2012 Donegal Senior Football Championship

The 2012 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 90th official edition of the Donegal GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Donegal.

2012 Donegal Senior Football Championship
2012 Craobh Sinsear Peile
Dhún na nGall
Tournament details
CountyDonegal
Year2012
Winners
ChampionsSt Eunan's (13th win)
ManagerEamon O'Boyle,
Brendan Devenney,
Michael McGeehin
CaptainMicheál Martin
Promotion/Relegation
Promoted team(s)Termon
Relegated team(s)St Naul's
← 2011
2013 →

Format

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There was a preliminary round. The first round involved eight two-legged ties played home and away. The eight winning clubs progressed to the quarter-finals, from which the four winning clubs progressed to the semi-finals, from which the two winning clubs progressed to the final.

The 2012 championship finished later than usual, postponed due to the senior Donegal county team's involvement in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, which Donegal won on 23 September 2012. The 2012 Donegal SFC got back underway a week later.[1] With interest in Gaelic football at an all-time high after the 2012 All-Ireland SFC final, the Donegal SFC final was broadcast live nationwide on TG4.[2]

Draw

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The draw for the first round (as well as a preliminary round) was made at the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta studios in Derrybeg.[3]

Bracket

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Preliminary Round First Round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Gaoth Dobhair 0-7
0-7
Gleann Suilli 0-9
2-9
Glenswilly 0-8
An Clochán Liath 2-7
An Clochán Liath 0-10
1-9
Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-7
0-9
An Clochán Liath 0-6
Cill Chartha 2-11
0-15
St Eunan's 3-6
Malin 0-6
0-10
Cill Chartha 1-8
10-1
2-5
St Eunan's 1-5
1-12
2-8
St Eunan's 2-15
Na Cealla Beaga 0-7
Na Cealla Beaga 0-10
0-10
1-13
Gaeil Fhanada 1-7
1-7
0-11
St Eunan's 1-7
Naomh Conaill 0-9
Glenfin 0-8
2-9
0-8
Réalt na Mara 2-10
1-11
1-11
Réalt na Mara? ?
Naomh Conaill ?
Naomh Conaill 1-9
0-12
St Naul's 0-3
0-6
Naomh Conaill 0-9
Four Masters 0-6
Ard an Rátha 0-7
0-11
0-5
Four Masters 0-9
1-7
0-12
Four Masters 0-9
1-15
St Michael's 0-9
1-8
St Michael's 3-19
1-15
Seán Mac Cumhaill s 1-6
1-8

Results

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Preliminary round

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5 May 2012
18:30
Cill Chartha 2-11 - 0-6 Malin Pairc Tamnaigh, Kilcar
Referee: Line: J. White/A. Mullen

2 June 2012
19:00
Malin 0-10 - 0-15 Cill Chartha Malin
Referee: Line: J. O'Donnell/P. McKeever

First round

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First leg

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29 September 2012
17:00
An Clochán Liath 0-10 - 0-7 Cloich Cheann Fhaola Dungloe
Referee: Line: M. McGlinchey/A. Boyd

29 September 2012
17:00
Gaeil Fhanada 1-7 - 0-10 Na Cealla Beaga Pairc Ui Shiail, Portsalon
Referee: Line: J. McGinley/B. Trearty

30 September 2012
15:00
Ard an Rátha 0-7 - 0-9 Four Masters Pairc na Phiarsaigh, Ardara
Referee: Line: P. McGowan/J. Brennan

30 September 2012
15:00
Réalt na Mara 2-10 - 0-8 Glenfin Gaelic Park, Bundoran
Referee: Line: G. O'Donnell/J. McGlanaghey

30 September 2012
15:00
Gaoth Dobhair 0-7 - 0-9 Gleann Suilli Machaire Gathlan
Referee: Line: L. McConigley/M. Dorrian

30 September 2012
15:00
St Eunan's 1-5 - 1-8 Cill Chartha O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny
Referee: Line: P. Clifford/P. McGonilge

30 September 2012
15:00
Naomh Conaill 1-9 - 0-3 St Naul's Davy Brennan Memorial Park, Glenties
Referee: Line: A. Mullin/R. McGonigle

30 September 2012
15:00
St Michael's 3-19 - 1-6 Seán Mac Cumhaills Pairc Naomh Mícheál
Referee: Line: P. McKeever/J. O'Donnell

Second leg

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6 October 2012
17:00
Cloich Cheann Fhaola 0-9 - 1-9 An Clochán Liath Pairc Naomh Fionnan, Falcarragh
Referee: Line: L. McConaigley/M. Dorrian

6 October 2012
17:00
Na Cealla Beaga 0-10 - 1-7 Gaeil Fhanada Fintra
Referee: Line: M. McShane/C. Doherty

6 October 2012
17:00
St Naul's 0-6 - 0-12 Naomh Conaill St Naul's
Referee: Line: J. McGlanaghey/A. Mullin

6 October 2012
17:00
Seán Mac Cumhaills 1-8 - 1-15 St Michael's MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Referee: Line: J. McGinley/B. Trearty

