2021 Donegal Senior Football Championship


The 2021 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 99th 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.
Naomh Conaill was defending champion after defeating Cill Chartha in a penalty competition held after extra-time of the 2020 final.
Naomh Conaill advanced to the 2021 final, but lost to St Eunan's.

Team changes

The following teams changed division since the 2020 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from 2020 Donegal I.F.C.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2021 Donegal I.F.C.
  • ?

League stage

The competition began with a league stage. The draw for the first two rounds was held in June 2021, with the identity of the 2020 Championship winner still unknown, a first such event in the competition's history.

Fixtures

;Round 1
;Round 2
;Round 3
The Round 3 draw was made on 26 September, giving the following fixtures: Ard an Rátha v Kilcar, Seán MacCumhaills v Réalt na Mara, Naomh Conaill v Termon, St Naul's v Glenswilly, Gaoth Dobhair v Glenfin, Na Cealla Beaga v Milford, St Eunan's v Aodh Ruadh and Four Masters v St Michael's.
  • Ard an Rátha v Kilcar
  • Seán MacCumhaills v Réalt na Mara
  • Naomh Conaill v Termon
  • St Naul's v Glenswilly
  • Gaoth Dobhair v Glenfin
  • Na Cealla Beaga v Milford
  • St Eunan's v Aodh Ruadh
  • Four Masters v St Michael's
;Round 4
The Round 4 draw was made in early October, giving the following fixtures: Kilcar v Gaoth Dobhair, Aodh Ruadh v Ard an Rátha, Réalt na Mara v St Eunan's, Termon v Seán MacCumhaills, Glenswilly v Naomh Conaill, St Michael's v Na Cealla Beaga, Glenfin v Four Masters and Milford v St Naul's. Three clubs had by then advanced to the knockout stages – Gaoth Dobhair, Kilcar and Naomh Conaill. Going into Round 4, played on the weekend of October 9, St Eunan's, Glenswilly, St Naul's, St Michael's and Aodh Ruadh sat in the remaining five places.
  • St Michael's 3–10 — 1–07 Na Cealla Beaga
  • Termon 1–12 — 1–18 Seán MacCumhaills
  • Milford 0–09 — 2–16 St Naul's
  • Réalt na Mara 1–07 — 0–14 St Eunan's
  • Glenswilly 0–15 — 1–15 Naomh Conaill
  • Aodh Ruadh 1–16 — 2–07 Ard an Rátha
  • Glenfin 0–20 — 0–06 Four Masters
  • Kilcar v Gaoth Dobhair ?

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill, the last two clubs to win the competition, were paired with each other in the quarter-final draw. Seán MacCumhaills and Kilcar met in the other quarter-final on that side of the draw. On the other side of the draw St Eunan's and St Naul's played each other in one quarter-final, while St Michael's and Aodh Ruadh played each other in the other quarter-final.

Semi-finals

The semi-final meeting of Kilcar and Naomh Conaill was shown live to a national audience on TG4. Naomh Conaill won, after a late Patrick McBrearty goal that would have brought the sides level, was ruled out.

Final

It was Naomh Conaill's fifth consecutive appearance in the final. The game was televised live on TG4. A minute's silence was held before the game in memory of Martin Griffin, whose sudden death occurred the previous day. St Eunan's won.

Relegation play-offs

Eight clubs entered the draw for the relegation play-offs once the quarter-final line-up was confirmed.

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

St Eunan's advanced to the 2021 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.
Watty Graham's knocked St Eunan's out of that competition with an injury time point from Danny Tallon winning the game at O'Donnell Park, despite St Eunan's scoring the only goal and leading for much of the game and Shaun Patton saving a penalty.

Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh

Caolan Ward 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
Semi-finalsNaomh Conaill v Kilcar
FinalSt Eunan's v Naomh Conaill

Statistics

Top scorers

;Top scorer overall
RankPlayerClubTallyTotal
1Kane BarrettMilford2–2531
2Michael MurphyGlenswilly0–2828
2Cian McEniffRéalt na Mara2–2228
4Oisín GallenSeán MacCumhaills1–2326
5Gerard WardGlenfin0–2323
5Philip PattonAodh Ruadh0–2323
7Niall O'DonnellSt Eunan's1–1922
7Charles McGuinnessNaomh Conaill1–1922
7Patrick McBreartyKilcar1–1922
7Stephen McBreartyKilcar0–2222
11Michael LanganSt Michael's2–1521
11Daire McDaidTermon1–1821
13Eoin McGeehinSt Eunan's3–1019
14Peadar MoganSt Naul's0–1818
15Stefan BoyleArd an Rátha2–1117
15C. J. MolloyArd an Rátha2–1117
15Colm A. McFaddenSt Michael's1–1417
15Ryan McFaddenTermon0–1717