Naomh Conaill comeback clinches Donegal title 

Seven points up, Gaoth Dobhair had one hand on the cup.

Naomh Conaill 2-18 Gaoth Dobhair 1-19 (after extra time) 

The Letterkenny night was pitch black when illuminated by the flashing lights and beeping horns of the triumphant Naomh Conaill cavalcade headed for the journey over Meenaroy, armed again with the Dr Maguire.

They had to reach into their own darkness here, having been seven points down at half-time, but they have long been known as a team that doesn’t know when it’s beaten.

“The way they dig it out there, just unbelievably proud of them - so, so proud of them,” enthused Naomh Conaill manager Martin Regan.

“They just never, ever give up, and you just know that they'll fight to the very end, always. They always do. Always, always do - and that makes it just a bit more exciting.” 

Deep into added time at the end of normal time, Shea Malone, back with full concentration on Gaelic football following a spell at Sligo Rovers, found the range with a beautiful effort off the outside of his left foot to take the tie to extra time.

The clock had ticked so far that green smoke was even billowing from a section of over-eager Gaoth Dobhair supporters.

When captain John O’Malley converted a mark in the opening minute of extra time, it was the first time that Naomh Conaill were ahead.

Teenager Max Campbell fired to the net with an excellent finish after taking a pass from Kieran Gallagher to firmly turn the game firmly in Naomh Conaill’s favour.

Campbell added a point and Charles McGuinness fisted Naomh Conaill - whose comeback was spurred by a Kevin McGettigan goal in the 39th minute - into a 2-16 to 1-13 lead at half-time in extra-time.

A couple of two-pointers off the boot of Ethan Harkin narrowed the margins, but Man of the Match Finnbarr Roarty and O’Malley landed points that were priceless.

Regan said: “We’ve been written off and a lot of people would have been saying it all year through the rule changes wouldn't suit us, but the boys just keep it up.

“They keep it up and they find a way to win games, whatever it takes to find a way to win them games and they did again today.” 

It almost felt like a deception when looking back at the first half.

In the 16th minute Fionnan Coyle took receipt of a super pass inside by Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhride, but was impeded by Anthony Thompson and Connors outstretched his arms for a penalty.

Daire Ó Baoill stepped up to tuck home the spot kick, sending goalkeeper Stephen McGrath the wrong way with a low effort confidently dispatched.

Gaoth Dobhair stretched the lead to seven, 1-10 to 0-6, by half-time, but Naomh Conaill were a different animal in the second half.

After Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride produced an outstanding save to beat away a stinging goal-bound drive by McGuinness, McGettigan finished following a save by the Gaoth Dobhair ‘keeper from Finnbarr Roarty, the teenage star and GAA Footballer of the Year nominee who was Man of the Match here.

It’s 20 years now since their class of 2005 broke the mould for Naomh Conaill. This was their eighth title including that maiden triumph and ’05 survivors Leo McLoone, Brendan McDyer and Anthony Thompson played lead roles here too.

Naomh Conaill: S McGrath; U Doherty, AJ Gallagher, M Campbell (1-1); K McGettigan (1-0), A Thompson, F Roarty (0-3); K Gallagher (0-1), E O’Donnell; B McDyer (0-3), J O’Malley (0-3, 2m), O Doherty (0-2, 1 2pt); S Malone (0-3, 1 2pt), C McGuinness (0-1), K McGill. Subs: E McGettigan for O’Malley (38), M McDevitt for Thompson (40), L McLoone (0-1) for McGuinness (45), D Molloy for McDyer (55), J O’Malley for Molloy (70), C McGuinness for O.Doherty (70), J Campbell for Gallagher (83), O Doherty for McGill (86), S Corcoran for Malone (90).

Gaoth Dobhair: P Mac Giolla Bhride; N Mac Giolla Bhride, G McFadden, E Mac Giolla Bhride; Fiachra Coyle, D Mac Giolla Bhride, E Harkin (0-8, 2 2pt, 2f, 1m); S McFadden (0-2), P A Mac Iomhar; Fionnan Coyle (0-1), D Ó Baoill (1-0pen), M Roarty (0-2); E De Burca, O Mac Niallais (0-1), E Collum (0-2). Subs: N Friel (0-2) for Fionnan Coyle (42), C Gillespie for De Burca (48), A Breathnach for Mac Iomhair (55), N McGee for E Mac Giolla Bhride (55), S Ferry for McFadden (59), C Gallagher for Fiachra Coyle (70), Fionnan Coyle for Gillespie (70), J Gribben (0-1) for Fionnan Coyle (79), P McGee for Ferry (80).

Referee: J Connor (St Eunan’s).