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 (and Ulster) 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. Glenfin - (I.F.C. Champions)
From S.F.C. Relegated to 2019 Donegal I.F.C. Burt
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
TeamGaoth Dobhair 32014219+235St Eunan's31023927+124St Michael's31114839+93Ard an Rátha 30303276-440
Round 1 Ard an Rátha 2-10, 4-18 St Michael's, 7/9/2019 Gaoth Dobhair 1-3, 0-6 St Eunan's, 8/9/2019
Round 2 St Michael's 1-3, 1-8 Gaoth Dobhair, 14/9/2019 St 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
TeamNaomh Conaill33005227+256Na Cealla Beaga32104239+34Seán Mac Cumhaills31205041+92An Clochán Liath30303667-310
Round 1 Seán Mac Cumhaills 5-14, 1-18 An Clochán Liath, 7/9/2019 Naomh Conaill 1-15, 1-9 Na Cealla Beaga, 8/9/2019
Round 2 An Clochán Liath 1-3, 2-16 Naomh Conaill, 14/9/2019 Na Cealla Beaga 2-8, 1-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills, 15/9/2019
Round 3 Naomh Conaill 0-12, 0-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills, 21/9/2019 Na Cealla Beaga 0-16, 0-9 An Clochán Liath, 21/9/2019
Group C
TeamMilford32104743+44Glenfin31114844+43Glenswilly 31113644-83Four Masters 31203737+02
Round 1 Four Masters 0-10, 0-14 Milford, 7/9/2019 Glenfin 1-11, 0-14 Glenswilly, 8/9/2019
Round 2 Milford 1-17, 3-8 Glenfin, 14/9/2019, Glenswilly 0-6, 2-11 Four Masters, 15/9/2019
Round 3 Glenfin 1-14, 1-7 Four Masters, 22/9/2019 Glenswilly 1-13, 2-7 Milford, 22/9/2019
Group D
TeamCill Chartha 33007532+436Réalt na Mara 32105654+24Termon31203753-162Malin 30304170-290
Round 1 Termon 0-11, 0-12 Réalt na Mara, 8/9/2019 Cill Chartha 3-16, 0-7 Malin, 8/9/2019
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, 22/9/2019 Cill Chartha 3-18, 1-6 Termon, 22/9/2019
Knock-out stage Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Final replay
Final second replay
Relegation play-offs Relegation semi-finals
Relegation final
Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
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: Round RTÉ TG4 Quarter-finals St Eunan's v MilfordCill Chartha v na Cealla Beaga Semi-finals Cill Chartha v Gaoth Dobhair (deferred) Final Gaoth Dobhair v Naomh Conaill
References