IT’S ULSTER TITLE number 12 for Donegal – and five won under Jim McGuinness’ two tenures as manager – after they defeated an Armagh side hell-bent on avenging their defeat in last year’s decider.
The game ebbed and flowed, mainly towards Donegal all game but then it looked as if Armagh were going to finish stronger in extra-time. All around, players were making a play and immediately going to ground clutching a hamstring or calf.
When Armagh were two points up with both teams exhausted, it looked as if manager Kieran McGeeney was going to bridge the gap back to 2008 and the Orchard county’s last provincial title.
But then a bit of slick interplay between Ciaran Thompson and Michael Langan freed up the unmarked Ciaran Moore to lash to the net and poured petrol over a game that was going off like a Catherine Wheel.
Armagh equalised with a two-point free from Ethan Rafferty, but up popped another unlikely hero in Niall O’Donnell to give Donegal the lead with two minutes to go, time that Donegal swallowed up by playing keep-ball.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Donegal went early with their two-point attempts; Dáire ÓBaoill sending one wide in the first shot of the match with Shane O’Donnell dropping one short.
The first score of the game almost was a freak one. Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton was pushing out to fill space on the Armagh kickouts and after Andrew Murnin caught one, found himself out of position. Oisin Conaty seemed to drop his attempt for a point short and it cannoned off the lower post with Patton stranded.
But after Michael Langan got through and was fouled with a hint of a goal in the offing, Patrick McBrearty scored first with the resultant free. Armagh answered with an Ethan Rafferty ‘45’ after Peader Mogan had blocked down a Darragh McMullen shot close to the endline.
While the scoring was tit for tat, Donegal began to pull away with a Ciaran Thompson two-pointer. Soon after, Patton came forward to claim a Raffety kickout. The ball was transferred to Finbarr Roarty who delivered a cross-field pass to Michael Murphy that had everyone briefly thinking of Karl Lacey.
Jubilant Donegal supporters. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Heroically, Murphy caught it despite being under huge pressure from Armagh captain Aidan Forker, with it being adjudged a foul that McBrearty converted.
In a six minute spell, Donegal annihilated Armagh’s kickout and jumped from six points to 13. In that time Patton caught an Andrew Murnin shot dropped short that went to the other end of the pitch for Gallen to convert.
From the next kickout, Caolan McGonigle caught it and sent towards Murphy again. He had it, lost it and got it back again with stupendous strength, Gallen close by to take the pass and loft over. Another Thompson two-pointer and one from Michael Langan and Donegal were now 0-13 to 0-6 up after half an hour.
Armagh need a mountain to climb. This deficit caused them to press hard on Patton’s kickout and suddenly they gained huge traction, picking up points from Ross McQuillan, Oisín Conaty’s third of the half, and Oisín O’Neill had two digs at two-pointers. One went over, and the other on the buzzer was touched by Patton to make it a one-pointer to leave Donegal 0-14 to 0-11 ahead at the break.
The goal from Hugh McFadden in the 44th minute landed when Shane O’Donnell ran through and gave to Conor O’Donnell who faltered when he shot. The ball squirted out to McFadden who did a Mark Hughes on it and fired to the roof of the net.
Hugh McFadden celebrates his goal. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Armagh then had two goal chances in the next three minutes. Darragh McMullen shot wide, and then Ben Crealey had an effort that might have gone wide but it clipped the heel of Jarly Óg Burns who hit the post but it rolled across the line to go wide.
With Conor O’Donnell then pointing the next play to leave it 1-18 to 0-5, Armagh looked out of it again in the 47th minute.
But Donegal would only score twice more. Ethan Rafferty was coming forward for Patton’s kickouts and caught one that ended in an Oisín O’Neill point and another that he grabbed, sailed forward and put wide for a two-point effort.
A three-man infraction cost Donegal as Armagh opted to take it out and O’Neill landed a two-pointer. Stefan Campbell came on and scored with his first touch and added another as the hour mark came into view.
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Donegal tried to kill the game with manager Jim McGuinness urging patience on the ball. But Peader Mogan was turned over and on the breakaway, Conaty levelled to take it to extra-time.
Jim McGuinness. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Even within that game within a game, neither side let go of each other. It went down to the wire, the final play, and when referee Brendan Cawley blew his whistle, it led to a scuffle between members of the two teams.
What odds they will see each other further on up the road?
