Naomh Conaill 0-8

Gaoth Dobhair 0-7

Naomh Conaill are Donegal senior football champions for a fourth time after dethroning Gaoth Dobhair at the third time of asking in Ballybofey.

After three hours and twenty odd minutes of gruelling action in the space of ten days, the sides were finally separated at MacCumhaill Park tonight.

Substitute John O'Malley was the Glenties hero as he scored what proved to the match winning point on 60 minutes despite protests by several Gaoth Dobhair players who claimed the ball went wide.

Gaoth Dobhair's Eamonn Collum had levelled the game moments beforehand and a third replay looked a distinct possibility. The reigning champions finished the contest with 13-men following the sending offs of Eamon McGee and Odhran McFadden Ferry.

With throw-in delayed by 10 minutes due to crowd congestion, Cian Mulligan kicked the opening score for Gaoth Dobhair. Naomh Conaill replied with a brace of pointed frees from Charles McGuinness and a Ciaran Thompson '45' to go 0-3 to 0-1 in front.

Michael Carroll, who had a fine game, fired over Gaoth Dobhair's second point on 15 minutes. However, the Glenties enjoyed a productive ten minute spell which saw Leo McLoone and man-of-the-match Ethan O'Donnell add to their tally, 0-5 to 0-2.

Mervyn O'Donnell's men fought back though and further scores from Mulligan and Carroll left the minimum between the sides at the break, 0-5 to 0-4. Disaster struck for Gaoth Dobhair on the resumption when referee Seamus McGonagle issued McGee with a straight red card after a half-time incident involving opponent Eoin Waide.

Naomh Conaill's Ciaran Thompson lifts the Dr Maguire Cup. ©INPHO/Evan Logan.

Twelve minutes had elapsed before Naomh Conaill registered the opening score of the second-half through Jeaic McKelvey and Thompson followed up with his second to restore their three point cushion.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Gaoth Dobhair managed to kick the next three scores from Carroll, Odhran MacNiallais and Collum (free) to make it 0-7 apiece with four minutes of injury-time to come.

But O'Malley had the final say for Naomh Conaill who held out for a memorable victory while Gaoth Dobhair's woes were compounded when McFadden Ferry picked up their second straight red card late on.

There is no let up for the Glenties as they quickly turn their attentions to the Ulster club SFC. They now face a tough test away to Cavan champions Castlerahan at Kingspan Breffni in the provincial quarter-final on Sunday.

Naomh Conaill - S McGrath; U Doherty, AJ Gallagher, K McGettigan; E O'Donnell (0-1), A Thompson, M Boyle; C Thompson (0-2, 1'45), L McLoone (0-1); B McDyer, E McGettigan, E Doherty; J McKelvey (0-1), C McGuinness (0-2f), K Gallagher. Subs: S Molloy for M Boyle, D Molloy for B McDyer, J O'Malley (0-1) for J McKelvey, N Byrne for C McGuinness, M Boyle for K Gallagher.

Gaoth Dobhair - C Sweeney; G McFadden, N McGee, S Ferry; N Friel, D McBride, D O Baoill; M Carroll (0-3), E McGee; O McFadden Ferry, O MacNiallais (0-1), N O Baoill; C Mulligan (0-2), K Cassidy, G McBride. Subs: J Boyle for G McBride, P McGee for S Ferry, E Collum (0-1f) for M Carroll (BC).

Referee - S McGonagle.

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