Donegal’s new generation adding a fresh dimension

Two days after the 2005 Donegal SFC final, Jim McGuinness gathered Naomh Conaill’s panel together in the shadow of Davy Brennan Memorial Park’s stand in Glenties.

In front of a huge support in Ballybofey — the majority in the blue and white of the 6/1 outsiders — there had been a stormy finish to the 1-5 to 0-8 draw against St Eunan’s of Letterkenny.

Naomh Conaill, in their first final since 1965 having never won the Dr Maguire Cup, had surrendered a 1-3 to 0-1 half-time lead. Brendan McDyer’s point three minutes into injury time forced a replay.