Danny Harkin: Controversial former chairman

Defeated county chairman Harkin had been at loggerheads with fellow Donegal officials for several months.

Harkin said in October that he could no longer work with Donegal secretary Noreen Doherty nor PJ McGowan and Donegal development officer Mick McGrath.

Donegal GAA had been polarised by the bitter dispute which was kickstarted in August by Harkin's support for GPA demands that players should receive a standard rate of expenses.

A motion of no-confidence in Harkin's leadership of the county had been passed at a meeting last month.

However the chairman refused to recognise the vote and remained in place, until Sunday's convention.

"Great honour"

The row cost the county representation in this year's Ulster Club Football Championship and some feel also contributed to Mickey Moran's decision to quit the Donegal football management.

Before losing the election, Harkin had made a 45-minute chairman's address where he rejected claims that he supported pay-for-play.

Harkin also reiterated that he could no longer work with his fellow officers Doherty, McGowan and McGrath.

After losing the vote, Harkin pledged his full support to the new chairman.

McEniff said it was a "great honour" to be elected as county chairman.

County conventions also took place in Derry, Tyrone and Antrim.

Art McRory: "Alleged intrusions"

At the Oak Leaf county gathering in Owenbeg, Gerard O'Kane was elected for his fourth year as Derry chairman.

The Glenullin man was unopposed for the role.

Meanwhile, Tyrone secretary Dominic McCaughey has condemned sections of the media.

In his annual report, McCaughey claimed that journalists had pried into the private life of Art McRory after the Dungannon man and Eugene McKenna were stood down as Tyrone football managers.

However, McCaughey omitted to mention that news of McRory's illness which led to the upheaval in Tyrone football had been conveyed to the media by Eugene McKenna.

Gibbons defeated

McCaughey thanked McRory and McKenna for their contribution to Tyrone football.

Meanwhile, Antrim chairman Joe O'Boyle reiterated his opposition to pay for play at the Saffron County's convention in Ballymena.

"This non-mercenary attitude is a foundation stone of the GAA and Antrim is not going to overturn such an elementary principle," said O'Boyle.

In the officer elections, Terry Cormican defeated outgoing PRO Terry Gibbons.