2014 Donegal Senior Football Championship Explained

The 2014 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 92nd official edition of the Donegal GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Donegal.

Glenswilly was defending champion. The club was dethroned in the 2014 final.

Format

It was announced in 2013 that the 2014 championship would begin as soon as the senior Donegal county team was eliminated from the Sam Maguire Cup, which, as it transpired, was in September after the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final.^{[1] [2]} The deferral was decided upon in September 2013 when twenty clubs voted in favour, while six did not (one club was not in attendance).^{[3] [4]} The controversy over this decision became a "national media story" and irked inter-county manager Jim McGuinness.^[5]

The format remained the same as the previous year, when a group stage was introduced. 28 September Round 1 SFC; 5 October Round 2 SFC; 12 October Round 3 SFC; 19 October SFC quarter-final; 26 October SFC semi-final; 2 November SFC final.^[6]

Group stage

Group 1

Team
Naomh Conaill	3	3	0	0	31	24	+7	6
St Eunan's	3	2	1	0	51	29	+22	4
Malin	3	1	2	0	47	42	+5	2
Naomh Muire	3	0	3	0	30	64	-34	0

Round 1

• Naomh Muire 0-10, 0-12 Naomh Conaill, The Banks, 27/9/2014
• Malin 2-6, 1-17 St Eunan's, Connolly Park, 28/9/2014^[7]

Round 2

• Naomh Conaill 0-10, 0-7 Malin, Glenties, 4/10/2014^[8]
• St Eunan's 1-21, 1-5 Naomh Muire, O'Donnell Park, 5/10/2014^[9]

Round 3

• Naomh Muire 1-9, 6-10 Malin, Connolly Park, 12/10/2014
• Naomh Conaill 0-9, 0-7 St Eunan's, Glenties, 12/10/2014^[10]

Group 2

Team
Four Masters	3	2	0	1	48	27	+21	5
Ard an Rátha	3	1	0	2	35	34	+1	4
Seán Mac Cumhaills	3	1	1	1	35	41	-6	3
Glenfin	3	0	3	0	27	45	-18	0

Round 1

• Glenfin 0-8, 0-13 Seán Mac Cumhaills, Glenfin, 27/9/2014^[11]
• Four Masters 0-9, 0-9 Ard an Rátha, Pairc Tir Conaill, 28/9/2014^[12]

Round 2

• Seán Mac Cumhaills 0-9, 2-14 Four Masters, MacCumhaill Park, 4/10/2014^[13]
• Ard an Rátha 0-13, 1-9 Glenfin, Ard an Rátha, 5/10/2014^[14]

Round 3

• Seán Mac Cumhaills 0-13, 2-7 Ard an Rátha, MacCumhaill Park, 11/10/2014^[15]
• Glenfin 0-7, 2-13 Four Masters, Glenfin, 11/10/2014^[16]

Group 3

Team
An Clochán Liath	3	2	1	0	28	26	+2	4
Termon	3	1	1	1	30	31	-1	3
Gaoth Dobhair	3	1	1	1	32	31	+1	3
Na Cealla Beaga	3	0	1	2	24	26	-2	2

Round 1

• Na Cealla Beaga 1-6, 1-6 Gaoth Dobhair, Killybegs, 27/9/2014
• An Clochán Liath 0-11, 0-8 Termon, An Clochán Liath, 28/9/2014

Round 2:

• Gaoth Dobhair 1-8, 0-8 An Clochán Liath, Gaoth Dobhair, 5/10/2014
• Termon 0-8, 1-5 Na Cealla Beaga, Termon, 5/10/2014^[17]

Round 3:

• Termon 0-14, 1-9 Gaoth Dobhair, Termon, 12/10/2014
• An Clochán Liath 0-9, 0-7 Na Cealla Beaga, An Clochán Liath, 12/10/2014

Group 4

Team
Glenswilly	3	2	1	0	46	23	+23	4
St Michael's	3	2	1	0	41	18	+23	4
Cill Chartha	3	2	1	0	44	23	+21	4
Réalt na Mara	3	0	3	0	18	85	-67	0

Round 1

• St Michael's 4-10, 0-6 Réalt na Mara, Dunfanaghy, 27/9/2014
• Glenswilly 0-6, 0-9 Cill Chartha, Glenswilly, 28/9/2014

