Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section C: Donegal 2-15 Queen’s University, Belfast 0-6
NEW captain Hugh McFadden led his Donegal troops to victory over Queen’s at a wintry Ballybofey.
Declan Bonner handed a debut to Nathan Mullins, son of Dublin legend Brian for the visit of the students to Ballybofey, and to last year’s minor captain Peadar Mogan, who came on as a late substitute.
But it was full-forward Michael Langan who really impressed, hitting 1-6.
The winners, who fielded seven players under the age of 22, were never really troubled by a much lighter QUB side.
Apart from McFadden and Langan, Caolan McGonagle and Jamie Brennan looked very lively in a one-sided opening half.
Langan was in the right place after great work from McFadden put Eoghan Gallagher through on goal.
Queen’s goalkeeper Callum Mullan-Young superbly saved but Langan tapped the loose ball to the net in the 15th minute.
Mullins grabbed the second goal when he pounced on a Garryowen from McFadden that bounced on the edge of the square and the St Vincent’s player beat Mullan-Young to the punch in the 32nd minute.
He also picked up a yellow card from Fermanagh referee James Lewis and let the referee know of his displeasure as the sides went off at half-time.
Queen’s were badly outgunned for most of the half and did not register their first score until the 30th minute from a Tiernan Rushe free. Conor Martin grabbed the other free.
Donegal were well worth their half-time lead of 2-5 to 0-2 with McFadden also landing a fine long-range point.
It did not get much better for QUB in the second half with Jamie Brennan pointing for the winners after just 20 seconds.
Both sides made the usual extensive number of substitutes as the scoring rate decreased dramatically and Queen’s midfielder Shea Heffron also saw yellow.
Donegal sub Cian Mulligan was the pick of the home side’s sub, hitting two fine points from long range.
This was a thoroughly deserved victory for a pretty youthful Donegal team against a disappointing Queen’s side that finished with 14 men after Heffron picked up an injury-time black card to add to his yellow.
Donegal now travel to take on Monaghan in Clones on Sunday where they will surely face a much stiffer task.
Donegal: P Boyle; P Brennan, E Doherty, E Gallagher; T McClenaghan, C Ward (0-1), M O’Reilly; H McFadden (0-1), N Mullins (1-0); C McGonagle (0-1), S McBrearty, M Carroll; N O’Donnell, M Langan (1-6, 0-4 frees), J Brennan (0-2).
Subs: C McGinley (0-1) for Carroll (h-t), C Mulligan (0-2) for O’Donnell (35) K McBrearty for Mullins (46), D O’Baoill for McClenaghan, D O’Connor (0-1) for S McBrearty (53), P Mogan for McFadden (64).
QUB: C Mullan-Young; N Keenan, A Rushe, R Finn; N Scullion, J McMahon, C Murphy; S Heffron, E Bradley (0-3, 0-1 free); C O’Neill, C Martin (0-1 free), C Donaghy; T Rushe (0-2 frees) J Dowling, L Connor
Subs: E Fyffe for Connor (13), P O’Connor for Dowling, E Deane for Finn (44) O Linehan for Martin (47) E Mallon for Rushe, C Harney for Donaghy (53).
Referee: J Lewis (Fermanagh)
