DONEGAL’S irresistible pace and power saw them overrun Derry and clinch their first U21 title since 2010 at the Athletic Grounds on Monday night.
Declan Bonner’s talented, well-oiled machine went toe-to-toe with the battling Oak Leafers for much of the first half, but they never looked back after a Lorcan Connors goal just before the break and added 2-9 in the second half to canter to the provincial crown.
Next up is a meeting with Leinster champions Dublin at Breffni Park on Saturday and they’ll go into that game full of confidence after their display last night.
Derry’s Danny Tallon opened the scoring with a free but Eoghan Ban Gallagher’s drive forward forced a foul from the Oak Leaf defence and Connors equalised.
Tallon had a shot well saved by Donegal goalkeeper Danny Rodgers and the Tir Chonaill outfit, who mixed mass defence with incisive running attacks, burst forward and won another free.
Again Connors converted the chance and a sweetly struck 45 from Michael Langan was followed by a prodigious fisted effort from Michael Carroll that sent Declan Bonner’s side 0-4 to 0-1 ahead.
Derry responded well through a Tallon free and a poor kick-out from Rodgers led to another score for Peter Hagan.
Daire O Baoill’s run forced another 45 and again Carroll sent the ball over the Derry bar, but the Oak Leafers hit back with pace and pin-point passing that saw them pick their way through Donegal’s defensive lines.
Shane McGuigan landed a free, then Dean Curran set up Connor Doherty and Slaughtneil star McGuigan levelled the game when he took Tallon’s pass and swept the ball over from the left wing.
Points from Jamie Brennan and Jason McGee edged Donegal back in front and, though Patrick Coney equalised with an audacious effort, the Tir Chonaill youngsters were well ahead at the break.
Brennan held off Jack Doherty and broke from outside the Derry 45-metre line, dribbling the ball soccer-style with searing pace up the wing and he squared it for Connors at the far post who picked it up and lashed it into the Derry net. McGee added a point to leave Donegal four up at the break and in the driving seat.
McGee forced the first score of the second half – a Connors free – and Cian Mulligan sold his marker a dummy and swept the ball over the bar with his right foot to send Donegal six points in front.
Jack Doherty landed one for Derry but their cause was derailed when Shane McGuigan was black-carded minutes later.
Langan scored his third free with another sweet strike and Derry were unable to cope with Donegal’s pace through the middle of their defence. Brennan raced through but was taken down by Oisin Duffin as he shaped to shoot and Duffin watched from the bench after being red carded as Connors landed another free.
Cathal Mulholland and Peter Hagan replied for Derry in between a point from Eoghan Ban Gallagher whose father John won an Ulster U21 title with Donegal back in 1987.
Another Connors free extended the Donegal lead to seven but Derry kept in touch, just about, with scores from Jordan Curran and Keenan – who broke forward after he had kept out a Brennan shot on his own goalline.
But Donegal would not be denied. Carroll fisted another point and Conor Morrison became the eighth Tir Chonaill scorer to leave seven between the sides once again.
Niall O’Donnell extended the lead to eight and then Ethan O’Donnell killed Derry off completely when he capitalised on the acres of space in the Derry half and blasted home his side’s second goal.
Tallon replied with a free but Brennan and Carroll combined with a scintillating coup de grace in the final minutes, a one-two which ended with Carroll punching the ball past Ben McKinless’s despairing dive.
Eoghan Ban Gallagher raised The Irish News Cup in triumph and on this evidence Donegal will face the Dubs with real confidence on Saturday.
Derry: B McKinless; N Keenan, O Duffin, C McGrogan; C Mulholland (0-1), M McEvoy, J Curran (0-1); J Doherty, P Kearney; P Hagan (0-2, 0-1 free), D Curran, P Coney (0-1); D Tallon (0-3 frees), S McGuigan (0-2, 0-1 free), C Doherty (0-1)
Subs: E Magill for Curran (44), J Donaghy for C Doherty (44), F Kearney for Coney (59), C Feeney for M McEvoy (54)
Black card: S McGuigan replaced by T Flanagan (35), O Duffin (35)
Yellow card: O Duffin (20), J Curran (47)
Red card: O Duffin (35)
Donegal: D Rodgers; C Morrison (0-1), C Kelly, E Ban Gallagher (0-1); D O Baoill, T McClenaghan, B McCole; M Carroll (1-2), M Langan (0-3, 0-2 45, 0-1 free); J Brennan (0-1), S McMenamin, S McBrearty; L Connors (1-5, 0-5 frees), C Mulligan (0-1), J McGee (0-2)
Subs: Conor Doherty for Colm Kelly (25), N O’Donnell (0-1) for McBrearty (41), E O’Donnell (1-0) for C Doherty (53), C McLaughlin for Connors (57), C McGonigle for Langan (59), D Monagle for Mulligan (70)
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)
Attendance: 3,521
** Video highlights from last night’s Ulster U21 final will be on www.irishnews.com from 11am on Tuesday
