The draw for the 2023 Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure senior football championship ensured a repeat of last year’s county final in the early rounds.
Holders Naomh Conaill will face the team they beat in the 2022 decider, St Eunan’s Letterkenny, in round two of the group stage following Thursday’s draw which was held at the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey.
Listen to draw reaction here from Gary Boyle (Naomh Conaill), Conor Cunningham (Kilcar), John McNulty (Aodh Ruadh) and Manus Boyle (Killybegs).
The format change to the senior championships means that 12 clubs will reach the knockout stages after the four round-robin games.
The top four clubs will qualify directly for the quarter-finals with the next eight teams contesting preliminary quarter-finals.
The bottom two clubs from each group will contest the relegation play-offs with one team to make the drop to intermediate football next season.
Donegal Senior Championship Draw 2023
Group A
Glenswilly
Milford
Glenfin
Kilcar
Gweedore
Four Masters
Killybegs
St Eunan’s
Group B
MacCumhaill’s
St Michael’s
Ardara
Naomh Conaill (holders)
Dungloe
Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon
St Naul’s
Cloughaneely.
Round 1 matches
Glenwilly v Ardara
Four Masters v Aodh Ruadh
St Eunan’s v St Naul’s
Glenfin v St Michael’s
Kilcar v Cloughaneely
Milford v Dungloe
Killybegs v Naomh Conaill (holders)
Gweedore v MacCumhaill’s
Round 2 matches
St Naul’s v Glenswilly
MacCumhaill’s v Killybegs
Naomh Conaill v St Eunan’s
Ardara v Glenfin
Aodh Ruadh v Gweedore
Dungloe v Four Masters
St Michael’s v Kilcar
Cloughaneely v Milford.
In the intermediate championship, several of the potential championship contenders find themselves in Group A, including Bundoran who were relegated from senior championship football last season.
Donegal Intermediate Championship draw
Group A
Downings
Naomh Bríd
Naomh Columba
Fanad Gaels
Termon
Bundoran
Group B
Malin
Burt
Red Hugh’s
Naomh Mhuire
Buncrana
Letterkenny Gaels.
The top four teams from each group will qualify for the intermediate quarter-finals.
