2016 Donegal Senior Football Championship Explained

Competition:	Donegal S.F.C.
Season:	2016
Winners:	Glenswilly (3rd title)
Relegated:	Glenfin
Continentalcup1:	Ulster SCFC
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:	???
Continentalcup2:	Winning captain
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:	Gary McFadden (Glenswilly)
Continentalcup3:	Man of the Match
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers:	Michael Murphy (Glenswilly)
Continentalcup4:	Winning manager
Continentalcup4 Qualifiers:	Michael Canning^[1]
Matches:	??
Prevseason:	2015
Nextseason:	2017

The 2016 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 94th official edition of the Donegal GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Donegal. The tournament consisted of 16 teams, with the winner going on to represent Donegal in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.

Naomh Conaill was defending champion after defeating St Eunan's by a scoreline of 0–11 to 0–10 in the 2015 final. However, the club relinquished its crown when losing to Cill Chartha at the semi-final stage.

This was Réalt na Mara's return to the senior grade after making the straight bounce back up from the I.F.C. since being relegated in 2014.

On 16 October 2016, Glenswilly claimed its third S.F.C. title when defeating Cill Chartha in the final in MacCumhaill Park 1-10 to 0-12.

Glenfin was relegated to the 2017 I.F.C. after losing a replay of the relegation final to Na Cealla Beaga, thus ending a 15-year stay in the top flight of Donegal football.

Team changes

^[2]

The following teams changed division since the 2015 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from 2015 Donegal I.F.C.

• Réalt na Mara – (I.F.C. Champions)

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2016 Donegal I.F.C.

• Cloich Cheann Fhaola

Format

The 2016 championship took the same format as the 2015 championship, in which there were four groups of four clubs, with the top two clubs qualifying for the quarter-finals. The club finishing bottom in each group contested relegation play-offs to determine which team would be relegated to the 2017 Donegal Intermediate Football Championship.

Group stage

Group 1

Team
Glenswilly	3	2	1	0	40	25	+15	4
An Clochán Liath	3	2	1	0	44	35	+9	4
Réalt na Mara	3	1	2	0	32	51	-19	2
Ard an Rátha	3	1	2	0	36	41	-5	2

Round 1:

• An Clochán Liath 2-11, 0-7 Réalt na Mara, An Clochán Liath, 14/5/2016^[3]
• Ard an Rátha 0-8, 0-6 Glenswilly, Ard an Rátha, 15/5/2016 ^[4]

Round 2:

• Réalt na Mara 1-15, 0-13 Ard an Rátha, Bundoran, 27/8/2016 ^[5]
• Glenswilly 1-10, 0-10 An Clochán Liath, Glenswilly, 28/8/2016 ^[6]

Round 3:

• Réalt na Mara 0-7, 3-12 Glenswilly, Bundoran, 4/9/2016 ^[7]
• An Clochán Liath 0-17, 2-9 Ard an Rátha, An Clochán Liath, 4/9/2016 ^[8]

Group 2

Team
Cill Chartha	3	2	0	1	58	27	+31	5
St Eunan's	3	2	0	1	56	44	+12	5
St Michael's	3	2	1	0	46	52	-6	2
Na Cealla Beaga	3	0	3	0	24	63	-39	0

Round 1'

• St Eunan's 0-13, 1-10 Cill Chartha, O'Donnell Park, 15/5/2016 ^[9]
• St Michael's 2-13, 0-8 Na Cealla Beaga, Dunfanaghy, 15/5/2016 ^[10]

Round 2

• St Eunan's 2-14, 1-6 Na Cealla Beaga, Na Cealla Beaga, 27/8/2016 ^[11]
• Cill Chartha 2-15, 0-7 St Michael's, Cill Chartha, 28/8/2016 ^[12]

Round 3

• Na Cealla Beaga 0-7, 0-24 Cill Chartha, Na Cealla Beaga, 4/9/2016 ^[13]
• St Michael's 2-14, 3-14 St Eunan's, Dunfanaghy, 4/9/2016 ^[14]

Group 3

Team
Malin	3	2	0	1	52	39	+13	5
Seán Mac Cumhaills	3	2	1	0	59	45	+14	4
Naomh Muire	3	1	1	1	44	44	+0	3
Glenfin	3	0	3	0	40	67	-27	0

Round 1

• Malin 2-9, 1-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills, Connolly Park, 15/5/2016 ^[15]
• Naomh Muire 3-7, 0-11 Glenfin, Glenfin, 15/5/2016 ^[16]

Round 2

• Seán Mac Cumhaills 3-16, 1-10 Glenfin, MacCumhaill Park, 27/8/2016 ^[17]
• Naomh Muire 1-8, 1-8 Malin, The Banks, 28/8/2016 ^[18]

Round 3

• Seán Mac Cumhaills 4-10, 0-17 Naomh Muire, MacCumhaill Park, 4/9/2016 ^[19]
• Malin 2-20, 1-13 Glenfin, Malin, 4/9/2016 ^[20]

Group 4

Team
Naomh Conaill	3	3	0	0	65	30	+35	6
Termon	3	2	1	0	38	40	-2	4
Gaoth Dobhair	3	1	2	0	38	50	-12	2
Four Masters	3	0	3	0	43	64	-21	0

Round 1

• Naomh Conaill 1-11, 1-2 Termon, Glenties, 14/5/2016 ^[21]
• Gaoth Dobhair 2-12, 1-9 Four Masters, Gweedore, 15/5/2016 ^[22]

