The 2012 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the 90th official edition of the Donegal GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Donegal.
Format
There was a preliminary round. The first round involved eight two-legged ties played home and away. The eight winning clubs progressed to the quarter-finals, from which the four winning clubs progressed to the semi-finals, from which the two winning clubs progressed to the final.
The 2012 championship finished later than usual, postponed due to the senior Donegal county team's involvement in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, which Donegal won on 23 September 2012. The 2012 Donegal SFC got back underway a week later.[1] With interest in Gaelic football at an all-time high after the 2012 All-Ireland SFC final, the Donegal SFC final was broadcast live nationwide on TG4.[2]
M. Doherty (0-4, 2f, one 45), S. Keeney (0-1), C. McMonagle (0-1)
Final
St Eunan's defeated Naomh Conaill in the final, held at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey on 4 November 2012.[4][5] The decisive goal in the final was scored by young Lee McMonagle in the 50th minute of the game, following a layoff from full-forward Ross Wherity, who received the ball via a long pass from Rory Kavanagh.[6] The teams were level on many occasions until Mark McGowan scored the winning point in freak circumstances. Brendan McDyer of opponents Naomh Conaill attempted to backpass to his goalkeeper Stephen McGrath, only for the ball to drift out for a '45'. McGowan stepped up to punish.[7] As the game ended he was photographed celebrating—stooped, wild-eyed with open mouth, sweat-soaked, bare thighs tensed, veins throbbing, mud-stained legs apart and clenched fists turned upwards.[8]
McDyer was still affected by his error years later.[9]
As Donegal SFC winner, Eunan's progressed to the Ulster Club SFC quarter-final at Armagh's Athletic Grounds the following week, where Crossmaglen Rangers won.[10]
^"From Sam Maguire to Dr Maguire — St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill do battle in County Final". 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012. A huge crowd is expected at MacCumhaill Park at a time when Gaelic games in the county have never had a higher profile. Nothing beats being there, as the GAA slogan goes, but for the neutrals who can't be in Ballybofey, the game is live on TG4 from throw-in at 4pm.
