conaill v Kilcar
Final[12] |

| St Eunan's v Naomh Conaill

## Statistics

[edit]

### Top scorers

[edit]

Top scorer overall[3]
Rank  | Player  | Club  | Tally  | Total

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1  | Kane Barrett  | Milford  | 2–25  | 31
2  | Michael Murphy | Glenswilly  | 0–28  | 28
Cian McEniff  | Réalt na Mara  | 2–22
4  | Oisín Gallen | Seán MacCumhaills  | 1–23  | 26
5  | Gerard Ward  | Glenfin  | 0–23  | 23
Philip Patton  | Aodh Ruadh
7  | Niall O'Donnell | St Eunan's  | 1–19  | 22
Charles McGuinness | Naomh Conaill
Patrick McBrearty | Kilcar
Stephen McBrearty | 0–22
11  | Michael Langan | St Michael's  | 2–15  | 21
Daire McDaid  | Termon  | 1–18
13  | Eoin McGeehin  | St Eunan's  | 3–10  | 19
14  | Peadar Mogan | St Naul's  | 0–18  | 18
15  | Stefan Boyle  | Ard an Rátha  | 2–11  | 17
C. J. Molloy
Colm A. McFadden | St Michael's  | 1–14
Ryan McFadden  | Termon  | 0–17

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Campbell, Peter (7 November 2021). "St Eunan's overpower Naomh Conaill in Donegal SFC final". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
2. ^ a b Bonner, Declan (16 December 2021). "Huge opportunity for Downings this weekend: Under 21 Final". Donegal News. p. 71\. "A special mention has to go to Shane O'Donnell, who scored 1–3 last Sunday [in the Under 21 Final]. I don't know if anyone has ever won man-of-the-match in a senior county final and in an Under 21 final in the one year before. It is a remarkable achievement."
3. ^ a b Molloy, Edward (18 November 2021). "Donegal Senior Club Championship Scorers 2021". Donegal News. p. 66\. "Total Scored in 2021 Championship 82–1001 (1247pts) 2020 total was 98–956 (1250pts) Total games played = 46 (42 in 2020) Scoring average per match = 27.1pts (29.76pts in 2020) Total number different scorers = 226 + 2 Own goals by opponents (201 in 2020) Top scoring goalie is again Andrew Walsh Glenfin 0.04 Seven of last year's players feature this year in scoring charts. Six of current county senior panel make the [2021] list. [Ed: These seem to have been M. Murphy, O. Gallen, N. O'Donnell, P. McBrearty, M. Langan and P. Mogan, in descending order with 'Top 18 Scorers' given by Edward Molloy for 2021]."
4. ^ a b c d e f g Roulston Mooney, James (9 September 2021). "Donegal Senior Football Championship 2021 – Preview, Fixtures, Odds". Retrieved 9 September 2021.
5. ^ McNulty, Chris (8 June 2021). "Bumper summer teed up as Championship draws conducted". Retrieved 8 June 2021.
6. ^ "Aodh Ruadh club notes". Hogan Stand. 7 September 2021. "Aodh Ruadh make their long-awaited return to senior championship this weekend. Four Masters will be the opposition for both our seniors and reserves. The seniors take on the Donegal town men in Tir Chonaill Park on Sunday at 2pm, with that game being followed by the reserves at 3.30pm."
7. ^ McNulty, Chris (26 September 2021). "Here's the round 3 draw for the group stage of 2021 Donegal SFC". Retrieved 26 September 2021.
8. ^ Roulston Mooney, James (4 October 2021). "Donegal GAA Senior Football Championship Round 4 Draw". Retrieved 4 October 2021.
9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Donegal Senior Championship Results". Highland Radio. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
10. ^ a b Connaughton, Gary (10 October 2021). "Draw For Donegal SFC Throws Up Massive Quarter-Final Clash". Retrieved 10 October 2021.
11. ^ a b Craig, Frank (21 October 2021). "'This is where we want to be' — McNulty". Donegal News. p. 60\. "With fireworks expected to fly, it's no surprise that the live TG4 cameras are rolling into Letterkenny on Sunday for what is being billed as a grudge match between the two form sides in this year's Donegal SFC."
12. ^ a b c d "Naomh Conaill defeat Kilcar to reach SFC final". 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021. "Naomh Conaill will face St Eunan's in the final at 3.15pm on Sunday 7th November live on TG4."
13. ^ "Sadness and pride shared at funeral of GAA legend Martin Griffin". 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
14. ^ Bonnar, Dáire (21 November 2021). "Late heartbreak for St Eunan's in Ulster Championship". Retrieved 21 November 2021.
15. ^ "Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh for St Eunan's Caolan Ward". Donegal GAA. "This is the first time the award has been presented since 2019 due to the pandemic. Cathal Mac Grianna will present Caolan with the award at St Eunan's Annual Dinner Dance on Friday."

## External links

[edit]

* "Club by club guide to the Donegal Senior Football Championship" — Peter Campbell, Tom Comack and Gerry McLaughlin profile the 16 clubs who will go in search of the Dr Maguire
* "Team of the Championship" — Donegal News

* v
* t
* e

St Eunan's – 2021 Donegal Senior Football Champions (15th title)

* 1 S. Patton
* 2 P. Devine
* 3 C. Ward
* 4 A. Deeney
* 5 K. Tobin
* 6 C. O'Donnell Snr
* 7 P. McEniff
* 8 D. Mulgrew
* 9 K. Kealy
* 10 E. Dowling
* 11 S. O'Donnell
* 12 S. McVeigh
* 13 P. McGettigan
* 14 N. O'Donnell (c)
* 15 E. McGeehin

Subs used
C. O'Donnell Jnr for E. McGeehin (48')
E. Doherty for Deeney (48')
S. McGettigan for Kealy (53')
A. Gallagher for McEniff (57')
E. McGeehin for McGettigan (60')

Manager
R. Kavanagh
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