Dr McKenna Cup Section C: Donegal 4-13 Ulster University 2-20
RYAN McHUGH drove a late stake through the heart of his native county with a typical flicked goal in the 74th minute to seal a superbly entertaining affair in Sean Mac Cumhaill Park on Sunday.
The Ulster University maestro was set up by impressive substitute Frank Burns after plucky Donegal U21s lost possession near the sideline in a match they should have won: “It was a tough second half, Donegal have a very good young side and we really just got over the line,” said McHugh.
“It was not easy on the rest of the Donegal lads and myself playing against our native county, and it was a different test, but you must be professional and do your job. I was not surprised by the Donegal challenge and this Donegal U21 side was much stronger than the side that Sligo defeated. And from a Donegal point of view, it is great to have so many young talented players coming through.”
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Fears that Declan Bonner’s side would be routed proved to be very much unfounded as they took the game to Martin McHugh’s UU from the start. They hit four fine goals from Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Michael Carroll, Brendan McCole and Ethan O’Donnell respectively and created three more chances. They also had a man-of-the-match display from Carroll who hit 1-3 and was ably supported by Gallagher, Langan and the elegant Niall O’Donnell.
For UU, Donegal star Paddy McBrearty kept his side repeatedly in touch with some fine points, while second half substitute Frank Burns hit some vital points also. Daire Gallagher and McHugh found the net for the winners who struggled for long periods against their youthful rivals - but their greater experience told in the end.
They were also minus formidable figures like Eoin Donnelly, Kieran Hughes and Ryan McAnespie, a trio who will spur their Sigerson challenge. Rory McGlone, Niall McKeever (who went off injured) and Gareth McKinless stood out for UU who have at least eight more inter-county players in the wings to boost their Sigerson challenge.
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Donegal boss Declan Bonner was pleased with the way his charges played, but disappointed that they did not close out the victory: “It is about the team and the team really worked hard today and they played to a system,” he said.
“We have had them since they were U16 so the lads know exactly what to expect. They played like a team and it would be very important for us to get more time together with them. We had chances to see the game out and were caught with a late goal that should not have happened. But there was plenty of positivity around and we need to build on that.”
This affair had a pretty explosive opening with goals from either side, both somewhat fortunate. And that set the tone for an open first-half, studded with some superb scores from both sides. Donegal looked the sharper early and elegant 18-year-old Niall O’Donnell hit a fine point from long-range.
However, they were rocked by a fairly lucky UU goal when a dropping ball was fly-kicked to the back of the net by corner-forward Daire Gallagher as early as the third minute. A spry-looking Donegal had similar good fortune when UU full-back Ricky Johnston slipped in possession. Gavin McBride profited and found Eoghan Ban Gallagher who finished off into an empty net.
And with both sides firmly forgetting about blanket defences, we were treated to a welcome shoot-out with Paddy McBrearty proving to be a major obstacle to Declan Bonner’s outfit. McBrearty’s languid accuracy pushed UU into a 1-4 to 1-1 lead by the 15th minute, but that was as good as it got for Martin McHugh’s men.
O’Donnell and the equally impressive Michael Langan narrowed the gap to the minimum - 1-4 to 1-3 - by the 20th minute. Donegal spurned a great goal chance when Jamie Brennan’s blasted effort cannoned off the crossbar after good incisive play from Conor Doherty and Gavin McBride.
McBrearty and Niall Madine put the students ahead by 1-8 to 1-5 before the home side hit back with a cracking goal in the 27th minute. Niall Friel found Michael Carroll. He transferred to O’Donnell who glided away from his marker before finding Langan who set up Carroll for a palmed goal.
The remainder of the half was a ding dong tussle. The home side created another good goal chance as Eoghan Ban Gallagher opened the UU defence before McBride palmed the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The home side were worth their half-time lead of 2-8 to 1-9.
The pace certainly did not flag in the second-half as both sides decided defence was the best form of attack. Donegal sub Brendan McCole got on the end of a lightning six-man move to rifle the ball to the roof of the net in the 55th minute. And it looked like they had sealed matters when Ethan O’Donnell hit a screamer to the roof of the UU net in the 64th minute to leave Donegal leading by 4-13 to 1-19. But they failed to close it out despite having three good chances of points.
Burns and McHugh then completed the smash and grab act for Jordanstown.
MATCH STATS
Donegal: D Rodgers; D Monagle, S McMenamin, C Morrison; E Ban Gallagher (1-1), N Friel, D O’Baoill (0-1); T McClenaghan, M Carroll (1-3); C Bonner, M Langan (0-3) N O’Donnell (0-2); C Doherty, G McBride (0-3, 0-2 frees) J Brennan; Subs: B McCole (1-0) for N Friel (48), D Gallagher for C Bonner (51), E O’Donnell (1-0) for J Brennan (54), C Diver for C Doherty (59)
UU: S Fox; R Kelly, R Johnston, C Boylan; R McHugh (1-1), M Walsh, G McKinless; N McGeever, R McGlone (0-1); J Kearney (0-1), B Grant (0-2), L Connor (0-2); P McBrearty (0-7, 0-3 frees), N Madine (0-1 free), D Gallagher (1-0); Subs: D McKeown for G McKinless (black card 27), J McCann for M Walsh, R McAlinden (0-1) for D Gallagher, F Burns (0-4, 0-2 frees) for N McKeever (h-t) J Fitzgerald for B Grant (47) Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)