7 October 2012
15:00
Cill Chartha 10-1 - 1-12 St Eunan's Pairc Tamnaigh, Kilcar
Referee: Line: A Mullin/T Gallagher

7 October 2012
15:00
Glenfin 2-9 - 1-11 Réalt na Mara Pairc Ghleann Fhinne
Referee: Line: C. Doherty/C. Foy

7 October 2012
15:00
Glenswilly 2-9 - 0-7 Gaoth Dobhair Glenswilly
Referee: Line: D. Langan/E. McFeeley

7 October 2012
15:00
Four Masters 1-7 - 0-11 Ard an Rátha Four Masters
Referee: Line: E. McHale/R. McCallig

Play off/ extra time

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10 October 2012
20:00
Gaeil Fhanada 0-11 - 1-13 Na Cealla Beaga MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

10 October 2012
20:00
Glenfin 0-8 - 1-11 Réalt na Mara Ard an Rátha

11 October 2012
20:00
Ard an Rátha 0-5 - 0-12 Four Masters MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

11 October 2012
20:00
Cill Chartha 2-5 - 2-8 St Eunan's Naomh Muire - Convoy

Quarter-finals

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13 October 2012
16:30
Glenswilly 0-8 - 2-7 An Clochán Liath O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny

14 October 2012
15:45
Glenfin 1-10 - 0-5 Réalt na Mara MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

14 October 2012
15:45
Four Masters 0-9 - 0-9 St Michael's O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny

14 October 2012
17:15
St Eunan's 2-15 - 0-7 Na Cealla Beaga MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

Quarter-final replay

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18 October 2012
20:00
Four Masters 1-15 - 1-8 St Michael's MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

Semi-finals

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20 October 2012
20:00
An Clochán Liath 0-6 - 3-6 St Eunan's MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Report

21 October 2012
16:00
Naomh Conaill 0-9 - 0-6 Four Masters O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny
Referee: M. McShane (Kilcar)
D. Molloy (0-5, 1f),
D. Gallagher (0-2, 1f),
J. O'Malley (0-1),
C. Thompson (0-1)
Report M. Doherty (0-4, 2f, one 45),
S. Keeney (0-1),
C. McMonagle (0-1)

Final

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St Eunan's defeated Naomh Conaill in the final, held at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey on 4 November 2012.[4][5] The decisive goal in the final was scored by young Lee McMonagle in the 50th minute of the game, following a layoff from full-forward Ross Wherity, who received the ball via a long pass from Rory Kavanagh.[6] The teams were level on many occasions until Mark McGowan scored the winning point in freak circumstances. Brendan McDyer of opponents Naomh Conaill attempted to backpass to his goalkeeper Stephen McGrath, only for the ball to drift out for a '45'. McGowan stepped up to punish.[7] As the game ended he was photographed celebrating—stooped, wild-eyed with open mouth, sweat-soaked, bare thighs tensed, veins throbbing, mud-stained legs apart and clenched fists turned upwards.[8]

McDyer was still affected by his error years later.[9]

4 November 2012
16:00
Naomh Conaill 0-9 - 1-7 St Eunan's MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Referee: R. O'Donnell
L. McMonagle 1-1,
M. McGowan 0-2 (1 '45'),
R. Kavanagh 0-1,
C. Gibbons 0-1 (f),
S. McVeigh 0-1,
C. Dunne 0-1
D. Gallagher 0-5 (3f),
D. Molloy 0-2 (1f),
L. Thompson 0-1,
L. McLoone 0-1

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

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As Donegal SFC winner, Eunan's progressed to the Ulster Club SFC quarter-final at Armagh's Athletic Grounds the following week, where Crossmaglen Rangers won.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "GAA: County Championship results". 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  2. ^ "From Sam Maguire to Dr Maguire — St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill do battle in County Final". 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012. A huge crowd is expected at MacCumhaill Park at a time when Gaelic games in the county have never had a higher profile. Nothing beats being there, as the GAA slogan goes, but for the neutrals who can't be in Ballybofey, the game is live on TG4 from throw-in at 4pm.
  3. ^ McNulty, Chris (18 February 2012). "Glenswilly-Gaoth Dobhair the stand-out tie". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  4. ^ "DDTV: Video highlights of St. Eunan's win in the County Final". 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Mark McGowan the scoring hero as St Eunan's crowned Donegal SFC champions". TheScore.ie. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  6. ^ "McMonagle's goal turns the tide for Eunan's". Donegal Democrat. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  7. ^ Keys, Colm (5 November 2012). "Eunan's survive storm". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  8. ^ Keys, Colm (5 November 2012). "Eunan's accept Glenties gift in freak finish to Donegal final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  9. ^ McNulty, Chris (14 October 2015). "Brendan McDyer keen to banish the ghosts of 2012: 'It toughens you up, stuff like that'". Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  10. ^ Keys, Colm (12 November 2012). "Cross play it their way to thwart Eunan's". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
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