Naomh Conaill win Donegal title after thriller

Naomh Conaill fought back from eight points down to beat Gaoth Dobhair 2-18 to 1-19 after extra-time to win the Donegal SFC title in a thriller at O'Donnell Park.

Daire O Baoill's first-half penalty had Gaoth Dobhair leading by seven at the break, before Kevin McGettigan's goal early in the second sparked the Naomh Conaill revival.

Ethan Harkin dropped a late free shot from two point range, that would have sent the game to a replay, as Glenties sealed a first title since 2023 and eight overall.

Naomh Conaill will now venture into the Ulster Club Championship, where they will travel to face the Monaghan champions on the weekend of 8-9 November.

Naomh Conaill, who came from behind to rescue their championship lives in both the quarter and semi-finals, where forced to once again show their remarkable powers of recovery.

Gaoth Dobhair controlled the first half and stamped their supremacy midway through the half. Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride slipped Fionnan Coyle through on goal, but his effort was blocked by the foot of Anthony Thompson and that gave referee James Connors no other option than to award the penalty.

O Baoill stepped up and sent Stephen McGrath the wrong way, to give Gaoth Dobhair a 1-5 to 0-5 lead.

Glenties would go 12 minutes without a score before Brendan McDyer pointed, and Harkin, Eamonn Collum and Stephen McFadden were on target to give the men in green a seven point lead at the break.

Whatever Martin Regan said in the Glenties changing room at half-time worked, they kept their opponents scoreless for 16 first half minutes.

In that time, they ate away at the deficit. Finbarr Roarty's goal bound effort was saved by Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride, only for the rebound to fall to the feet of Kevin McGettigan to finish to the net soccer style.

Gaoth Dobhair hit two poor wides in the closing stages of normal time, before Shea Malone stepped up to nail a two pointer for the Glenties to send the game to extra-time.

As tends to happen in extra-time, the side that had the ascendancy in normal time, bring that momentum into the extra periods.

Naomh Conaill controlled the first period and kept their opponents scoreless. Max Campbell combined with Kieran Gallagher and John O'Malley before blasting to the net, giving his side a six point lead at half-time in extra-time.

For many, it was hard to see a comeback from a Gaoth Dobhair side who looked out on their feet, but two, two pointers from Harkin helped claw his side back into the game, which left two between the sides entering the final play of the match.

Gaoth Dobhair did gather possession from the restart and won a free outside of the arc, but Harkin's effort dropped short, which coincides with the referee's whistle to conform victory for Naomh Conaill.

The Glenties club have won the Donegal title for the fifth time in seven seasons.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, AJ Gallagher, Max Campbell (1-1); Kevin McGettigan (1-1), Anthony Thompson, Finbarr Roarty (0-3); Kieran Gallagher (0-1), Ethan O'Donnell; Brendan McDyer (0-3), John O'Malley (0-3 2f), Odhran Doherty (0-2 2pt); Shea Malone (0-3 1 2pt), Charles McGuinness (0-1), Keelan McGill.

Subs: Eoghan McGettigan for J O'Malley (38), Mark McDevitt for A Thompson (40), Leo McLoone (0-1) for C McGuinness (45), Dermot Molloy for B McDyer (56), Jason Campbell for AJ Gallagher (72), Seamus Corcoran for S Malone (81)

Gaoth Dobhair: Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride; Neasan Mac Giolla Bhride, Garry McFadden, Eamonn Mac Giolla Bhride; Fiachra Coyle, Domhnall MacGiolla Bhride, Ethan Harkin (0-8 3f 2 2pt); Stephen McFadden (0-2), Adam McGeever; Fionnan Coyle (0-1), Daire O Baoill (1-0 1pen), Michael Roarty (0-2); Eoin De Burca, Odhran Mac Niallais (0-1), Eamonn Collum (0-2).

Subs: Niall Friel (0-2) for F Coyle (41), Cathal Gillespie for E De Burca (49), Aodhan Breathnach for Adam McGeever (56), Neil McGee for E Mac Giolla Bhride (56), Seaghan Ferry for S McFadden (59), Jordi Gribben (0-1) for F Coyle (70)

Referee: James Connors (St.Eunan's)