DONEGAL’S MASTERS are All-Ireland champions after a superb two-point win over defending champions Dublin in today’s final.
Donegal 0-9 Dublin 0-7
Donegal edged the Dubs by two points at Ballyleague in Roscommon to reclaim the Masters crown.
Donegal led 0-4 to 0-2 at the break with Ballyshannon’s Michael Ward grabbing three of the first-half scores and Barry Monaghan landing the other.
Dublin played with the aid of the stiff wind in the second half, but they were unable to topple a determined Donegal.
Ward and Termon’s Johnny McCafferty hit points early in the second half to stretch the Donegal lead and they almost had a goal but the ball bobbled awkwardly for Brian McLaughlin and he settled for a point after he latched onto Sean McDaid’s lay-off.
A wonderful point by Monaghan added to the Tir Chonaill tally.
With John Haran, McCafferty and Monaghan leading the way, the Donegal men, managed by Val Murray, took the win.
Charlie Doherty and Packie McGrath, the Donegal joint captains, took receipt of the silverware.
Donegal: Gerard McGill; Charlie Doherty, Donal Martin, Packie McGrath; Kerry Ryan, Sean McDaid, Barry Monaghan (0-2); John Haran, Charlie Bonner; Peter McHugh, Brian McLaughlin (0-1), Johnny McCafferty (0-1); Seamus Friel, Peter Devlin, Michael Ward (0-5).
Subs: Mark Cannon, John McFadden, John Anthony McMullan, Michael Canning, Liam McGroarty, Paul Gallagher, Benny Cassidy, Adrian Doherty, Seamus Ferry, Gary McGinty, Vincent Kennedy, Barry Dowds, Michael McLaughlin, Maurice McBride, Dermot McColgan, Charlie Gallagher, Sean Boyce, Gary Gillen, David Murray, PJ Gallagher.