Round 2

• Réalt na Mara 0-9, 6-15 Glenswilly, Bundoran, 4/10/2014^[18]
• Cill Chartha 0-5, 2-8 St Michael's, 5/10/2014^[19]

Round 3

• Cill Chartha 5-15, 0-3 Réalt na Mara, Kilcar, 11/10/2014
• Glenswilly 1-4, 1-2 St Michael's, Glenswilly, 11/10/2014

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

• Four Masters 0-7, 2-10 St Eunan's, MacCumhaill Park, 18/10/2014^[20]
• An Clochán Liath 0-10, 1-13 St Michael's, MacCumhaill Park, 19/10/2014
• Glenswilly 3-9, 0-4 Termon, O'Donnell Park, 19/10/2014,^[21]
• Naomh Conaill 0-12, 1-9 Ard an Rátha, Tír Conaill Park, 19/10/2014^[22]

Quarter-final Replay

• Naomh Conaill 0-9, 1-5 Ard an Rátha, MacCumhaill Park, 22/10/2014^[23]

Semi-finals

• St Eunan's 1-12, 2-8 St Michael's, MacCumhaill Park, 26/10/2014
• Naomh Conaill 0-8, 0-10 Glenswilly, O'Donnell Park, 26/10/2014

Final

• St Eunan's 0-9, 0-6 Glenswilly, MacCumhaill Park, 2/11/2014^[24]

Final

Ahead of the final Glenswilly player and Donegal captain Michael Murphy was named Ireland captain for the 2014 International Rules Test, the second consecutive year this had happened.^[25]

Naomh Conaill lost a last ditch appeal to contest the final.^[26] Their grievance came from a black-card incident in their semi-final, involving Glenswilly's Ciaran Bonner. Glenswilly led the Glenties-based team by one point with two minutes of normal time remaining, when Bonner got the black card and was replaced by substitute Oisín Crawford. Bonner, Naomh Conaill maintained, was not eligible to be replaced as he had already picked up a yellow card.^[27]

Glenswilly lost.^[28]

Relegation play-offs

Relegation semi-finals

• Na Calla Beaga w, l Réalt na Mara, Tir Conaill Park, 19/10/2015,
• Naomh Mhuire w, l Glenfin, Glenswilly, 19/10/2015,

Relegation final

• Glenfin w, l Réalt na Mara

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

See main article: 2014 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and 2014–15 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

External links

• "Donegal Daily's Club Championship Team of the Year unveiled"

