DONEGAL SECURED THEIR place in the semi-finals of the Ulster Minor League with victory over Antrim at St Mary’s Grammar School in Magherafelt this morning.
Antrim 0-6 Donegal 2-12
The side managed by Shaun Paul Barrett lost Enda McCormick to a debatable straight red card late in the first half but, like their midweek victory over Derry, sped ahead in the second half.
The reward for Donegal is a semi-final spot next Saturday away to Monaghan, who won Group B.
Donegal’s win means they finished in second place behind Tyrone in Group A with three wins from four having lost to the Red Hand County and defeated Fermanagh on opening day.
Today, Stephen Carr and Niall O’Donnell were the goalscorers.
Antrim, who surprisingly upset an understrength Tyrone and knew a win would seal progression, were lively to begin with and after 20 minutes the sides were level at 0-4 to 0-4.
Then, on 21 minutes, after McGettigan wriggled free he laid off to Carr, whose shot struck the base of the Antrim post before rebounding into the net off Gerard Smith, the hosts’ goalkeeper.
Points from Odhran Shiels and McGettigan then put Donegal 1-6 to 0-4 in front before the big talking point.
McCormick went in hard on Liam Quinn and won the ball with a forceful challenge. Opinions, as they do varied from both sets of management on the sideline but when the Antrim corner-forward still on the ground following the heavy challenge.
Antrim claimed the tackle was reckless, while Donegal pointed to the fact McCormick won the ball. After surveying his options, referee Ciaran Mooney flashed the red card, while Odhran Ferry was black-carded and replaced by captain O’Donnell.
The 14 men hit the ground running with four quality points – Aidan McLaughlin, O’Donnell, McGettigan and a long-range effort from the impressive JD Boyle – gave Donegal a cushion.
And O’Donnell scored his side’s second goal on 42 minutes to make the score 2-10 to 0-4, finishing well from a lay-off from McGettigan after a raking ball in from Boyle.
Donegal took their foot off the gas in the final quarter with only McGettigan and Peadar Mogan on the mark. Antrim got late rewards for their efforts on the day with a goal by substitute Joe Maybin, who prodded past Gavin Melreany from close range after being set up by Dermot McErlain on the byline.
Antrim: Gerard Smith; Sean Kelly, Patrick Finnegan, Eoin Nagle; Eoghan McCabe, Patrick McCormick (0-1) , Michael McNamee; Niall McKeown, Matthew Rodgers; Kevin Small (0-1), Dermot McErlain (0-2, 2fs), Matthew Hamill; Liam Quinn, Peter Webb (0-2, 1f), James Cooley. Subs: Ciaran Bradley for Webb (half-time, black card), James Smith for Rodgers (39), Marcus Donnelly for Finnegan (43), Joe Maybin (1-0) McKeown (45), Seanchan Duffin (1-0) for Small (50), Malachi Doherty for Cooley (53).
Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Mark Curran, Aaron McCrea, Seaghan Ferry; Aiden McLaughlin (0-1), JD Boyle (0-2), Odhran Shiels (0-1); Jason McGee (0-1), Kieran Gallagher; Ciaran McGinley, Odhran Ferry, Enda McCormack; Peadar Mogan (0-1), Stephen Carr (1-1), Eoghan McGettigan (0-4, 1f). Subs: Niall O’Donnell (1-1) for O Ferry (30+4, black card), Nathan Boyle for McGinley (47), Brian O’Donnell for McGettigan (53), Aaron Deeney and Logan Quinn for S Ferry and Curran (56).
Referee: Ciaran Mooney (Down).
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