Christy O'Connor: This is truly the era of the breakthrough club team

In total, 57 different clubs have won maiden senior football titles in the last 25 years.

Naomh Conaill face Gaoth Dobhair in Sunday's Donegal SFC final, trying to win an eighth county title in 20 years. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

This century has been a glorious era for first time county champions 

In his autobiography, Jim McGuinness graphically describes the excitement and anticipation around the parish when Naomh Conaill once ended up in a shield final in Donegal. McGuinness can’t remember the year. What the shield actually was, McGuinness couldn’t say, but it was one of the most memorable victories in the history of the Glenties club in the last century.