THE famine is over for Gaoth Dobhair as they bridged a 12-year gap to pick up the Dr Maguire Cup for a record 15th time on Sunday.
The people of Gaoth Dobhair had waited since 2006 to get their hands on the Dr Maguire Cup and they watched St Eunan’s draw level with them on the roll-of-honour during that time.
However, they could celebrate again on Sunday after the men from Maghergallon saw off Naomh Conaill by 0-17 to 1-7 in MacCumhaill Park.
Mervyn O’Donnell’s men led by two points at the break, and they extended that in the second half, after Marty Boyle was red-carded for Naomh Conaill.
Ciaran Thompson did strike a late goal for Naomh Conaill but they were well beaten and it was Niall Friel who was presented with the Dr Maguire Cup by county chairman Mick McGrath.
O’Donnell beamed with delight after the match and his side have progressed considerably since he took over the reins at the start of 2017.
However, he modestly played down his role, and thanked his management team for all their help and support.
“It is a sweet one,” said O’Donnell
“I took on the team 20 months ago and to watch them evolve is brilliant.
“I started off with something like two people in my backroom team and now I have 15 and that’s what it takes.
“Michael Boyle came in this year and he is a top class coach and he put a structure in place that we needed.
“There was no embarrassment for me to take someone like him in. We needed a trainer badly because we didn’t have someone within the club at that level.
“Our training didn’t dip all year, and that showed in the league when we were very consistent, and we backed it up in the championship.
“It’s a great day for the boys and the club and the parish, and we’re all delighted.”
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