When you're good, you're good.
Gaoth Dobhair ended a 12 year wait to win a Donegal senior football championship on Sunday afternoon but for one Gaoth Dobhair fella, the win was worth more than most.
Back in May, Daniel Gallagher put a tenner down on a long-shot gaelic football accumulator. The odds were 205/1, the chances were fairly slim.
His selection was as follows:
- Donegal to win Ulster 3/1
- Galway to win Connacht 2/1
- Kerry to win Munster 2/7
- Dublin to win the All-Ireland
- Gaoth Dobhair to win Donegal SFC 7/1
With Donegal romping to Ulster glory, Galway following them home in Connacht, Kerry doing the business in Munster and Dublin unstoppable, the lump sum of €2,057 was resting on the heroes of Gallagher's beloved parish.
With nearly two months in between Dublin's triumph and the Donegal county final, Gallagher's finger-nails were fairly well chewed by the time September 21 in Ballybofey rolled around.
Though he had utmost confidence in his club men, there were always going to be nerves. A non-smoker, the punter was puffing away in the car on the way to the game and in the stands the whole way through it.
He didn't need to be that nervous though. With Kieran Gillespie exceptional from centre back, Odhran Mac Niallais lording it in midfield and Cian
Mugsy Mulligan on fire up front, Marvin O'Donnell's men were rampant and they weren't to be stopped.
https://twitter.com/officialgaa/status/1054050833225129984
Naomh Conaill Glenties set up defensively as per usual - they went this whole championship without conceding a single goal - but Gaoth Dobhair were patient and they were clinical.
Holding a two point lead at half-time, it was too close for comfort going into the second half, but with Mac Niallais nailing his frees and Kevin Cassidy joining the party, there was no real squeaky bum-time.
With Frankie Boyle watching on, the men of Gaoth Dobhair went on to win by seven, 0-17 to 1-7 the final score.
https://www.facebook.com/SportsJOEdotie/photos/a.738662546197324/2096720010391564/?type=3&theater
Gaoth Dobhair will be hopping for the week, but after that, these men have a big chance of going further in Ulster and in the All-Ireland.
