2018 Donegal Senior Football Championship

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Short description|none}} {{Infobox football league season |competition = [[Donegal Senior Football Championship|Donegal S.F.C.]] |sponsor = |season = 2018 |winners = [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] (15th title) |relegated = [[Burt GAA|Burt]] |continentalcup5= [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship|Ulster SCFC]] |continentalcup5 qualifiers= [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] |continentalcup1= [[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|All Ireland SCFC]] |continentalcup1 qualifiers= [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] |continentalcup2=Winning captain |continentalcup2 qualifiers= Niall Friel |continentalcup3=Man of the Match |continentalcup3 qualifiers= [[Odhrán Mac Niallais]] |continentalcup4=Winning manager |continentalcup4 qualifiers= Mervyn O'Donnell |matches= ?? |prevseason= [[2017 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2017]] |nextseason= [[2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2019]] }}

The '''2018 Donegal Senior Football Championship''' was the 96th official edition of [[Donegal GAA]]'s premier [[Gaelic football]] tournament for senior graded clubs in [[County Donegal]]. Sixteen 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 draws were made on 24 March 2018.

The defending champion was [[CLG Chill Chartha|Cill Chartha]], which defeated [[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]] by a scoreline of 0–7 to 0–4 in the [[2017 Donegal Senior Football Championship#Final|2017 final]]. However, the club had to play the competition without two of its county stars, [[Patrick McBrearty]] and [[Ryan McHugh]]. On 26 September 2018, it was announced that McHugh had accepted medical advice and would be sidelined for the remainder of the year due to [[concussion]].<ref name=rte_concussion_out_for_rest_of_year>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0926/998217-ryan-mchughs-out-for-rest-of-year-due-to-concussion/|title=Ryan McHugh out for rest of year due to concussion|work=RTÉ Sport|date=26 September 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927142848/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0926/998217-ryan-mchughs-out-for-rest-of-year-due-to-concussion/|archivedate=27 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=concussion_balls_ends_season>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Farrelly|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/concussion-ends-ryan-mchugh-season-397427|title=Concussion Ends Ryan McHugh's Season|work=Ball.ie|date=26 September 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927143040/https://www.balls.ie/gaa/concussion-ends-ryan-mchugh-season-397427|archivedate=27 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=highland_takes_break_medical_advice/> His injury came while playing for his club in a challenge match against Dublin champions [[St Vincents GAA|St Vincents]] in Cavan in late August 2018 — he received a blow to the head during that match.<ref name=independent_second_concussion/><ref name=highland_takes_break_medical_advice/> Concussion had also caused McHugh to spend six weeks on the sideline following a [[2018 National Football League (Ireland)|2018 National Football League]] game (against Kildare<ref name=highland_takes_break_medical_advice/> or Tyrone<ref name=rte_concussion_out_for_rest_of_year/><ref name=concussion_balls_ends_season/> depending on which report you read) earlier that year.<ref name=independent_second_concussion>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Roche|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/ryan-mchugh-ruled-out-for-remainder-of-2018-after-suffering-second-concussion-37357165.html|title=Ryan McHugh ruled out for remainder of 2018 after suffering second concussion|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=26 September 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=highland_takes_break_medical_advice>{{cite news|url=http://www.highlandradio.com/2018/09/26/ryan-mchugh-takes-break-under-medical-advice/|title=Ryan McHugh takes break under medical advice|work=Highland Radio|date=26 September 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926144609/http://www.highlandradio.com/2018/09/26/ryan-mchugh-takes-break-under-medical-advice/|archivedate=26 September 2018}}</ref> The injury meant he could take no part in the 2018 Donegal SFC (of which his club was defending champion), news which was worsened when taken in the context of the earlier loss of McHugh's club and county teammate McBrearty to a [[cruciate ligament]] injury.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/breaking-ryan-mchugh-ruled-rest-club-championship/|title=Breaking: Ryan McHugh ruled out for rest of club championship|work=Donegal Sport Hub|date=26 September 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927143924/http://www.donegalsporthub.com/breaking-ryan-mchugh-ruled-rest-club-championship/|archivedate=27 September 2018}}</ref>

This was the year [[Oisín Gallen]] made his senior club championship debut.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oceanfm.ie/2023/12/13/oisin-gallen-wins-gradam-sheamuis-mhic-geidigh/|title=Oisín Gallen wins Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh|publisher=[[Ocean FM (Ireland)|Ocean FM]]|date=13 December 2023|access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref>

This was Milford's return to the senior grade following [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] in the mid-1990s, after claiming the 2017 Donegal I.F.C. title.

On 21 October 2018, Gaoth Dobhair claimed its 15th S.F.C. title by defeating Naomh Conaill by a scoreline of 0–17 to 1–7 at [[MacCumhaill Park]].

