2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship


The 2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 97th official edition of Donegal GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Donegal. 16 teams competed, with the winner representing Donegal in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship began with four groups of four, and continued with a knock-out format.
The defending Donegal champion was Gaoth Dobhair, after the club defeated Naomh Conaill by a scoreline of 0–17 to 1–7 in the 2018 final. However, Gaoth Dobhair failed to defend its crown, losing the final to Naomh Conaill, by one point, after a second replay.
This was Glenfin's return to the senior grade after a two-year exodus, when claiming the 2018 I.F.C. title.
Malin suffered relegated back to the 2020 I.F.C. after 16 seasons in the top-flight, when losing its relegation final. Back in 2003, Malin gained promotion to the S.F.C. for the first time in the club's history. Although Malin lost the I.F.C. quarter-final to eventual champion St Michael's that year, the club earned promotion to Division 1 from Division 2 of the Donegal Leagues. At that time, promotion to the S.F.C. could be acquired through the leagues.

Team changes

The following teams changed division since the 2018 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from 2018 Donegal I.F.C.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2019 Donegal I.F.C.

Format

The 2019 County Championship took the same format as previous championships in which there was four groups of four with the top two qualifying for the quarter-finals. Bottom of each group play in relegation play-offs to decide which team is relegated the 2020 Intermediate championship.

Group stage

All 16 teams enter the competition at this stage. The top 2 teams in each group go into the Quarter-Finals while the bottom team of each group entered a Relegation Playoff.

Group A

Team
Gaoth Dobhair32014219+235
St Eunan's31023927+124
St Michael's31114839+93
Ard an Rátha30303276-440

Round 1
Round 2
  • St Michael's 1-3, 1-8 Gaoth Dobhair, 14/9/2019St Eunan's 1-18, 1-6 Ard an Rátha, 15/9/2019
Round 3
  • Ard an Rátha 0-7, 2-19 Gaoth Dobhair, 22/9/2019
  • St Michael's 0-12, 0-12 St Eunan's, 22/9/2019

Group B

Team
Naomh Conaill33005227+256
Na Cealla Beaga32104239+34
Seán Mac Cumhaills31205041+92
An Clochán Liath30303667-310

Round 1Seán Mac Cumhaills 5-14, 1-18 An Clochán Liath, 7/9/2019Naomh Conaill 1-15, 1-9 Na Cealla Beaga, 8/9/2019
Round 2
  • An Clochán Liath 1-3, 2-16 Naomh Conaill, 14/9/2019Na Cealla Beaga 2-8, 1-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills, 15/9/2019
Round 3Naomh Conaill 0-12, 0-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills, 21/9/2019Na Cealla Beaga 0-16, 0-9 An Clochán Liath, 21/9/2019

Group C

Team
Milford32104743+44
Glenfin31114844+43
Glenswilly31113644-83
Four Masters31203737+02

Round 1
Round 2Milford 1-17, 3-8 Glenfin, 14/9/2019,
  • Glenswilly 0-6, 2-11 Four Masters, 15/9/2019
Round 3Glenfin 1-14, 1-7 Four Masters, 22/9/2019Glenswilly 1-13, 2-7 Milford, 22/9/2019

Group D

Team
Cill Chartha33007532+436
Réalt na Mara32105654+24
Termon31203753-162
Malin30304170-290

Round 1
Round 2
  • Réalt na Mara 1-13, 1-20 Cill Chartha, 15/9/2019
  • Malin 1-11, 0-17 Termon, 15/9/2019
Round 3
  • Malin 2-14, 2-22 Réalt na Mara, 22/9/2019Cill Chartha 3-18, 1-6 Termon, 22/9/2019

Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh

Ciarán Thompson was named as the recipient of the annual Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh.

Television rights

The following matches were broadcast live on national television, unless otherwise indicated:
RoundRTÉTG4
Quarter-finalsSt Eunan's v Milford
Cill Chartha v na Cealla Beaga
Semi-finalsCill Chartha v Gaoth Dobhair
FinalGaoth Dobhair v Naomh Conaill