Scorers for Donegal: Ciaran Moore 1-1, Oisín Gallen 0-4, Ciaran Thompson 0-4 (2x 2points), Hugh McFadden 1-0, Patrick McBrearty 0-3 (3 frees) Michael Murphy 0-3, Michael Langan and Niall O’Donnell 0-2 each, Conor O’Donnell, Daire ÓBaoill, Peader Mogan, Jason McGee 0-1 each.
Scorers for Armagh: Oisín O’Neill 0-7 (1x 2 point, 1x 2 point free), Oisín Conaty 0-6, Ethan Rafferty 0-3 (1 x45, 1 x2 point free) Stefan Campbell, Ross McQuillan 0-3 each, Jason Duffy 0-2, Callum O’Neill, Jarly Óg Burns, Andrew Murnin 0-1 each.
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Donegal go back to back with Ulster titles after a Clones thriller
Donegal 2-23
Armagh 0-28
IT’S ULSTER TITLE number 12 for Donegal – and five won under Jim McGuinness’ two tenures as manager – after they defeated an Armagh side hell-bent on avenging their defeat in last year’s decider.
The game ebbed and flowed, mainly towards Donegal all game but then it looked as if Armagh were going to finish stronger in extra-time. All around, players were making a play and immediately going to ground clutching a hamstring or calf.
When Armagh were two points up with both teams exhausted, it looked as if manager Kieran McGeeney was going to bridge the gap back to 2008 and the Orchard county’s last provincial title.
But then a bit of slick interplay between Ciaran Thompson and Michael Langan freed up the unmarked Ciaran Moore to lash to the net and poured petrol over a game that was going off like a Catherine Wheel.
Armagh equalised with a two-point free from Ethan Rafferty, but up popped another unlikely hero in Niall O’Donnell to give Donegal the lead with two minutes to go, time that Donegal swallowed up by playing keep-ball.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Donegal went early with their two-point attempts; Dáire ÓBaoill sending one wide in the first shot of the match with Shane O’Donnell dropping one short.
The first score of the game almost was a freak one. Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton was pushing out to fill space on the Armagh kickouts and after Andrew Murnin caught one, found himself out of position. Oisin Conaty seemed to drop his attempt for a point short and it cannoned off the lower post with Patton stranded.
But after Michael Langan got through and was fouled with a hint of a goal in the offing, Patrick McBrearty scored first with the resultant free. Armagh answered with an Ethan Rafferty ‘45’ after Peader Mogan had blocked down a Darragh McMullen shot close to the endline.
While the scoring was tit for tat, Donegal began to pull away with a Ciaran Thompson two-pointer. Soon after, Patton came forward to claim a Raffety kickout. The ball was transferred to Finbarr Roarty who delivered a cross-field pass to Michael Murphy that had everyone briefly thinking of Karl Lacey.
Heroically, Murphy caught it despite being under huge pressure from Armagh captain Aidan Forker, with it being adjudged a foul that McBrearty converted.
In a six minute spell, Donegal annihilated Armagh’s kickout and jumped from six points to 13. In that time Patton caught an Andrew Murnin shot dropped short that went to the other end of the pitch for Gallen to convert.
From the next kickout, Caolan McGonigle caught it and sent towards Murphy again. He had it, lost it and got it back again with stupendous strength, Gallen close by to take the pass and loft over. Another Thompson two-pointer and one from Michael Langan and Donegal were now 0-13 to 0-6 up after half an hour.
Armagh need a mountain to climb. This deficit caused them to press hard on Patton’s kickout and suddenly they gained huge traction, picking up points from Ross McQuillan, Oisín Conaty’s third of the half, and Oisín O’Neill had two digs at two-pointers. One went over, and the other on the buzzer was touched by Patton to make it a one-pointer to leave Donegal 0-14 to 0-11 ahead at the break.
The goal from Hugh McFadden in the 44th minute landed when Shane O’Donnell ran through and gave to Conor O’Donnell who faltered when he shot. The ball squirted out to McFadden who did a Mark Hughes on it and fired to the roof of the net.
Armagh then had two goal chances in the next three minutes. Darragh McMullen shot wide, and then Ben Crealey had an effort that might have gone wide but it clipped the heel of Jarly Óg Burns who hit the post but it rolled across the line to go wide.
With Conor O’Donnell then pointing the next play to leave it 1-18 to 0-5, Armagh looked out of it again in the 47th minute.
But Donegal would only score twice more. Ethan Rafferty was coming forward for Patton’s kickouts and caught one that ended in an Oisín O’Neill point and another that he grabbed, sailed forward and put wide for a two-point effort.