Round 2

• Termon 1-11, 0-9 Gaoth Dobhair, Termon, 27/8/16 ^[23]
• Four Masters 1-11, 5-12 Naomh Conaill, Pairc Tir Conaill, 28/8/16 ^[24]

Round 3

• Termon 2-13, 2-11 Four Masters, Termon, 4/9/2016 ^[25]
• Naomh Conaill 2-18, 0-11 Gaoth Dobhair, Glenties, 4/9/2016 ^[26]

Knockout stage

Last Eight

Quarter-finals

• Cill Chartha 0-19, 0-4 Termon, MacCumhaill Park, 24/9/2016,
• Glenswilly 2-20, 1-14 Seán Mac Cumhaills, O'Donnell Park, 24/9/2016,
• Naomh Conaill 1-13, 1-8 St Eunan's, MacCumhaill Park, 25/9/2016,
• Malin 0-13, 1-8 An Clochán Liath, O'Donnell Park, 25/9/2016,

Semi-finals

• Cill Chartha 5-10, 1-11 Naomh Conaill, MacCumhaill Park, 2/10/2016,
• Glenswilly 0-9, 0-7 Malin, O'Donnell Park, 2/10/2016,

Final

^[27]

Relegation playoffs

Relegation Semi-finals

• Four Masters 1-13, 0-7 Glenfin, Killygordon, 24/9/2016
• Ard an Rátha 1-9, 1-5 Na Cealla Beaga, Dunkineely, 25/9/2016

Relegation final

• Na Cealla Beaga 1-11, 2-8 Glenfin, O'Donnell Park, 15/10/2016,
• Na Cealla Beaga 2-13, 1-6 Glenfin, O'Donnell Park, 22/10/2016, (Replay)

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

See main article: 2016 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and 2016–17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh

Michael Murphy was named as the recipient of the inaugural Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh.^[28]

Notes and References

1. News: Chris. McNulty. Donegal GAA – Who are the contenders to succeed Rory Gallagher?. Donegal Daily. 2 August 2017. 2 August 2017. McDaid was part of the backroom team of Michael Canning last year as Glenswilly regained their hold of the Donegal crown..
2. Web site: Donegal Democrat Archives. 16 January 2018. Irishnewsarchive.com. 16 January 2018.
3. Web site: Dungloe begin Championship season with comfortable win over Bundoran. Chris. McNulty. 15 May 2016.
4. Web site: Ardara overcome Glenswilly but injury doubt over Paddy McGrath. 15 May 2016.
5. Web site: Bundoran play themselves back into championship with win over Ardara. 27 August 2016.
6. Web site: Neil Gallagher returns as Glenswilly get back on track against Dungloe. Alan. Foley. 28 August 2016.
7. Web site: Michael Murphy returns to help Glenswilly progress with resounding win at Bundoran. Charlie. Collins. 4 September 2016.
8. Web site: Injury time penalty save sends Dungloe through at Ardara's expense. 4 September 2016.
9. Web site: Ryan McHugh's late free grabs draw for Kilcar at St Eunan's. Alan. Foley. 15 May 2016.
10. Web site: St Michael's come good to see off Killybegs at the Bridge. Alan. Foley. 15 May 2016.
11. Web site: St Eunan's storm to victory against Killybegs. Alan. Foley. 27 August 2016.
12. Web site: Kilcar blitz St Michael's in Towney in SFC with McBrearty brothers goaling. Charlie. Collins. 28 August 2016.
13. Web site: Kilcar power past Killybegs to win Group B in SFC. 4 September 2016.
14. Web site: St Eunan's make SFC last eight following dramatic win at St Michael's. Alan. Foley. 4 September 2016.
15. Web site: Malin burst the coupons with vital home win over MacCumhaills. Chris. McNulty. 15 May 2016.
16. Web site: Goals the key as Naomh Muire overcome Glenfin. Chris. McNulty. 15 May 2016.
17. Web site: Kelly's eye for goal sets MacCumhaills up for derby win over Glenfin. Chris. McNulty. 27 August 2016.
18. Web site: Naomh Muire and Malin can't be separated at the Banks. 28 August 2016.
19. Web site: Six off as MacCumhaills edge Naomh Muire to quarter-final spot. Chris. McNulty. 4 September 2016.
20. Web site: Malin confirm top spot in Group C of SFC with win over Glenfin. 4 September 2016.
21. Web site: Injury to Termon player mars game as Naomh Conaill get off to winning start. 14 May 2016.
22. Web site: Gaoth Dobhair's fine form continues with SFC win over Four Masters. Charlie. Collins. 15 May 2016.
23. Web site: Termon spring a surprise as Sweeney goal seals win over Gaoth Dobhair. Charlie. Collins. 27 August 2016.
24. Web site: Five-star Naomh Conaill blow away Four Masters. 28 August 2016.
25. Web site: Termon's hot-streak sees them past Four Masters and into last eight. Alan. Foley. 3 September 2016.
26. Web site: Naomh Conaill cruise into quarter-finals as Gaoth Dobhair make their exit. Charlie. Collins. 3 September 2016.
27. Web site: Michael Murphy on fire as Glenswilly defeat Kilcar in Donegal SFC final. Chris. McNulty. 16 October 2016.
28. News: Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh do Michael Murphy. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. 5 December 2016. 5 December 2016.