Kilcar 0-13 Naomh Conaill 2-7
(Naomh Conaill win 4-2 on penalties)
It took extra-time and penalties as Naomh Conaill retained the Donegal Championship title with a dramatic 4-2 shoot-out win over Kilcar in the delayed 2020 final at MacCumhaill Park.
After an absorbing contest dominated by Ciaran Thompson and Patrick McBrearty, it was left to Thompson to decide the contest after both Ryan and Mark McHugh had their penalties saved.
Thompson had scored a penalty at the other end in the first half and he decided the issue with the fifth penalty.
The win saw Naomh Conaill retain the title they won in 2019 and Thompson joined a unique band of players who have lifted the Dr Maguire Cup for a second successive time.
The first half was a cracker with the sides level at the break - Kilcar 0-06, Naomh Conaill 1-03 - with Thompson accounting for all of Naomh Conaill's scores.
The goal came just two minutes after the water break when a high ball from Leo McLoone led to full-forward Charles McGuinness being pushed and Thompson thundered the spot kick to the net.
Up to then it was point for point with Patrick McBrearty (2) and Eoin McHugh pointing for Kilcar and Thompson replying from a '45', free and one from play.
After the goal Kilcar slowly got back in the contest with Patrick McBrearty lively. He kicked a great point after a penetrating run and Matthew McClean and Ryan McHugh points had them back on terms.
It was still level at the second-half water break with just four points added - McBrearty with two frees for Kilcar while Charles McGuinness (free) and Kevin McGettigan responded for Naomh Conaill, who had a goal chance fisted just wide on 45 minutes.
An Ethan O'Donnell run won a free for Ciaran Thompson to point but Ciaran McGinley replied.
It looked as if Naomh Conaill were on their way when Kevin McGettigan first-timed to the net after Kilcar 'keeper Kevin Campbell had denied Charles McGuinness.
But McBrearty was determined that Kilcar would not go down without a fight. He won and pointed two frees while in between Ryan McHugh won a free for brother Mark to point.
It was back all square at Naomh Conaill 2-06 Kilcar 0-12 when referee Mark Dorrian blew for extra-time with many having another 90 seconds still to play.
There was just a point for both sides in extra-time and it was no surprise that it was Thompson and McBrearty who got them.
That meant a shoot-out and spot-kick joy for Naomh Conaill.
Kilcar: Kevin Campbell; Barry Shovlin, Pauric Carr, Barry McGinley; Ryan McShane, Ryan McHugh (0-01), Andrew McClean; Eoin McHugh (0-01), Ciaran McGinley (0-01); Conor Doherty, Matthew McClean (0-01, 1m), Stephen McBrearty; Mark McHugh (0-01, 1f), Patrick McBrearty (0-08, 4fs), Oran Doogan.
Subs: Ryan O'Donnell for Doogan (45) Cormac Cannon for B McGinley (49), Darragh O'Donnell for M McClean (54), Conor McShane for A McClean (62), Michael Hegarty for R O'Donnell (71), Jason Campbell for C McGinley (74), Matthew McClean for C Cannon (77).
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, AJ Gallagher, Kevin McGettigan (1-01); Ethan O'Donnell, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide; Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson (1-05, 1 '45', 2fs, 1-00 pen); Eunan Doherty, Odhran Doherty, Ciaran Brennan; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui, Charles McGuinness (0-01), Kieran Gallagher.
Subs: Brendan McDyer for C Brennan (38) Seamus Corcoran for U Doherty (47), Dermot Molloy for K Gallagher (52), Keelan McGill for Ethan O'Donnell (54), Jason Campbell for AJ Gallagher (61), Nathan Byrne for McGuinness (61), John O'Malley for O Doherty (64), Kieran Gallagher for Waide (64), Marty Boyle for Corcoran (80), Charles McGuinness for L McLoone (80).
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).
