Eirgrid Ulster U20 Football Championship semi-final: Tyrone 3-16 Donegal 2-16 (AET)
Tyrone came through after extra-time in an epic Ulster U20 Football Championship at Celtic Park on Friday night, a late Conor Cush goal sealing a meeting with Cavan in the decider.
Inspired by an imperious midfield performance from Michael McGleenan, they produced enough steel and flair to finally see off Donegal in a memorable encounter.
Donegal didn’t find the lead until extra-time, but they were undone by goals from Niall Devlin and Cush.
Bobby McGettigan’s two goals inspired Donegal’s revival, but they fell just short in a brave attempt to overhaul their neighbours, and seven Ruairi Canavan scores helped push the Hands over the line.
It was Donegal who finished comfortable winners when the sides met in the Leo Murphy Cup final a few weeks ago, but this time they men a more focused Red Hand side that brought a greater intesnity to the contest.
Tyrone’s flying start saw them race into a three points lead, two of the scores from advanced marks kicked by Lorcan McGarrity and Ruairi Canavan, who also sent a gel soaring between the posts from close to the sideline.
Donegal’s running game saw them halted by solid defending, until Johnny McGroddy opened their account in the ninth minute.
And when Bobby McGettigan picked up a loose ball to split the posts, just a point separated the sides.
Michael McGleenan’s high fielding and strong running kept the Red Hands on the front foot, and another strong spell saw them stretch the advantage through McGarrity and Canavan.
Keelan Dunleavey kept Donegal in front with an excellent effort, but they were forced to play the final ten minutes of the half a man short, after defender Kieran Tobin was shown a black card.
However, thanks to the efforts of Caolan McColgan and Ryan McShane, they conceded just a point during that spell, with Conor Cush cancelleing out Eric Carr’s score to send the Red Hands in with a 0-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
McGleenan’s power kept them going forward as James Donaghy sliced over a point, and McGroddy started to find gaps in which to himself at the other end, he lacked effective support.
McGleenan, with a magnificent fetch, was the provider for Ruairi McHugh’s score as the margin grew to five.
Eoin Dowling and Dunleavey pulled scores back, and Doneagl were right back in it when Bobby McGettigan finished to the net after ‘keeper Stephen McMemanin failed to hold a Domhnall McBride effort in the 42nd minute.
And they went level when McGettigan smashed home a brilliant second ten minutes later.
Carlos O’Reilly and Ciaran Moore were making a difference for the Tir Chonail side off the bench, and they had their north-west neighbours on the back foot.
But it was Tyrone who broke for McGleenan to pluck another one from the skies, part to Ciaran Bogue, who sent substitute Gavin Potter to net with his first touch.
Both goalkeepers came to their sides’s rescue, McMenamin keeping out a Dunleavey effort and Daithi Roberts denying Bogue.
And in a gripping finish, Dunleavey and McGroddy hit the target, before Carlos O’Reilly brought Donegal level in stoppage time, 1-13 to 2-10.
They went ahead for the first time through McGroddy, but Tyrone responded with a goal from skipper Niall Devlin as an epic contest took another twist.
A 2-15 to 2-14 lead midway through the added stretch had the advantage back in their hands, and it was Cush, just back on the field after being earlier substituted, who sealed it with an 80th minute goal.
Tyrone: S McMenamin; M Rafferty, B Conway, E Corry; J Donaghy (0-1), S Donaghy, N Devlin (1-0); R McHugh (0-1), M McGleenan; C Cush (1-1), C Bogue (0-2), C Daly; S O’Donnell, L McGarrity (0-2 marks), R Canavan (0-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 m).
Subs: G Potter (1-2) for McGarrity, C Devlin for Cush, Cush for Bogue
Donegal: D Roberts; K Tobin (0-1), J Grant, R McShane; C McColgan, J Gallagher, K Dunleavey (0-4); E Dowling (0-3, 0-2 frees), D McBride; P O’Hare, J McGroddy (0-3, 0-1 free), E Carr (0-1); B McGettigan (2-2), R O’Rourke, L McGlynn.
Subs: C Moore for Gallagher, C O’Reilly (0-2) for Carr, D McKinney for McBride, D Boyle for O’Hare, O Caulfield for McGlynn, O’Hare for Dunleavey,
Referee: A Marron (Monaghan).
