Late McLaughlin goal wins third Ulster Minor League in a row for Donegal

DONEGAL WON THEIR THIRD Ulster Minor League title in a row thanks to a dramatic late goal by Aiden McLaughlin in Maghera.

Donegal 3-9 Tyrone 1-13

Naomh Padraig man McLaughlin netted in the final minute of the final to sink Tyrone, who looked to have sealed the silverware through Daniel Kerry’s goal six minutes beforehand.

But Shaun Paul Barrett’s Donegal struck the decisive score as the game headed for red time.

Jason McGee broke through and offloaded to McLaughlin, whose finish past Benny Gallan sparked huge celebrations as Donegal retained the crown they’d won in each of the last two years.

St Eunan’s ace Niall O’Donnell was again Donegal’s top marksman, scoring 2-3, while Eoghan McGettigan landed a couple of magnificent scores for the Tir Chonaill men.

Donegal led narrowly 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval, with O’Donnell begging the opening goal in the 11^th minute.

McGettigan did the spadework, but it was O’Donnell who applied the finish, making no mistake with a deadly conversion.

With Emmet McNabb, Paul Donaghy, Cahair Goodwin and Matthew McGlennan on the mark, Tyrone stayed on Donegal’s case, but the Red Hands suffered a big blow in the 19^th minute as Brannan Molloy was black carded for a hand trip on McGee.

Peadar Mogan, McGettigan and McGee arched over three points in as many minutes, but Thomas Carney and Donaghy had Tyrone within two at the short whistle.

Inside 90 seconds of the re-start Tyrone were in front with Kerr (2) and Goodwin on the mark, but Donegal’s response was immediate as O’Donnell and McGettigan combined to devastating effect.

After a superb exchange of passes, McGettigan set up O’Donnell, who beat Gallan with a fine finish.

Tyrone just wouldn’t go away and their goalkeeper Gallen denied <cGettigan a third Donegal goal.

The turnaround looked complete when Kerr slotted past Gavin Mulreany after a five-man move, but just when the goose looked cooked McLaughlin stuck his hand in the oven to pull Donegal from the embers.

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (St Naul’s); Seaghan Ferry (Gaoth Dobhair), Aaron McCrea (Four Masters), Mark Curran (Dungloe); Odhrán Shiels (Gaeil Fhánada), JD Boyle (Naomh Conaill), Aiden McLaughlin (Naomh Padraig Muff, 1-0); Jason McGee (Cloughaneely, 0-2), Kieran Gallagher (Naomh Conaill); Nathan Boyle (Aodh Ruadh), Odhran McFadden-Ferry (Gaoth Dobhair), Enda McCormack (Termon); Peadar Mogan (St Naul’s 0-1), Niall O’Donnell (St Eunan’s, 2-3, 3f), Eoghan McGettigan (Naomh Conaill, 0-3). Subs: Ciaran McGinley (St Michael’s) for McCormack (50), Brian O’Donnell (Kilcar) for Boyle (60).

Tyrone: Benny Gallan (0-1, 1 ’45); Damian McGuigan, Brian McNulty, John McGurk; Tiernan Carr, Conal Grimes, Peter Óg McCartin; James Devlin, Cahair Goodwin (0-2); Brannan Molloy, Thomas Carney (0-2), Paul Donaghy (0-2); Emmet McNabb (0-3, 2f), Matthew McGlennan (0-1), Daniel Kerr (1-2). Subs: Jude Campbell for Molloy (black card, 19), Oisin Donnelly for McNulty (black card, 48).

Referee: Pat Clarke (Derry)