2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship Explained

Competition:Donegal S.F.C.
Season:2019
Winners:Naomh Conaill (4th title)
Relegated:Malin
Continentalcup5:Ulster SCFC
Continentalcup5 Qualifiers:Gaoth Dobhair
Continentalcup1:All Ireland SCFC
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Gaoth Dobhair
Continentalcup2:Winning captain
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Ciarán Thompson
Continentalcup3:Man of the Match
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers:Ethan O'Donnell
Continentalcup4:Winning manager
Continentalcup4 Qualifiers:Martin Regan
Matches:??
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2020

The 2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 97th official edition of Donegal GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Donegal. 16 teams competed, with the winner representing Donegal in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship began with four groups of four, and continued with a knock-out format.

The defending Donegal (and Ulster) champion was Gaoth Dobhair, after the club defeated Naomh Conaill by a scoreline of 0–17 to 1–7 in the 2018 final. However, Gaoth Dobhair failed to defend its crown, losing the final to Naomh Conaill, by one point, after a second replay.

This was Glenfin's return to the senior grade after a two-year exodus, when claiming the 2018 I.F.C. title.

Malin suffered relegated back to the 2020 I.F.C. after 16 seasons in the top-flight, when losing its relegation final. Back in 2003, Malin gained promotion to the S.F.C. for the first time in the club's history. Although Malin lost the I.F.C. quarter-final to eventual champion St Michael's that year, the club earned promotion to Division 1 from Division 2 of the Donegal Leagues. At that time, promotion to the S.F.C. could be acquired through the leagues.

Team changes

[1] [2] [3]

The following teams changed division since the 2018 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from 2018 Donegal I.F.C.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2019 Donegal I.F.C.

Format

The 2019 County Championship took the same format as previous championships in which there was four groups of four with the top two qualifying for the quarter-finals. Bottom of each group play in relegation play-offs to decide which team is relegated the 2020 Intermediate championship.

Group stage

All 16 teams enter the competition at this stage. The top 2 teams in each group go into the Quarter-Finals while the bottom team of each group entered a Relegation Playoff.

Group A

Team
32014219+235
St Eunan's31023927+124
St Michael's31114839+93
30303276-440

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group B

Team
Naomh Conaill33005227+256
Na Cealla Beaga32104239+34
Seán Mac Cumhaills31205041+92
An Clochán Liath30303667-310

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group C

Team
Milford32104743+44
Glenfin31114844+43
31113644-83
31203737+02

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group D

Team
33007532+436
32105654+24
Termon31203753-162
30304170-290

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Knock-out stage

Final second replay

Relegation play-offs

Relegation final

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

See main article: 2019 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and 2019–20 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh

Ciarán Thompson was named as the recipient of the annual Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh.[4]

Television rights

The following matches were broadcast live on national television, unless otherwise indicated:

RoundRTÉTG4
Quarter-finals[5] St Eunan's v Milford
Cill Chartha v na Cealla Beaga
Semi-finalsCill Chartha v Gaoth Dobhair (deferred)
Final[6] Gaoth Dobhair v Naomh Conaill

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donegal Democrat Archives. 16 January 2019. Irishnewsarchive.com. 16 January 2019.
  2. Web site: Donegal GAA Club Draws. 24 March 2019. Highlandradio.com. 24 March 2019.
  3. Web site: Donegal HoganStand. 24 March 2019. Hoganstand.com. 24 March 2019.
  4. News: Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh do Chiarán Thompson. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. 20 November 2018. 26 November 2018.
  5. News: Chris. McNulty. Two Donegal SFC quarter-finals set for live TV coverage. 24 September 2019. 24 September 2019.
  6. News: Chris. McNulty. TG4 to show Donegal SFC final live. 10 October 2019. 10 October 2019.