A three-man infraction cost Donegal as Armagh opted to take it out and O’Neill landed a two-pointer. Stefan Campbell came on and scored with his first touch and added another as the hour mark came into view.
Donegal tried to kill the game with manager Jim McGuinness urging patience on the ball. But Peader Mogan was turned over and on the breakaway, Conaty levelled to take it to extra-time.
Even within that game within a game, neither side let go of each other. It went down to the wire, the final play, and when referee Brendan Cawley blew his whistle, it led to a scuffle between members of the two teams.
What odds they will see each other further on up the road?
Scorers for Donegal: Ciaran Moore 1-1, Oisín Gallen 0-4, Ciaran Thompson 0-4 (2x 2points), Hugh McFadden 1-0, Patrick McBrearty 0-3 (3 frees) Michael Murphy 0-3, Michael Langan and Niall O’Donnell 0-2 each, Conor O’Donnell, Daire ÓBaoill, Peader Mogan, Jason McGee 0-1 each.
Scorers for Armagh: Oisín O’Neill 0-7 (1x 2 point, 1x 2 point free), Oisín Conaty 0-6, Ethan Rafferty 0-3 (1 x45, 1 x2 point free) Stefan Campbell, Ross McQuillan 0-3 each, Jason Duffy 0-2, Callum O’Neill, Jarly Óg Burns, Andrew Murnin 0-1 each.
Donegal
1. Shaun Patton (St Eunan’s)
2. Finbarr Roarty (Naomh Conaill) 3. Brendan McCole (St Naul’s) 4. Peader Mogan (St Naul’s)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar) 26. Caolan McGonigle (Buncrana) 7. Ciaran Moore (St Eunan’s)
24. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs) 9. Michael Langan (St Michael’s)
10. Dáire ÓBaoill (Gaoth Dobhair) 8. Ciaran Thompson (Naomh Conaill) 12. Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s)
13. Patrick McBreaty (Kilcar) 14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly) 15. Oisin Gallen (MacCumhails)
Subs:
11. Conor O’Donnell (Carndonough) for McBrearty (43m)
22. Jason McGee (Corduff) for McFadden (50m)
23. Jamie Brennan (Bundoran) for ÓBaoill (52m)
21. Eoin McHugh (Kilcar) for Moore (55m)
20. Aaron Doherty (St Columba’s) for Gallen (65m)
18. Odhran McFadden-Ferry (Gaoth Dobhair) for McGee (ET 1m)
25. Niall O’Donnell (St Eunan’s) for Brennan (ET 1m)
7. Ciaran Moore for A Doherty (ET 1m)
13. Patrick McBrearty for Murphy (ET 7m)
10. Dáire ÓBaoill for R McHugh (ET 9m)
6. Stephen McMenamin (Killygordon) for McCole (ET 14m)
Armagh
1. Ethan Rafferty (Grange)
2. Paddy Burns (Burren) 3. Barry McCambridge (Clann Eireann) 17. Aidan Forker (Maghery)
5. Ross McQuillan (Cullyhanna) 6. Greg McCabe (Camlough) 7. Jarly Óg Burns (Silverbridge)
8. Callum O’Neill (Belleeks) 9. Ben Crealey (Maghery)
10. Darragh McMullen (Madden) 11. Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab) 12. Oisin Conaty (Tir na nÓg)
24. Tiernan Kelly (Clann Éireann) 14. Andrew Murnin (St Paul’s) 15. Oisín O’Neill (Crossmaglen)
Subs:
13. Conor Turbitt (Clann Éireann) for Tiernan Kelly (42m)
25. Stefan Campbell (Clan na Gael) for C O’Neill (50m)
4. Peter McGrane (Ballyhegan) for McCabe (55m)
20. Jason Duffy (Cullyhanna) for O O’Neill (60m)
21. Niall Grimley (Madden) for Forker (61m)
19. Connaire Mackin (Camlough) for Murnin (ET 1m)
26. Jemar Hall (Forkhill) for McQuillan (ET 7 – 10m, Temp)
23. Cian McConville (Crossmaglen) for Conaty (ET 10m)
22. Shane McPartlan (Clan na Gael) for Grugan (ET 13m)
18. Tomas McCormick (Annaghmore) for McQuillan (ET 18m)
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
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Armagh Donegal Gaelic Football ULster decider Ulster Final