Leo McLoone stars as 14-man Naomh Conaill dethrone the Donegal champions

Naomh Conaill 0-11
St Eunan’s 0-10

DESPITE BEING REDUCED to 14 men and having a goal disallowed early in the second-half, Naomh Conaill are Donegal senior football champions for 2015.

The men from Glenties had a point to spare against defending champions St Eunan’s at the end of today’s SFC final at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

Naomh Conaill led by 0-4 to 0-2 midway through the first-half, but Eunan’s responded by hitting four unanswered points to storm into the lead.

Naomh Conaill’s Eoin Wade and Brendon McDyer levelled the game approaching half-time, but a Conal Dunne free edged Eunan’s ahead at the break.

Dunne added another just after the restart, but Eunan’s wouldn’t score again for 20 minutes. Donegal star Leo McLoone — who was man-of-the-match — appeared to have been awarded an advantage and then found the net for Naomh Conaill, but play was called back by the referee, with Dermot Molloy later pointing.

Naomh Conaill were reduced to 14 men in the 39th minute when substitute Eoghan McGettigan was sent off almost immediately after being introduced following a melee.

Lee McMonagle of St Eunan's is challenged by Anthony Thompson and Kevin McGettigan of Naomh Conaill. Presseye / Donna McBride/INPHO Presseye / Donna McBride/INPHO / Donna McBride/INPHO

McLoone and Molloy added further points for Naomh Conaill to put them into a one-point lead — 0-9 to 0-8 — with seven minutes remaining.

Caolan Ward hit right back from Eunan’s to level the game, but points from Johnny McLoone and Aaron Thompson opened up a two-point gap with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Rory Carr left a point between the teams by scoring a free as the game entered added time, but it was too little, too late, as Naomh Conaill held on for their third Donegal SFC title.

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