THREE SECOND half goals helped fire Donegal to a comfortable win over Sligo on Wednesday evening in the final of the North-West Under-21 Cup.
Donegal Under-21s 3-12 Sligo Under-21s 0-06
Donegal had drawn with Mayo after extra time in the final last month, but with Mayo unwilling to field in a replay, competition organisers drafted Sligo in to take their place.
Adam Neely, Eamonn McGrath and Caolan McGonigle netted the goals as Declan Bonner’s team powered to a win.
Donegal were 0-9 to 0-3 in front at half-time with Stephen McBrearty (3) and Neely (2) doing the bulk of the damage.
Neely, McGrath and McGonigle hit the big scores of part two as Donegal coasted to a win.
Bonner is still without a number of frontline players. Two weeks out from the Ulster Under-21 campaign, he is certain to be minus Darach O’Connor and Rory Carr for the game against Derry or Antrim.
On top of that, he has concerns over the fitness of Jack O’Brien, Kieran Gillespie, Ciaran Thompson, Tony McClenaghan and Lorcan Connor, with time running short.
Last month, Donegal and Mayo drew 1-9 apiece after extra time in Sligo.
Confusion reigned at the end of the extra period before it was decided that no further game time would be played.
With Mayo ruling out a replay, Sligo were put in as a replacement, but the McPartland Cup is Donegal’s.
Donegal: Danny Rodgers; Conor Morrison (0-1), Bruce Waldron, Eoin Ban Gallagher; Danny Monagle, Conor O’Donnell, Andrew McClean; Caolan McGonigle (1-1), Eamonn McGrath (1-1); Stephen McBrearty (0-3), Stephen McMenamin (0-1), Christian Bonner (0-2); Mark Coyle, Aodhán McGinley (0-1), Adam Neely (1-2). Subs used: Hugh Yank Boyle, Cian Mulligan, Daniel Gallagher, Jamie Brennan, Michael Carroll.
