{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Short description|none}} {{Infobox football league season |competition = [[Donegal Senior Football Championship|Donegal S.F.C.]] |sponsor = |season = 2016 |winners = [[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]] <br /> (3rd title) |relegated = [[Glenfin GAA|Glenfin]] |continentalcup1= [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship|Ulster SCFC]] |continentalcup1 qualifiers= ??? |continentalcup2=Winning captain |continentalcup2 qualifiers= [[Gary McFadden]] (Glenswilly) |continentalcup3=Man of the Match |continentalcup3 qualifiers= [[Michael Murphy (Gaelic footballer)|Michael Murphy]] (Glenswilly) |continentalcup4=Winning manager |continentalcup4 qualifiers= Michael Canning<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2017/08/02/donegal-gaa-who-are-the-contenders-to-succeed-rory-gallagher/|title=Donegal GAA – Who are the contenders to succeed Rory Gallagher?|work=Donegal Daily|date=2 August 2017|accessdate=2 August 2017|quote=McDaid was part of the backroom team of Michael Canning last year as Glenswilly regained their hold of the Donegal crown.}}</ref> |matches= ?? |prevseason= [[2015 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2015]] |nextseason= [[2017 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2017]] }} The '''2016 Donegal Senior Football Championship''' was the 94th official edition of the [[Donegal GAA]]'s premier club [[Gaelic football]] tournament for senior graded teams in [[County Donegal]]. The tournament consisted of 16 teams, with the winner going on to represent Donegal in the [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship]].
[[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]] was defending champion after defeating [[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]] by a scoreline of 0–11 to 0–10 in the [[2015 Donegal Senior Football Championship#Final|2015 final]]. However, the club relinquished its crown when losing to [[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]] at the semi-final stage.
This was [[CLG Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]]'s return to the senior grade after making the straight bounce back up from the I.F.C. since being [[Promotion and relegation|relegate]]d in 2014.
On 16 October 2016, [[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]] claimed its third S.F.C. title when defeating [[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]] in the final in [[MacCumhaill Park]] 1-10 to 0-12.
[[Glenfin GAA|Glenfin]] was relegated to the 2017 I.F.C. after losing a replay of the relegation final to [[CLG Na Cealla Beaga|Na Cealla Beaga]], thus ending a 15-year stay in the top flight of Donegal football.
==Team changes== <ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/Default.aspx#panel=document|title=Donegal Democrat Archives|date=16 January 2018|work=Irishnewsarchive.com|accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref>
The following teams changed division since the 2015 championship season. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===To S.F.C.=== '''Promoted from 2015 [[Donegal Intermediate Football Championship|Donegal I.F.C.]]''' * [[CLG Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]] – (I.F.C. Champions)
{{col-2}}
===From S.F.C.=== '''Relegated to 2016 [[Donegal Intermediate Football Championship|Donegal I.F.C.]]''' * [[CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola|Cloich Cheann Fhaola]] {{col-end}}
==Format== The 2016 championship took the same format as the 2015 championship, in which there were four groups of four clubs, with the top two clubs qualifying for the quarter-finals. The club finishing bottom in each group contested relegation play-offs to determine which team would be relegated to the 2017 [[Donegal Intermediate Football Championship]].
==Group stage==
===Group 1=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:175px;"|Team !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pld | Played }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | W | Won }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | L | Lost }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | D | Draw }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PF | Points For }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PA | Points Against }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PD | Point Difference }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points }} |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]] |3||2||1||0||40||25||+15||'''4''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[CLG An Clochán Liath|An Clochán Liath]] |3||2||1||0||44||35||+9||'''4''' |- |[[CLG Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]] |3||1||2||0||32||51||-19||'''2''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[CLG Ard an Rátha|Ard an Rátha]] |3||1||2||0||36||41||-5||'''2''' |}
{{Col-2}} '''Round 1:''' * '''An Clochán Liath 2-11''', 0-7 Réalt na Mara, An Clochán Liath, 14/5/2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/dungloe-begin-championship-season-comfortable-win-bundoran/|title=Dungloe begin Championship season with comfortable win over Bundoran|first=Chris|last=McNulty|date=15 May 2016}}</ref> * '''Ard an Rátha 0-8''', 0-6 Glenswilly, Ard an Rátha, 15/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/22926-2/|title=Ardara overcome Glenswilly but injury doubt over Paddy McGrath|date=15 May 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 2:''' * '''Réalt na Mara 1-15''', 0-13 Ard an Rátha, Bundoran, 27/8/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28276-2/|title=Bundoran play themselves back into championship with win over Ardara|date=27 August 2016}}</ref> * '''Glenswilly 1-10''', 0-10 An Clochán Liath, Glenswilly, 28/8/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/neil-gallagher-returns-glenswilly-get-back-track-dungloe/|title=Neil Gallagher returns as Glenswilly get back on track against Dungloe|first=Alan|last=Foley|date=28 August 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 3:''' * Réalt na Mara 0-7, '''3-12 Glenswilly''', Bundoran, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/michael-murphy-returns-help-glenswilly-progress-resounding-win-bundoran/|title=Michael Murphy returns to help Glenswilly progress with resounding win at Bundoran|first=Charlie|last=Collins|date=4 September 2016}}</ref> * '''An Clochán Liath 0-17''', 2-9 Ard an Rátha, An Clochán Liath, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28646-2/|title=Injury time penalty save sends Dungloe through at Ardara's expense|date=4 September 2016}}</ref>
{{Col-end}}
===Group 2=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:175px;"|Team !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pld | Played }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | W | Won }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | L | Lost }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | D | Draw }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PF | Points For }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PA | Points Against }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PD | Point Difference }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points }} |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]] |3||2||0||1||58||27||+31||'''5''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]] |3||2||0||1||56||44||+12||'''5''' |- |[[St Michael's GAA (Donegal)|St Michael's]] |3||2||1||0||46||52||-6||'''2''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[CLG Na Cealla Beaga|Na Cealla Beaga]] |3||0||3||0||24||63||-39||'''0''' |}
{{Col-2}} '''Round 1'''' * St Eunan's 0-13, 1-10 Cill Chartha, [[O'Donnell Park]], 15/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/ryan-mchughs-late-free-grabs-draw-kilcar-st-eunans/|title=Ryan McHugh's late free grabs draw for Kilcar at St Eunan's|first=Alan|last=Foley|date=15 May 2016}}</ref> * '''St Michael's 2-13''', 0-8 Na Cealla Beaga, Dunfanaghy, 15/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/22954-2/|title=St Michael's come good to see off Killybegs at the Bridge|first=Alan|last=Foley|date=15 May 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 2''' * '''St Eunan's 2-14''', 1-6 Na Cealla Beaga, Na Cealla Beaga, 27/8/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28279-2/|title=St Eunan's storm to victory against Killybegs|first=Alan|last=Foley|date=27 August 2016}}</ref> * '''Cill Chartha 2-15''', 0-7 St Michael's, Cill Chartha, 28/8/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/kilcar-blitz-st-michaels-towney-sfc/|title=Kilcar blitz St Michael's in Towney in SFC with McBrearty brothers goaling|first=Charlie|last=Collins|date=28 August 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 3''' * Na Cealla Beaga 0-7, '''0-24 Cill Chartha''', Na Cealla Beaga, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28658-2/|title=Kilcar power past Killybegs to win Group B in SFC|date=4 September 2016}}</ref> * St Michael's 2-14, '''3-14 St Eunan's''', Dunfanaghy, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28625-2/|title=St Eunan's make SFC last eight following dramatic win at St Michael's|first=Alan|last=Foley|date=4 September 2016}}</ref>
