BY RYAN FERRY

THERE have been new rules, fresh twists, a closing of the gap to the elite teams in this year’s championship, and yet a final meeting between Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill has a distinctly familiar feel to it.

This is the fourth time in seven years that the heavyweights have been the last two left standing, but of course that doesn’t do it quite justice as the 2019 instalment required three games before a winner was declared.

It was Naomh Conaill who prevailed on that occasion and they have held the upper hand since.

Naomh Conaill eased past Gaoth Dobhair by 1-16 to 1-8 in the 2023 decider but the Magheragallon men appear to have matured both physically and mentally since then.

They have gradually got stronger and there is a great desire among their younger cohort to add their names to the pantheon of championship winners in the green and white jersey.

It won’t be lost on many in that part of the world that they were pushed down in the roll-of-honour by St Eunan’s last season (although those around O’Donnell Park will argue that the 1997 championship should be a credit to their name).

Eunan Doherty and Ciaran Brennan have been considerable losses to Naomh Conaill but their emigration woes pale in comparison with Gaoth Dobhair.

The Magheragallon club won the Ulster Under 21 title in February ’18 and those players are all in their prime years now but only six of the 16 men that started the final in Lavey will be involved on Sunday.

Kieran Gillespie, Cian Mulligan and Micheal Carroll all played senior championship football for Donegal but are no longer in the country.

Naoise Ó Baoill has moved on, Gavin McBride is out injured, and while they would have hoped to have had Odhran McFadden-Ferry after the long intercounty season, he hasn’t feature in the club campaign.

To their credit, they haven’t felt sorry for themselves and have learned to adapt.

Micheal Roarty is a late bloomer, while there has been a steady flow on the conveyor-belt of young talent and the likes of Eoin de Burca, Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride, and Fionnan Coyle have really taken their chances this season.

Rónán Mac Niallais’s men have a 100% record heading into the final and have been the most impressive side to date.

Gaoth Dobhair have had a stronger collective and superior organisation than each side they have faced this year so far but Sunday’s opponents will feel they can more than match the Magheragallon men in those departments.

The Naomh Conaill team that took to the field in the first couple of Division 1 games this season is considerably different now.

They defeated Buncrana on the opening day of the league campaign, and John O’Malley is the only starter from that who is expected to be in from the off on Sunday.

Team coach Gary Boyle managed the Donegal Under 20s and they had five players as part of his squad.

Another six men (Finnbarr Roarty was part of both) were with the Donegal senior set-up as were another coach Marty Boyle and analyst Tommy Devine.

The league was always going to be something of a write-off but winning the Dr Maguire Cup and an eighth title in twenty years was always the chief objective.

They remain on course but it hasn’t been a seamless pathway this time around.

In truth, they have been plucky yet unconvincing.

They lost to Glenswilly and St Michael’s in the group phase and had to work very hard in the matches they did win over Ardara and Downings.

They made light work of Killybegs at the last 12 stage but Termon really should have knocked them out and Four Masters had the bulk of the ball in the semi-final but couldn’t make it count.

Naomh Conaill haven’t buckled and it has been their young stars in Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell and Shea Malone who have stepped up and delivered when they have required leadership.

Kieran Gallagher is beginning to fulfil that potential that was first seen with the Donegal minors in 2016, and in Odhran Doherty, Ethan O’Donnell, and Kevin McGettigan, they have seasoned campaigners who can handle the big day.

Naomh Conaill know this territory very well but they’ll also appreciate that a better performance is needed on Sunday than what they have shown so far.

The loss of Ciaran Thompson can’t be underestimated.

From kicking frees, winning kick-outs, and landing clutch scores, it’s fair to say he has been Naomh Conaill’s most influential player over the last ten years.

So far they have survived the obstacles that have come their way but no one player can fill the void that Thompson leaves behind.

They will have to share out the workload but Naomh Conaill have depth and know-how and they’ll feel that can take them to the winners’ enclosure this time around.

Good structure and being hard to break down has served Gaoth Dobhair well so far and even with the new rules in place, a free-flowing encounter feels unlikely.

However, the Magheragallon men will also have seen how the freedom of expression from Termon and Four Masters caused Naomh Conaill problems, especially when their defence was run at.

There won’t be reckless abandonment but if this young Gaoth Dobhair team are brave and go for glory, they might just have what it takes to slay the Naomh Conaill challenge.

Verdict: Gaoth Dobhair.