This year’s instalment of the competition will start two days after the 2020 Championship comes to an end as August’s delayed final between Naomh Conaill and CLG Chill Chartha is set to be replayed.

The championship will be made up of 16 sides including both 2020 finalists and 2020 Donegal Intermediate Football Championship winners Aodh Ruadh.

The Donegal SFC will begin with a league phase that takes place over four consecutive weekends.

The top eight will make the quarter-finals which will be played on the weekend of October 17 with the semi-finals scheduled a week after on the weekend of October 24.

The bottom eight teams will contend the relegation playoffs, with the format for the playoffs yet to be decided by Donegal GAA’s Competitions Controls Committee (CCC).

In the event of a team retirement due to Covid 19 in the Championship stage, a team from the relegation playoffs will take their place – neither side will be at risk of relegation.

The 2021 Donegal SFC final is penned in for the weekend of November 7, meaning that the 2020 winners will possibly have their title for less than two months.

Naomh Conaill are the holders after they won the 2019 Donegal SFC after two replays and will be hoping to enter the 2021 Championship with the title of champion tied to their name.

Chill Chartha will want to change that and make themselves the favourites to retain their crown, should they win the delayed 2020 final.

The pair are the favourites for the 2021 title with both of them at 5/2 at the bookies.

Aodh Ruadh make their return to the senior level of football in the county after their triumph over Cloughaneely in O’Donnell Park last September.

With a Division 1 return also sealed for next season, the side could be one to watch throughout the Championship.

Aodh Ruadh are 33/1 outsiders but the Ballyshannon club could spring an upset.

The 2021 Michael Murphy Sports Senior Football Championship gets underway when Sean McCumhaill welcome St Michael’s to Pairc Sheain McCumhaill.

A list of all teams involved can be seen below.

Teams

Ardara

St Michael’s

CLG Naomh Náille

CLG An Tearmainn

Four Masters

Gaoth Dobhair

Gleann Fhinne

CLG Na Cealla Beaga

Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon

Naomh Conaill

CLG Chill Chartha

Sean Mac Cumhaill

Milford

Naomh Ádhamhnáin/St Eunan’s

Gleann tSúilí

Realt na Mara CLG

Fixtures and Results

Round 1

Sun, 12 Sept, Eamonn Byrne Memorial Park, Na Cealla Beaga 1-7 – 1-13 Gleann tSúilí, 13.30
Sun, 12 Sept, Pearse Memorial Park, Ard an Ratha 1-10 – 2-6 Realt na Mara, 15.00
Sun, 12 Sept, Machaire Gathlán, Gaoth Dobhair 4-21 – 2-7 Milford, 15.30
Sun, 12 Sept, Páirc Ui Dhomhnaill, St Eunans 1-12 – 1-14 Cill Chartha, 18.00

Sat, 18 Sept, Davy Brennan Memorial Park, Naomh Conaill v Gleann Fhinne, 14.00
Sun, 19 Sept, Páirc Gearoid Ó’Gallochoir, CLG Naomh Náille v An Tearmainn, 14.00

Sun, 19 Sept, Páirc Tírconaill, Four Masters v Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon, 14:00

Sun, 19 Sept, Páirc Sheáin MhicCumhaill, Sean Mac Cumhaill v St Michaels, 16.00

Round 2

Sat, 25 Sept, Moyle Park, Milford – Ardara, 15.00

Sat, 25 Sept, The Bridge, St Michael’s – Gaoth Dobhair, 15.30

Sat, 25 Sept, Termon, An Tearmainn – St Eunan’s, 16.00

Sat, 25 Sept, Gaelic Park, Realt Na Mara CLG – CLG Na Cealla Beaga, 16.30

Sun, 26 Sept, Pairc Naomh Columba, Gleann tSúilí – Sean Mac Cumhaill, 14.00

Sun, 26 Sept, Pairc Taobhoige, Gleann Fhinne – CLG Naomh Náille, 14.00

Sun, 26 Sept, Father Tierney Park, Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon – Naomh Conaill, 14.00

