Founded 1920 | ||
Irish Craobh Peil Sinsear Dhún na nGall Most titles Gaoth Dobhair & Naomh Adhamhnáin (14 titles) Sponsors | ||
The Donegal Senior Football Championship, currently sponsored as the Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Donegal SFC, is an annual GAA competition between the highest-level Gaelic football clubs in Donegal. The winners qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship, the winners of which go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.
In recent years the final has been played at MacCumhail Park in Ballybofey. The most recent championship was won by Naomh Conaill, who defeated rivals St. Eunan's in the 2015 final. St. Eunan's and Naomh Conaill have formed "one of the most modern of Donegal rivalries", having regularly been the two best sides in the county in recent times, i.e. since the turn of the century.
History
The 1997 Donegal Senior Football Championship descended into controversy when Naomh Adhamhnáin, having beaten Aodh Ruadh in the final by a scoreline of 1-11 to 2-07, had the title stripped from them - after fielding an illegal player.
In 2002, Na Cealla Beaga were thrown out of the Championship at the semi-final stage after breaking the rules.
Jim McGuinness assisted Naomh Conaill to success in the 2000s before becoming an All-Ireland winning manager with Donegal. Naomh Conaill, as county champions, made it all the way to the final of the 2010 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship by defeating Cavan champions Kingscourt in the preliminary round, Monaghan champions Clontibret in the first round proper, and Tyrone champions Coalisland in the semi-final.
With interest in Gaelic football at an all-time high after the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, the Senior County Final was broadcast live on TG4.