Naomh Conaill outclass Gaoth Dobhair 1-16 to 1-8 in Donegal Football Final

Naomh Conaill retained the Donegal Football title as they outclassed Gaoth Dobhair 1-16 to 1-8 in the final at MacCumhaill Park.

Donegal club football has a reputation for turgid fare but Naomh Conaill produced a superb display of running football and long-range score taking.

The Glenties men had 11 different scorers with their goal coming in the second half from Charles McGuinness.

All six starting Naomh Conaill forwards notched scores from play.

They had stars all over the pitch with wing-back Ethan O'Donnell deservedly named man of the match after the most effective of displays and Ciaran Thompson also outstanding, with his 0-3 far from his only contribution to Naomh Conaill's dominant victory.

In contrast, Gweedore's big names failed to fire with Odhran MacNiallais failing to make an impression on the contest and the two McGees Neil and Eamon also unable to stem the tide.

Sunday's match was a record seventh straight Donegal final for the Glenties club, with them having won the title in 2019, 2020 and last year during that spell.

A magnificent Odhran Doherty score started a run of three quickfire Niamh Conaill points

But this was surely the most impressive of all Naomh Conaill's county final triumphs as they clinched a seventh Dr Maguire Cup.

O'Donnell's run set up an immediate free for John O'Malley in the first minute and Naomh Conaill's pressing up on Daithi Roberts' kickouts caused Gweedore all manner of difficulty early on.

A sensational effort with the outside of his right boot by Odhran Doherty started a run of three long-range scores in 90 seconds to put Naomh Conaill 0-5 to 0-0 up by the 10th minute, with the other quickfire scores coming from Brendan McDyer and another veteran Anthony Thompson.

Michael Roarty finally opened Gweedore's account in the 12th but Daire O Baoill's 24th-minute point was their only other first-half score as two more glorious Ciaran Thompson efforts helped extend Naomh Conaill's lead to 0-9 to 0-2 by the interval, with the Gaeltacht men having corner-forward Cian Mac an tSaoi black carded just before the interval for an off-the-ball challenge.

An immediate Michael Carroll score hinted at an improved Gaoth Dobhair second-half showing but instead another magnificent Ciaran Thompson score after he ran the length of the pitch, started another period of Naomh Conaill dominance as they extended their lead to 0-13 to 0-4 by the 42nd minute.

Man of the match O'Donnell's brilliant run set up McGuinness' 46th-minute goal and while Gweedore substitute Feargal Delaney bundled in a late goal it was scant consolation for the Gaeltacht men.

McCarron stars in Scotstown's Farney triumph

In Monaghan, Jack McCarron's six points helped Scotstown clinch an eighth football title in 11 seasons as their 0-17 to 0-14 win at Clones dashed Inniskeen's hopes of a first triumph in 75 years.

Man of the match McCarron is in his first season of action for Scotstown following his transfer from his native Currin last winter.

Three McCarron scores contributed to Scotstown's early 0-4 to 0-2 lead before Inniskeen levelled at 0-5 apiece and while the favourites led by 0-11 to 0-7 shortly before half-time, points from Andrew Woods and Ciaran McNulty cut the margin to only two by the interval.

Inniskeen levelled at 0-12 to 0-12 and then 0-13 to 0-13 before points from McCarron and his fellow Monaghan star Conor McCarthy put Scotstown two ahead by the 47th minute.

And after a Mattie Maguire score, McCarron's final point in the 65th minute put four between the sides with a Sean Jones point Inniskeen's only scoring response in the remaining nine minutes of action.

Oisin Pierson hit Gowna's third goal in their dominant Cavan Final win over Kingscourt

Gowna clinched a 10th Cavan Football title as they hammered Kingscourt 5-15 to 0-13 at Kingspan Breffni.

Kingscourt led 0-6 to 0-2 early on only for two goals in as many minutes from man of the match Ryan Brady and Darragh McConnon to suddenly put Gowna ahead.

Another goal from Oisin Pierson seconds before half-time left Gowna 3-5 to 0-8 up at the interval.

Tiarnan Madden's major extended Gowna's advantage to 4-6 to 0-9 shortly after the resumption and the same player soon palmed in the winners' fifth goal to ensure that the outcome was decided long before the finish.

SUNDAY'S CLUB GAA RESULTS

Fermanagh SFC Final

Derrygonnelly 2-8 Erne Gaels 0-9

Monaghan SFC Final

Scotstown 0-17 Inniskeen 0-14

Armagh SFC Final

Crossmaglen 2-16 Clan na Gael 1-7

Down SHC Final

Portaferry 0-20 Ballycran 0-16

Donegal SFC Final

Naomh Conaill 1-16 Gaoth Dobhair 1-8

Cavan SFC Final

Gowna 5-15 Kingscourt 0-13