Sun, 26 Sept, Pairc Taobhoige, CLG Chill Chartha – Four Masters, 17.30

Odds 

CLG Chill Chartha 5/2

Naomh Conaill 5/2

Gaoth Dobhair 3/1

Naomh Ádhamhnáin/St Eunan’s 4/1

St Michael’s 14/1

Sean Mac Cumhaills 16/1

Gleann tSúilí 20/1

CLG Réalt na Mara 25/1

Aodh Ruadh 33/1

Gleann Fhinne 50/1

Milford 50/1

CLG Na Cealla Beaga 66//1

Four Masters 66/1

Naomh Náille 66/1

An Tearmainn 100/1

Ardara 100/1

The post Donegal Senior Football Championship 2021 – Preview, Fixtures, Odds appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The side will contest their first All-Ireland in three years and will hope to win their first Sam Maguire since 2018.

Conor McKenna scored a brace and super-sub Conor McShane put up 1-3 to help their side book a date with Mayo on Sunday, September 11.

The win rounds up a month in which Tyrone suffered a Covid outbreak and the GAA were forced to postpone the fixture twice, as well as the All-Ireland final – a game initially scheduled to be played on Sunday, August 29.

Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher’s side got off to a slow start but took the driver’s seat after Kerry’s opening scores and maintained their lead for the rest of the half.

Kerry star David Clifford lost the ball and Peter Harte capitalised, with the ball eventually finding McKenna who put it past Shane Ryan for the first goal of the game.

Goalkeeper Niall Morgan scored from far out to add the side’s tenth point just before the half-time whistle and give Tyrone a marginal lead.

Kerry were frustrated time and time again by Tyrone’s defensive system and energy – boss Peter Keane got his side to adopt this system for the rest of the game.

The change initially paid off with both sides struggling to break each other down but Kerry’s powerful attack, which had scored 87 points in the championship this season leading up to the game, gave the Munster champions the advantage in the third quarter.

Tyrone kept within a goal of Keane’s side and were rewarded for their hard work with a late second goal putting them a point ahead of the 37-time All-Ireland winners with two minutes of regular time to go.

McShane punched the ball in after fellow substitute Darragh Canavan had his shot saved.

Sean O’Shea levels it before Darren McCurry and David Clifford trade blows for their side, with nothing to separate them after 70 minutes.

Clifford was replaced before the start of extra-time after an eight-point performance kept the side in the game.

However, without him, Tyrone began to pull away after another scoring spree, this time on the other side of the end of regular time, got the side a third goal.

McKenna got his second of the day to give the Ulster champions a five-point lead and the Munster champions a mountain to climb.

Logan and Dooher’s side scored 1-2 on either side of the full-time whistle (of regular time) to regain control.

Tyrone never let go of the lead but Kerry did their best to earn it back with four points bringing them just short of forcing penalties.

Tyrone persevered and will face Connacht champions and 2020 All-Ireland finalists Mayo in the biggest fixture of the footballing calendar on Sunday, September 11.

The post Tyrone Book Place In All-Ireland Final With ET Victory Over Kerry appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Rule 2.4(ii) of the GAA’s official guide says that only three substitutes can be used in extra-time – Kilcar is claiming that their opponents used four in this period.

Naomh Conaill retained their county championship crown after a 4-2 penalty shootout victory against Kilcar.

Kilcar’s appeal was lodged with the Donegal GAA’s Competitions Controls Committee (CCC) on Tuesday evening.

The Donegal Competitions’ Controls Committee (CCC) has confirmed it has been in communication with the 2020 Donegal SFC runners-up.

The CCC will meet in due course to discuss the objection and will then notify the Naomh Conaill club, who will, in turn, have three days to reply.

If the outcome of the appeal is in favour of Kilcar, the game could either be awarded to Kilcar or replayed, or Naomh Conaill could be fined for their actions.

The game in Ballybofey on Saturday went to penalties after two ten-minute periods of extra-time could not separate the sides.

Ciaran Thompson was the hero on the night for the victors as he slotted home the winning penalty following a strong individual performance.