[[Burt GAA|Burt]] was relegated back to the 2019 I.F.C. after just two seasons in the top-flight, when losing its relegation final to newly promoted Milford.

==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> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://donegalgaa.ie/2018/03/correction-on-senior-championship-draw/|title=Donegal GAA Club Draws|date=24 March 2018|work=Donegalgaa.ie|accessdate=24 March 2018|archive-date=25 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232848/http://donegalgaa.ie/2018/03/correction-on-senior-championship-draw/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The following teams changed division since the 2017 championship season. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===To S.F.C.=== '''Promoted from 2017 [[Donegal Intermediate Football Championship|Donegal I.F.C.]]''' * Milford - (I.F.C. Champions)

{{col-2}}

===From S.F.C.=== '''Relegated to 2018 [[Donegal Intermediate Football Championship|Donegal I.F.C.]]''' * [[CLG Naomh Muire|Naomh Muire]] {{col-end}}

==Format== The 2018 championship took the same format as previous championships, 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 2019 [[Donegal Intermediate Football Championship]].

==Group stage== All 16 clubs entered the competition at this stage. The top two clubs in each group advanced to the quarter-finals, while the club that finished bottom in each group entered a relegation play-off. This year, all clubs played one home match, one away match and one match at a neutral venue.

===Group A=== {{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 Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]] |3||2||1||0||49||41||+8||'''4''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]] |3||2||1||0||43||37||+6||'''4''' |- |[[CLG Ard an Rátha|Ard an Rátha]] |3||2||1||0||42||39||+3||'''4''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[Burt GAA|Burt]] |3||0||3||0||24||41||-9||'''0''' |}

'''Round 1'''

{{GAA match | date = 9/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Ardara | score = 2-6 - 0-10 | team2 = Glenswilly | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Ard an Rátha | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 9/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Réalt na Mara | score = 1-11 - 0-5 | team2 = Burt | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Bundoran | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 2'''

{{GAA match | date = 16/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Burt | score = 0-11 - 1-12 | team2 = Ard an Rátha | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Burt | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 16/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Glenswilly | score = 2-15 - 2-11 | team2 = Réalt na Mara | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Glenswilly | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 3'''

{{GAA match | date = 23/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Glenswilly | score = 1-9 - 1-5 | team2 = Burt | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Glenswilly | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 23/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Ard an Rátha | score = 4-3 - 2-12 | team2 = Réalt na Mara | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Ard an Rátha | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

{{Col-end}}

===Group B=== {{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 Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] |3||3||0||0||32||20||+12||'''6''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]] |3||2||1||0||46||27||+19||'''4''' |- |[[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]] |3||1||2||0||32||26||+6||'''2''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[CLG An Clochán Liath|An Clochán Liath]] |3||0||3||0||20||47||-27||'''0''' |}

'''Round 1'''

{{GAA match | date = 8/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Naomh Conaill | score = 4-16 - 0-6 | team2 = An Clochán Liath | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Glenties | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 9/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = St Eunan's | score = 1-6 - 0-10 | team2 = Gaoth Dobhair | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[O'Donnell Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 2'''

{{GAA match | date = 15/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = An Clochán Liath | score = 0-4 - 1-11 | team2 = St Eunan's | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = An Clochán Liath | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 16/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Gaoth Dobhair | score = 0-12 - 0-6 | team2 = Naomh Conaill | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Gaoth Dobhair | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 3'''

{{GAA match | date = 23/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Naomh Conaill | score = 1-9 - 0-9 | team2 = St Eunan's | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Glenties | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 23/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = An Clochán Liath | score = 0-5 - 0-10 | team2 = Gaoth Dobhair | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = An Clochán Liath | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

{{Col-end}}

===Group C=== {{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;" |[[St Michael's GAA (Donegal)|St Michael's]] |3||3||0||0||62||24||+38||'''6''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[Four Masters GAA|Four Masters]] |3||1||2||0||33||36||-3||'''2''' |- |[[Malin GAA|Malin]] |3||1||2||0||38||47||-9||'''2''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |[[Termon GAA|Termon]] |3||1||2||0||36||62||-26||'''2''' |}

'''Round 1'''

{{GAA match | date = 8/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Termon | score = 0-9 - 3-16 | team2 = St Michael's | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Termon | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 9/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Four Masters | score = 1-10 - 0-6 | team2 = Malin | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Pairc Tir Conaill | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 2'''

{{GAA match | date = 15/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Malin | score = 3-12 - 1-7 | team2 = Termon | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Malin | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 16/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = St Michael's | score = 0-13 - 0-4 | team2 = Four Masters | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Dunfanaghy | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 3'''

