After three games the Donegal senior championship has finally been decided in the most dramatic fashion, with Noamh Conaill beating reigning champions Gaoth Dobhair 0-8 to 0-7 courtesy of a John O'Malley point in the 60th minute.
With the sides deadlocked and time almost up, substitute O'Malley's shot was met with protests that the ball had actually gone wide but video footage would seem to indicate that it did indeed drop between the uprights.
— Rory Kavanagh (@123kav) October 30, 2019
Naomh Conaill were in their third county final in a row, having lost in 2017 to Kilcar and then to Gaoth Dobhair last year. It may have taken three bites at the cherry to avenge that defeat but the saga made it all the sweeter for countyman, Leo McLoone, who spoke to Highland Radio after the match:
The tough three games we had, to come out the other end of it is just an unbelievable feeling ... No one gave us a chance but I think that changed over the course of the games. I think we showed over the three games that we do have the players.
Defending Ulster champions, Gaoth Dobhair, lost Eamon McGee to a red card before the start of the second half and would go on to finish with 13 men when Odhran McFadden-Ferry was sent off as they searched for a late equaliser. Despite it being their first championship since 2015, Noamh Conaill's celebrations will have to be curtaile as they face a quick turnaround to the Ulster championship where they face Cavan champions, Castlerahan, on Sunday.
We previewed the whole weekend's GAA action on The Buildup podcast which you can subscribe to here or listen to the latest show below:
