Naomh Conaill won the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure senior football championship title on Wednesday night in Ballybofey after John O’Malley’s controversial late score gave them a 0-8 to 0-7 win against 13-man Gweedore.
Listen to the postmatch celebrations and interviews at MacCumhaill as it happened on Ocean FM Sport:
O’Malley’s decisive score was eventually flagged as a point by the umpires, although television pictures suggested the kick had gone wide.
Over the balance of the hour, Naomh Conaill were the better side. They led a gripping first half by 0-5 to 0-4 with Gweedore’s Eamon McGee receiving a red card before the start of the second-half, following an incident at the end of the opening 30 minutes.
The defending champions were reduced to 13 players later near the end when Odhrán McFadden-Ferry was dismissed.
But after losing the previous two Donegal county finals, Naomh Conaill’s grit and determination saw them lift the Dr Maguire Cup for the fourth time in the club’s history.
Martin Regan’s side are now scheduled to play Cavan champions Castlerahan in the Ulster Club Championship this Sunday Nov 3rd at Kingspan Breffni (2:30pm).