{{GAA match | date = 22/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Termon | score = 3-8 - 3-7 | team2 = Four Masters | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Termon | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 22/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = St Michael's | score = 2-18 - 0-11 | team2 = Malin | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Dunfanaghy | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

{{Col-end}}

===Group D=== {{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||3||0||0||54||36||+18||'''6''' |- style="background:#cfc;" |[[CLG Seán Mac Cumhaills|Seán Mac Cumhaills]] |3||2||1||0||59||52||+7||'''4''' |- |[[CLG Na Cealla Beaga|Na Cealla Beaga]] |3||1||2||0||39||46||-7||'''2''' |- style="background:#fcf;" |Milford |3||0||3||0||41||59||-17||'''0''' |}

'''Round 1'''

{{GAA match | date = 8/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Milford | score = 1-16 - 4-13 | team2 = Seán Mac Cumhaills | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Milford | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 9/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Na Cealla Beaga | score = 0-11 - 2-9 | team2 = Cill Chartha | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Na Cealla Beaga | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 2'''

{{GAA match | date = 16/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Seán Mac Cumhaills | score = 3-12 - 0-15 | team2 = Na Cealla Beaga | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 16/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Cill Chartha | score = 2-15 - 2-6 | team2 = Milford | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Cill Chartha | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

'''Round 3'''

{{GAA match | date = 22/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Milford | score = 0-10 - 1-10 | team2 = Na Cealla Beaga | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = ??? | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 22/9/2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Seán Mac Cumhaills | score = 1-10 - 1-15 | team2 = Cill Chartha | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

{{Col-end}}

==Knock-out stage== ===Quarter-finals=== {{GAA match | date = 29 September 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Seán Mac Cumhaills | score = 2-10 - 0-13 | team2 = St Michael's | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[O'Donnell Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 29 September 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Glenswilly | score = 0-12 - 0-5 | team2 = Four Masters | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 30 September 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Cill Chartha | score = 0-6 - 1-9 | team2 = Naomh Conaill | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Páirc Tír Conaill | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 30 September 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Gaoth Dobhair | score = 8-13 - 3-12 | team2 = Réalt na Mara | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

===Semi-finals=== {{GAA match | date = 6 October 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Naomh Conaill | score = 1-11 - 0-12 | team2 = Glenswilly | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 7 October 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Gaoth Dobhair | score = 3-14 - 1-7 | team2 = Seán MacCumhaills | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

===Final=== <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.donegalnow.com/gaa/donegal-gaa-gaoth-dobhair-ease-past-maccumhaills-book-place-senior-football-championship-final/251703| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181008112550/https://www.donegalnow.com/gaa/donegal-gaa-gaoth-dobhair-ease-past-maccumhaills-book-place-senior-football-championship-final/251703| archive-date = 2018-10-08| title = Donegal GAA: Gaoth Dobhair ease past MacCumhaills to book place in Senior Football Championship Final {{!}} Donegal Now}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012220009/https://www.donegalnow.com/gaa/donegal-gaa-gaoth-dobhair-ease-past-maccumhaills-book-place-senior-football-championship-final/251703 |date=12 October 2018 }} </ref>

{{GAA match | date = 21 October 2018 | time = 16:00 | round = | team1 = Gaoth Dobhair | score = 0-17 - 1-7 | team2 = Naomh Conaill | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[MacCumhaill Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

==Relegation play-offs== ===Relegation semi-finals=== {{GAA match | date = 30 September 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = An Clochán Liath | score = 1-12 - 0-8 | team2 = Burt | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[O'Donnell Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }} {{GAA match | date = 30 September 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Termon | score = 2-14 - 1-13 | team2 = Milford | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = Dunfanaghy | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

===Relegation final=== {{GAA match | date = 6 October 2018 | time = | round = | team1 = Milford | score = 2-9 - 0-7 | team2 = Burt | goals1 = | goals2 = | motm = ??? | stadium = [[O'Donnell Park]] | referee = ??? | av = | report = | attendance = }}

==Ulster Senior Club Football Championship== {{Main|2018 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship|2018–19 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship}}

==Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh== [[Odhrán Mac Niallais]] was named as the recipient of the annual [[Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highlandradio.com/2018/11/14/odhran-mac-niallais-to-receive-2018-seamus-mac-geidigh-award/|title=Odhrán Mac Niallais to receive 2018 Séamus Mac Géidigh Award|publisher=[[Highland Radio]]|date=14 November 2018|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2018}}

[[Category:2018 senior Gaelic football county championships|Donegal Senior Football Championship]] [[Category:2018 GAA Football Club Championships|Donegal SFC]] [[Category:Donegal Senior Football Championship]]