DONEGAL UNDER-21s set up an Ulster semi-final thanks to a nervy and dramatic 0-14 to 2-7 win over Derry last night.
Stephen McBrearty was the hero in added time when Donegal almost let it slip from their clutches.
- Donegal’s luck was in
THE DERRY manager, Fergal McCusker, fumed at the referee, Niall McKenna, as they headed down the tunnel after the most dramatic of fixtures.
Almost nine minutes of added time was played at the end of the night and Stephen McBrearty’s match-winning score came with the game clock well in the red.
Indeed, McBrearty previously gave Donegal three minutes into added time, only for Niall Toner to equalise. But McBrearty’s strong surge saw him win a free he pointed himsel to fire Donegal into the semi-finals.
Donegal were economical in the first half and led 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time, only to make life hard for themselves in the second half.
“It wasn’t that Derry got back into the game – we let Derry back into the game,” Donegal manager Declan Bonner told Donegal Sport Hub afterward.
The manner of the Derry goals for Niall Loughlin and Ruairi McElwee will have pained the Donegal manager and there could be no doubting the fact that Lady Luck donned green and gold late in the night.
- Loads absent, but Donegal still strong…
A LOOK at an absent sheet that included the names of Darach O’Connor, Rory Carr, Lorcan Connor, Tony McClenaghan and Mark Coyle, not to mention that captain Ciaran Thompson was only available for a role as a substitute, meant that Donegal were very understrength.
Most of the missing names were from the front division and Donegal’s trouble last night was at the back.
They managed to score 0-14 without the likes of the prolific O’Connor, Carr and Connor. Thompson usually weighs in with his share of points, but the reliable free-taking of Stephen McBrearty, the peerless of kicking of Caolan McGonagle and the bursting scores of Jamie Brennan were instrumental.
Declan Bonner noted in the build-up that he had adapted his game plan and his system to suit those he had, rather than those he hadn’t. And Donegal showed that they have enough about them.
- …although the defence must improve fast
THE one area that wasn’t of concern to Bonner was his defence. With O’Connor, Carr and Connor unavailable, Bonner was entitled to wonder where his scores would come from – but little did he realise that his rearguard would give him a nervous night.
They led by six points and were looking home and hosed when Niall Toner capitalised on slack Donegal marking. The Donegal defence opened up and Toner was allowed advance before squaring to Niall Loughlin who could scarcely believe that he was able to roll into the net.
Goalkeeper Danny Rogers blasted his defence that has rarely looked so porous, but it got even worse soon after, Toner cut in from the left, but not only that his shot was twice fumbled in the crowded goalmouth and McElwee whcked home.
“The second goal was a comedy,” said Bonner, although he wasn’t exactly laughing.
“The mistakes were terrible. If an under-12 team did that we’d be giving out. We need to look at ourselves in terms of our defensive shape and we allowed runners to get at us.”
- Eoghan Ban Gallagher a player of real standing
SOMETIMES it is only when players come into their own level that their class really shines – that was true of Eoghan Ban Gallagher last night.
The Killybegs man was given his first senior start by Rory Gallagher in the recent Allianz Football League game against Kerry. It was a vicious arena in which to make the first start, but Gallagher was undaunted and came out of Tralee with his manager singing his praises.
His potential has been marked out for some time now and it was easy to see why as he took the fight to Derry last night.
Time and time again, Gallagher’s powerful and direct running caused Derry headaches. The highlight of the game was an 80 yard burst by Gallagher that created a point for Stephen McBrearty early in the second half.
‘Ban’, a son of former Donegal player John Ban Gallagher, is powerfully built and has a little touch of class about him, too.
- A familiar force awaits
WHILE Donegal were making hard work of defeating Derry in Ballybofey, Tyrone – thanks to goals from Colm Byrne and Ben McDonnell – saw off Cavan 2-10 to 0-10.
Peter Canavan’s team are the reigning Ulster and All-Ireland Under-21 champions, with the likes of Lee Brennan and Cathal McShane remaining from last year.
Last April, Tyrone just about defeated Donegal in the Ulster final when a last-gasp free from Daniel McNulty prised the title from Donegal’s noses.
That was Donegal’s third final defeat in a row and with plenty of survivors on the teams of now they’ll hardly need much motivation for the semi-final in two weeks’ time.
A few of these also met last summer in the now-infamous Ulster MFC clash in Ballybofey.
It’s a game that won’t need much petrol to ignite the flames.
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