The Donegal forward carried the club on the attacking end with a 1-5 performance, including a first-half penalty.

The 26-year-old scored all of his team’s points in the first half as the sides went in level at the break at 0-6 to 1-3.

His side went on to win the tie and make him one of the few players to win the Dr Maguire Cup two times in a row.

Paddy McBrearty kept Kilcar in the game when their opponents threatened to pull away and helped the side to a penalty shoot-out with the defending champions.

Ryan and Mark McHugh missed their penalties and gave Thompson the golden opportunity, which he converted.

However, the result could come undone if the appeal is successful.

The post Kilcar Appeal 2020 Donegal SFC Final appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The final four in the All-Ireland Football Championship is the same teams as 1920.

Here is the line-up. #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/KlCAMFKlXL

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 22, 2020

Ulster SFC Final – Cavan 1-13 Donegal 0-12

Cavan have won the Ulster Championship for the first time in 23 years. Against all odds they beat Donegal in Sunday’s final, retribution after losing last year’s final.

Cavan started the game the stronger of the two, taking a three point lead after the first ten minutes. However, this came to a halt after 12 minutes when Killian Brady was shown a black card and Cavan were down to 14 men. The tide turned in Donegal’s favour and they took a two point lead heading into halftime.

The second half was an even contest, with both sides squandering decent chances. Cavan regained the lead, albeit a very tight lead, right up until the 70^th minute with the gap at one point. Then came the decisive goal. Donegal keeper Patton palmed a floating ball straight to Conor Madden who made no mistake and sealed the historic win for his county.

The goal that sealed it for Cavan! They are the 2020 Ulster SFC champions https://t.co/kfLRwu2j0L #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/QRsA4QN5X3

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 22, 2020

Munster SFC Final – Tipperary 0-17 Cork 0-14

Another final day upset and another win doused in history. Tipperary won their first Munster Championship in 85 years. Yet the win was even more special for Tipp as it came on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when one of their owners, Mick Horgan, lost his life in Croke Park.

Despite Cork’s heroic win over Kerry, Tipperary, like Cavan, looked more up for it from the first whistle. After three minutes, the first three points were on the board and belonged to Tipp. Cork fought back with Ian Maguire leading the charge. A brief spell of dominance resulted in them taking the lead. But not for long. Tipp’s Michael Quinlivan put his stamp on the game, inspiring his team to a four point lead at halftime.

Both sides exchanged blows in the second half. Tipperary started the half strong, whilst Cork came back with a flurry of points. However, their efforts were in vain as Tipp held on knowing history was being made.

The moment Tipperary ended an 85-year wait for Munster Football final glory #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/4asOiLZEnZ

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 22, 2020

Leinster SFC Final – Dublin 3-21 Meath 0-9

A dominant display from reigning All-Ireland Champions Dublin who made it 10-in-a-row for Leinster Championships. It was a repeat of last years’ final, as Dublin defeated Meath by 21 points to clinch the trophy and mark the momentous anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Dean Rock led the scoring for Dublin with 1-7, with all of the attacking line adding their name to the scoresheet. An early point from Meath was not a sign of things to come as the Dubs had the game wrapped up by halftime, leading 2-13 to 0-2.

In a weekend filled with drama, another Championship final upset was not to be as Dublin cruised to victory in the second half. They will face Ulster Champions Cavan in the first of the semi-finals.

Niall Scully palms in the third goal as Dublin complete a 21-point win over Meath to win their 10th successive Leinster football title and their 15th in 16 years – watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/Hz4mMiwkYS

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 21, 2020

Mayo take the fourth semi-final spot after their narrow win over Galway in the Connacht SFC Final last weekend. They will face Munster Champions Tipperary in the second semi-final.

All-Ireland Semi-Finals

Dublin vs Cavan (Saturday December 5^th – 5.30pm)

Mayo vs Tipperary (Sunday December 6^th – 3.30pm)

The post Provincial Football Finals: Historic Wins for Cavan, Tipperary and Dublin appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.