AIB Ulster Junior Hurling Championship final: Setanta (Donegal) 2-17 Na Magha (Derry) 3-11
SUPERB Setanta took their first ever Ulster junior hurling title amid wild scenes of jubilation after a fantastic final in Sean MacCumhaill Park yesterday.
On balance they thoroughly deserved this three-point victory over a battling Na Magha, who twice came back from the brink of annihilation to set up a frenetic finish.
Both sides finished with 14 men, Fermanagh referee Aidan Ferguson lining Paul Grant of Na Magha and Setanta’s James Callaghan following a melee in the 59th minute.
But although this was a hard- hitting affair, there was no real rancour in a match well handled by Ferguson.
The foundations for victory were laid in a whirlwind opening 20 minutes when the Donegal champions raced into a 1-9 to 0-3 lead.
Team captain Kevin Campbell was deadly accurate from frees and Declan Coulter equally so from play.
Bernard Lafferty smashed home their goal in the 15th minute but team captain Deaglan Foley
single-handedly hauled his side back into contention with some superbly struck frees.
And Na Magha had a slightly fortunate goal when a speculative shot from Brendan Quigley came off the upright and Diarmuid Shiels reacted quickly to bury the ball in the net.
Suddenly the Donegal champions’ lead was whittled down to 1-10 to 1-7 at half-time.
Setanta spurted clear in the third quarter thanks to Campbell and Coulter to lead by 1-13 to 1-7.
Na Magha’s talismanic Alan Grant burst through for a superb goal in the 38th minute but this was quickly cancelled when Coulter won possession and hammered to the net.
That set the scene for a ding-dong second half in which Na Magha showed great resilience and were rewarded with a third goal when team captain Deaglan Foley’s gently struck free somehow ended in the net.
That cut Setanta’s lead to three points on a score of 2-16 to 3-10 in the 57th minute and set up a frenetic finish where Setanta lived dangerously. But, the experience of Danny Cullen was vital in the final moments as he won a few precious frees to see out a memorable victory.
Setanta settled the best as Na Magha hit some nervous wides in the opening five minutes.
Kevin Campbell, who was to go on to have a great scoring duel with Na Magha captain Deaglan Foley, pointed a third minute free to get the home side off the mark.
That signalled the start of a 20-minute period of dominance for the Finn Valley men.
Then the impressive Declan Coulter struck the first of his three first half points.
Setanta looked sharp up front and their defence was tackling like tigers with Campbell stretching the lead to three points before they struck for a smashing goal in the 10th minute.
Once again it was Coulter who timed his handpass to perfection into the path of Bernard Lafferty who came steaming in like a freight train before smashing the sliothar to the net.
Further points from Campbell and Coulter eased the Donegal side to a 1-6 to 0-0 lead before Na Magha finally got off the mark through Diarmuid Shiels.
Na Magha were gradually growing into the game but it looked good for Setanta when they led by 1-6 to 0-3 by the 20th minute.
But Na Magha showed great spirit to come back into this bristling affair and contribute to one of the best exhibitions of hurling seen in Ballybofey in many years.
Setanta: G McGettigan, B Tourish, S McMenamin, M Callaghan; S Anderson, M Bonner, N Cleary; R Kee, D Cullen; B Lafferty (1-0), C Melaugh, M Kane; J McBride, D Coulter (1-6), K Campbell (0-11f)
Sub: J Callaghan for S McMeanamin (56)
Na Magha: D Connolly, A McBrearty, J McQuillan, M Temple; N McCallion, A Grant (1-0), M McShane; B Glass, D Shiels (1-2); T Rankin, B Quigley, D Foley (1-7f); A O’Donnell, R O’Donnell, B Douban (0-1)
Subs: C McGoran (0-1) for M Temple, F McAneny for R O’Donnell (33)
Referee: Aiden Ferguson (Fermanagh)
