Diarmuid Connolly really hitting his stride as Donegal Boston go top

This sets up a tantalising, top of the table clash this Sunday.

Diarmuid Connolly is three for three after helping Donegal Boston to another league win at the weekend. The St Vincent's forward, who opted out of inter-county action this championship summer, is flying it now at his new club. They took on Connemara Gaels at Canton's 'Field A' and Connolly was part of a cracking, 13-man starting line-up that included the likes of Liam Silke (Galway), Ciaran McFaul (Derry) and Brendan Murphy (Carlow). DONEGAL BOSTON

1- Hugh Boyle 2- Jason Noctor 3- Liam Silke 4- Seán Doherty 5- Eoin Mc Hugh 6- Neil Mc Enaney 7- Brendan Murphy 8- Michael Carroll 9- Shane Carthy 10- Ciaran Mc Faul 11- Sean Donnelly 12- Ciaran Mc Devitt 13- Diarmuid Connolly

Gaels were second only to Wolfe Tones heading into the league fixture. They had lost to Donegal on July 1, on Connolly's debut, when McFaul scored three goals as the game finished 4-13 to 1-8. The three-time All Star contributed 0-2 in his first outing for Donegal but ramped it up in scoring 1-6 during a comprehensive cup win over Galway GFC Boston. On Sunday, Connolly was to the fore again in a result that put his new side top of the standings. He scored 0-5 and finished top scorer as Donegal won 1-15 to 0-10. McFaul (0-1) and Murphy (0-2) registered scores too but Donegal were indebted to Oisín O'Neill (0-4) and Mark Dunphy (1-0) for seeing them home. The result puts Donegal top on points difference but Tones have played one less game so far. That match, when they make it up, will be against Galway, who have lost all five league outings this summer. The meeting of Donegal and Wolfe Tones will also act as a reunion for Connolly and Westmeath's James Dolan. The pair famously clashed in the 2016 Leinster final when the Dubliner responded to Dolan ruffling his hair by putting him in a headlock and sparking a shemozzle. Both men were booked for the flash-point.