2025 Donegal Senior Football Championship

The following teams changed division since the 2024 championship season.

St Eunan's opted to forego the club's right to a replay as a result of substitute Enda McCormick's illegal point, doing so in the belief that it "would cause disruption to the championship and risk undermining its integrity". The approach of St Eunan's to this injustice was described as "a touch of class" and "handled with class".^{[5][6][7][8][9]} The incident brought comparisons with the 2023 All-Ireland Club final when Kilmacud Crokes did a similar thing to Glen.^[10] St Eunan's players pointed out the error to officials, but to no avail.^[11]

St Michael's defeated Seán Mac Cumhaills in the first quarter-final, while Gaoth Dobhair defeated Cill Chartha in the second. Four Masters defeated An Clochán Liath in the third quarter-final, while Naomh Conaill defeated Termon in the last.^[15]

Gaoth Dobhair defeated St Michael's by six points in the first semi-final, played on a Saturday evening at O'Donnell Park.^[20][21] St Michael's lost a sixth semi-final since 2011.^[22] This result led to Gaoth Dobhair being tipped in the media as "the side to beat", with manager Ronan Mac Niallais saying: "we're Gaoth Dobhair, the second most successful side in the county ever".^[23]

Naomh Conaill overcame a three-point deficit in extra time to defeat Four Masters in the second-semi-final, played the following day at the same venue.^{[20][21][24][25]} Kevin McGettigan of Naomh Conaill scored the only goal of the game.^[26]

The game was shown live on TG4.^[20][27][28]

It was a fourth meeting between Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair in eight Donegal SFC deciders.^[28] Gaoth Dobhair had won the 2018 edition, while Naomh Conaill had won the 2019 and 2023 editions.^[20] Naomh Conaill returned to the final after an absence of one year, having made seven consecutive appearances until that run was ended by St Eunan's in the 2024 quarter-final.^[29][30]

Naomh Conaill began badly and – in the 16th minute – Anthony Thompson conceded a penalty, which Gaoth Dobhair's Daire Ó Baoill converted.^[1] Naomh Conaill – Seven points behind at half-time – did not lead Gaoth Dobhair in any part of normal time, in either half.^[1] Early in the second half, Kevin McGettigan scored Naomh Conaill's first goal to help reduce the deficit.^[1] As the end approached, fans of Gaoth Dobhair began celebrating victory, only for Shea Malone to score the vital two-pointer for Naomh Conaill in additional time at the end of normal time, setting up extra time.^[1][31] Naomh Conaill captain John O'Malley scored from a mark almost as soon as extra time began, and Gaoth Dobhair fell behind for the first time.^[1] Max Campbell then scored Naomh Conaill's second goal.^[1]

This victory gave Naomh Conaill a fifth title in seven seasons,^[32] and a third in four years.^[33] Brendan McDyer, Leo McLoone and Anthony Thompson each received an eighth winners' medal from 13 appearances in the decider.^[34] For Roarty it was a first Donegal SFC title.^[35][36] Declan Bonner wrote in the Donegal News that Roarty "was just simply phenomenal".^[37]

Originally scheduled for the weekend of 13–14 September, the relegation playoff semi-finals were postponed by a week because of poor weather, and this affected the original choice of venue for the first semi-final. Tír Conaill Park in Donegal Town had been announced for Aodh Ruadh and Glenfin. Eamonn Byrne Memorial Park in Fintra was retained for the second semi-final.^[38]