{{Col-end}}
===Group 3=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:175px;"|Team !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pld | Played }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | W | Won }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | L | Lost }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | D | Draw }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PF | Points For }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PA | Points Against }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PD | Point Difference }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points }} |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Malin GAA|Malin]] |3||2||0||1||52||39||+13||'''5''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[CLG Seán Mac Cumhaills|Seán Mac Cumhaills]] |3||2||1||0||59||45||+14||'''4''' |- |[[CLG Naomh Muire|Naomh Muire]] |3||1||1||1||44||44||+0||'''3''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[Glenfin GAA|Glenfin]] |3||0||3||0||40||67||-27||'''0''' |}
{{Col-2}} '''Round 1''' * '''Malin 2-9''', 1-9 Seán Mac Cumhaills, Connolly Park, 15/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/malin-burst-coupons-vital-home-win-maccumhaills/|title=Malin burst the coupons with vital home win over MacCumhaills|first=Chris|last=McNulty|date=15 May 2016}}</ref> * '''Naomh Muire 3-7''', 0-11 Glenfin, Glenfin, 15/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/goals-key-naomh-muire-overcome-glenfin/|title=Goals the key as Naomh Muire overcome Glenfin|first=Chris|last=McNulty|date=15 May 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 2''' * '''Seán Mac Cumhaills 3-16''', 1-10 Glenfin, [[MacCumhaill Park]], 27/8/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28265-2/|title=Kelly's eye for goal sets MacCumhaills up for derby win over Glenfin|first=Chris|last=McNulty|date=27 August 2016}}</ref> * Naomh Muire 1-8, 1-8 Malin, The Banks, 28/8/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/naomh-muire-malin-cant-separated-banks/|title=Naomh Muire and Malin can't be separated at the Banks|date=28 August 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 3''' * '''Seán Mac Cumhaills 4-10''', 0-17 Naomh Muire, [[MacCumhaill Park]], 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28630-2/|title=Six off as MacCumhaills edge Naomh Muire to quarter-final spot|first=Chris|last=McNulty|date=4 September 2016}}</ref> * '''Malin 2-20''', 1-13 Glenfin, Malin, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28644-2/|title=Malin confirm top spot in Group C of SFC with win over Glenfin|date=4 September 2016}}</ref>
{{Col-end}}
===Group 4=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:175px;"|Team !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pld | Played }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | W | Won }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | L | Lost }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | D | Draw }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PF | Points For }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PA | Points Against }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | PD | Point Difference }} !width="20"|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points }} |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]] |3||3||0||0||65||30||+35||'''6''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Termon GAA|Termon]] |3||2||1||0||38||40||-2||'''4''' |- |[[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] |3||1||2||0||38||50||-12||'''2''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[Four Masters GAA|Four Masters]] |3||0||3||0||43||64||-21||'''0''' |}
{{Col-2}} '''Round 1''' * '''Naomh Conaill 1-11''', 1-2 Termon, Glenties, 14/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/injury-termon-player-mars-game-naomh-conaill-get-off-winning-start/|title=Injury to Termon player mars game as Naomh Conaill get off to winning start|date=14 May 2016}}</ref> * '''Gaoth Dobhair 2-12''', 1-9 Four Masters, Gweedore, 15/5/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/gaoth-dobhairs-fine-form-continues-sfc-win-four-masters/|title=Gaoth Dobhair's fine form continues with SFC win over Four Masters|first=Charlie|last=Collins|date=15 May 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 2''' * '''Termon 1-11''', 0-9 Gaoth Dobhair, Termon, 27/8/16 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28262-2/|title=Termon spring a surprise as Sweeney goal seals win over Gaoth Dobhair|first=Charlie|last=Collins|date=27 August 2016}}</ref> * Four Masters 1-11, '''5-12 Naomh Conaill''', Pairc Tir Conaill, 28/8/16 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/naomh-conaill-blow-away-four-masters/|title=Five-star Naomh Conaill blow away Four Masters|date=28 August 2016}}</ref>