Notes and References

1. News: Donegal senior and intermediate championships to be parked until August?. Donegal Democrat. 7 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412180629/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/donegal-senior-and-intermediate-championships-to-be-parked-until-august-1-5468150. 12 April 2015.
2. News: Chris. McNulty. Clubbing together enables Jim McGuinness to prepare Donegal's finer details again. Donegal News. 12 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412180750/http://donegalnews.com/2014/09/clubbing-together-enables-jim-mcguinness-to-prepare-donegals-finer-details-again/. 12 April 2015.
3. News: Donegal clubs reaffirm stance on Championship schedule. Donegal News. 20 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412180925/http://donegalnews.com/2014/03/donegal-clubs-reaffirm-stance-on-championship-schedule/. 12 April 2015.
4. News: Donegal clubs agree to postpone club championship in 2014. Donegal Democrat. 10 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412181056/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/donegal-clubs-agree-to-postpone-club-championship-in-2014-1-5475290. 12 April 2015.
5. News: 'What is the norm?' — Jim McGuinness disappointed at coverage of Donegal club fixtures. Donegal News. 28 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412181400/http://donegalnews.com/2014/04/what-is-the-norm-jim-mcguinness-disappointed-at-coverage-of-donegal-club-fixtures/. 12 April 2015.
6. News: CCC confirm groups stages will remain in 2014 Donegal senior championship. Donegal News. 31 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412181625/http://donegalnews.com/2014/07/ccc-confirm-groups-stages-will-remain-in-2014-donegal-senior-championship/. 12 April 2015.
7. News: St. Eunan's vs Malin. 28 September 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412191247/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/st-eunan-s-open-championship-with-resounding-win-in-malin-1-6329529. 12 April 2015.
8. News: Naomh Conaill vs Malin. 4 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412191247/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/st-eunan-s-open-championship-with-resounding-win-in-malin-1-6329529. 12 April 2015.
9. News: St. Eunan's vs Naomh Mhuire. 5 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412191649/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/st-eunan-s-breeze-through-to-championship-quarter-finals-with-easy-win-over-naomh-muire-1-6340482. 12 April 2015.
10. News: Naomh Conaill vs St. Eunan's. 12 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412191827/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/naomh-conaill-come-out-on-top-against-st-eunan-s-in-low-key-championship-affair-1-6355019. 12 April 2015.
11. News: Seán MacCumhaills vs Glenfin. 27 September 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412191959/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/sean-maccumhaill-s-get-off-to-flying-start-in-championship-at-glenfin-1-6329609. 12 April 2015.
12. News: Four Masters vs Ardara. 28 September 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412192205/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/four-masters-and-ardara-end-all-square-1-6326434. 12 April 2015.
13. News: Four Masters vs Seán MacCumhaills. 4 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412192331/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/four-masters-post-fine-away-win-at-sean-maccumhaill-s-to-stay-on-track-in-the-championship-1-6340411. 12 April 2015.
14. News: Ardara vs Glenfin. 5 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412192617/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/ardara-edge-out-glenfin-1-6342946. 12 April 2015.
15. News: Ardara vs Seán MacCumhaills. 11 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412192803/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/ardara-cling-on-for-a-draw-to-advance-the-last-eight-in-the-senior-championship-1-6358159. 12 April 2015.
16. News: Four Masters vs Glenfin. 11 October 2014. fourmastersgaa.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412193015/http://www.fourmastersgaa.com/senior-men-through-to-quarter-finals/. 12 April 2015.
17. News: Termon vs Killybegs. 5 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412193139/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/late-conaghan-free-saves-termon-1-6342963. 12 April 2015.
18. News: Glenswilly vs Réalt na Mara. 4 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412193302/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/glenswilly-hand-lesson-to-bundoran-1-6342961. 12 April 2015.
19. News: St. Michael's vs Kilcar. 5 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412193414/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/st-michael-s-outsmart-kilcar-to-win-easily-1-6342939. 12 April 2015.
20. News: St. Eunan's vs Four Masters. 18 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412193738/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/st-eunan-s-stay-on-track-with-simple-sfc-quarter-final-over-four-masters-1-6369465. 12 April 2015.
21. News: Glenswilly vs Termon. 19 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412194011/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/glenswilly-stick-to-form-to-see-off-termon-and-book-sfc-semi-final-spot-1-6369458. 12 April 2015.
22. News: Naomh Conaill vs Ardara. 19 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412194247/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/frenetic-draw-means-naomh-conaill-and-ardara-must-meet-again-on-wednesday-1-6369899. 12 April 2015.
23. News: Naomh Conaill vs Ardara. 19 October 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412195010/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/naomh-conaill-overcome-neighbours-ardara-to-seal-donegal-sfc-semi-final-clash-with-glenswilly-1-6377756. 12 April 2015.
24. News: St. Eunan's vs Glenswilly. 2 November 2014. Donegal Democrat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412194811/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/st-eunan-s-reclaim-dr-maguire-cup-1-6393671. 12 April 2015.
25. News: Michael Murphy to captain Ireland in Australia. RTÉ. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412181837/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/international-rules/2014/1028/655299-irish-international-rules-side-to-be-named/. 12 April 2015.
26. News: Donegal final gets green light as Naomh Conaill appeal fails. RTÉ. 29 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412181950/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2014/1029/655654-naomh-conaill-to-appeal-result-of-club-semi/. 12 April 2015.
27. News: Donegal SFC Final in doubt as Naomh Conaill 'will' launch an appeal. 29 October 2014. 29 October 2014.
28. News: St Eunan's recapture Donegal SFC title as pressure finally tells on Glenswilly: Michael Murphy's side dethroned after tight game decided by late scoring burst. The Irish Times. 2 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412182116/http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/st-eunan-s-recapture-donegal-sfc-title-as-pressure-finally-tells-on-glenswilly-1.1985403. 12 April 2015.