'''Round 3''' * '''Termon 2-13''', 2-11 Four Masters, Termon, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28609-2/|title=Termon's hot-streak sees them past Four Masters and into last eight|first=Alan|last=Foley|date=3 September 2016}}</ref> * '''Naomh Conaill 2-18''', 0-11 Gaoth Dobhair, Glenties, 4/9/2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/28601-2/|title=Naomh Conaill cruise into quarter-finals as Gaoth Dobhair make their exit|first=Charlie|last=Collins|date=3 September 2016}}</ref>
{{Col-end}}
==Knockout stage==
===Last Eight=== {{8TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes | RD1=Quarter-finals | RD2=Semi-finals | RD3=Final | score-width= 35 | RD1-team1= '''[[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]]''' | RD1-score1= '''1-13''' | RD1-team2= [[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]] | RD1-score2= 1-8 | RD1-team3= '''[[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]]''' | RD1-score3= '''0-19''' | RD1-team4= [[Termon GAA|Termon]] | RD1-score4= 0-4 | RD1-team5= '''[[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]]''' | RD1-score5= '''2-20''' | RD1-team6= [[CLG Seán Mac Cumhaills|Seán Mac Cumhaills]] | RD1-score6= 1-14 | RD1-team7= '''[[Malin GAA|Malin]]''' | RD1-score7= '''0-13''' | RD1-team8= [[CLG An Clochán Liath|An Clochán Liath]] | RD1-score8= 1-8 | RD2-team1= [[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]] | RD2-score1= 1-11 | RD2-team2= '''[[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]]''' | RD2-score2= '''5-10''' | RD2-team3= '''[[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]]''' | RD2-score3= '''0-9''' | RD2-team4= [[Malin GAA|Malin]] | RD2-score4= 0-7 | RD3-team1= [[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]] | RD3-score1= 0-12 | RD3-team2= '''[[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]]''' | RD3-score2= '''1-10''' }}
'''Quarter-finals''' * '''Cill Chartha 0-19''', 0-4 Termon, [[MacCumhaill Park]], 24/9/2016, * '''Glenswilly 2-20''', 1-14 Seán Mac Cumhaills, [[O'Donnell Park]], 24/9/2016, * '''Naomh Conaill 1-13''', 1-8 St Eunan's, [[MacCumhaill Park]], 25/9/2016, * '''Malin 0-13''', 1-8 An Clochán Liath, [[O'Donnell Park]], 25/9/2016,
'''Semi-finals''' * '''Cill Chartha 5-10''', 1-11 Naomh Conaill, [[MacCumhaill Park]], 2/10/2016, * '''Glenswilly 0-9''', 0-7 Malin, [[O'Donnell Park]], 2/10/2016,
===Final=== {{football box | date = 16 October 2016 | time = 15:30 | round = Final | team1 = [[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]] | score = 1-10 – 0-12 | team2 = [[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]] | goals1 = Michael Murphy 1-5 (0-3f, 0-1 '45), Ciaran Gibbons 0-2, Brian Farrelly, Gary McFadden (0-1f), Darren McGinley 0-1 each | goals2 = Patrick McBrearty 0-5 (0-4f), Ryan McHugh 0-3 (0-2f), Michael Hegarty, Stephen McBrearty (0-1 f), Conor Doherty, Ciaran Bonner 0-1 each | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = Shaun McLaughlin ([[Malin GAA|Malin]])<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/referees-confirmed-senior-senior-b-championship-finals/|title=Referees confirmed for Senior and Senior B Championship finals|date=8 October 2016|access-date=8 October 2016}}</ref> | motm = [[Michael Murphy]] | report = [https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/1016/824534-murphy-inspires/ Report] | attendance = }} <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/30684-2/|title=Michael Murphy on fire as Glenswilly defeat Kilcar in Donegal SFC final|first=Chris|last=McNulty|date=16 October 2016}}</ref>
==Relegation playoffs==
===Relegation Semi-finals=== * '''Four Masters 1-13''', 0-7 Glenfin, Killygordon, 24/9/2016 * '''Ard an Rátha 1-9''', 1-5 Na Cealla Beaga, Dunkineely, 25/9/2016
===Relegation final=== * Na Cealla Beaga 1-11, 2-8 Glenfin, [[O'Donnell Park]], 15/10/2016, * '''Na Cealla Beaga 2-13''', 1-6 Glenfin, [[O'Donnell Park]], 22/10/2016, ('''Replay''')
==Ulster Senior Club Football Championship== {{Main|2016 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship|2016–17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship}}
==Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh== [[Michael Murphy (Gaelic footballer)|Michael Murphy]] was named as the recipient of the inaugural [[Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/rnag/articles/sceala/2016/1205/836606-gradam-sheamuis-mhic-geidigh-do-michael-murphy/|title=Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh do Michael Murphy|publisher=[[RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta]]|date=5 December 2016|access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2016}}
[[Category:2016 senior Gaelic football county championships|Donegal Senior Football Championship]] [[Category:Donegal Senior Football Championship]]