Antrim shock wasteful Donegal
Ulster SFC Quarter-final:
Donegal 0-12 Antrim 1-10
Antrim pulled off a major shock in Ballybofey by clinging on for victory against a wasteful Donegal in the Ulster Championship on Sunday.
The Saffrons now progress to a semi-final clash with Cavan in Clones.
The game was extremely tight throughout but Antrim led for almost the entire first half, John Joe Doherty’s Donegal only sneaking into a 0-6 to 0-5 lead on the stroke of the half-time whistle.
Donegal’s shooting was awful and it didn’t improve after half-time, with a plucky Antrim pegging them back.
Antrim then moved in front thanks to Tomas McCann’s superb goal. The attacker raced forward and had his initial shot saved before rippling the net to send his side four clear.
Donegal got within one just before the end but Antrim substitute Kevin O’Boyle struck a superb point from the right wing which gave the unfancied visitors a landmark win.
Antrim began the game brightly and were 0-3 to 0-2 up within 15 minutes, Paddy Cunningham knocking over an early brace.
Donegal’s young attacker Michael Murphy was in superb form in the first half and his accurate shooting from frees and abrasive attacking style kept his side close to Antrim. However, Donegal’s wide count was already worryingly high as they dominated midfield but failed to register much on the board.
Nonetheless, Murphy’s brilliantly executed placed ball just before the break sent them in a point ahead.
Donegal looked to have finally found their rhythm after the break and went two ahead with Ciaran Bonner’s point but Antrim kept battling, helped especially by the sturdy qualities of the McCann brothers, Tomas and Michael.
Indeed, it was Tomas who put Antrim back in the lead at 0-9 to 0-8 when he took Michael’s pass to slot over.
That was a decisive moment as suddenly, Antrim began to stifle Donegal at midfield and win more possession. McCann had a glorious chance for a goal which was brilliantly blocked by Donegal defender Michael McGuire, but seconds later the corner-forward got his reward.
He raced clear down the left wing before cutting in and firing at Paul Durkin who saved, only to see the ball rebound to McCann who finished well.
Two quick Colm McFadden frees reduced the gap to two and after plenty more wides, Donegal cut the gap to one with Christy Toye’s elegant, cool point.
However, Antrim found the character to see off the late charge from the struggling favourites and O’Boyle’s magnificent score gave them a crucial two-point buffer, which Rory Kavanagh’s last-gasp point couldn’t extinguish.
Scorers for Antrim: M McCann 0-1 (0-1f), A Gallagher 0-1, K Brady 0-1, P Cunningham 0-4 (0-3f), T McCann 1-2 (0-1 ’45), K O’Boyle 0-1.
Scorers for Donegal: C Bonner 0-1, R Kavanagh 0-2, C McFadden 0-2 (0-2f), M Murphy 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’45), C Toye 0-1.
Donegal: P Durcan, E McGee, N McGee, K Lacey, B Dunnion, K Cassidy, M McGuire, N Gallagher, B Boyle, C Bonner, M Hegarty, R Kavanagh, C McFadden, M Murphy, C Dunne.
Subs: C Toye for Dunnion (HT), B Roper for Hegarty ‘50, D Walsh for Dunne ‘52, F McGlynn for Boyle ‘59.
Antrim: S McGreevy,C Brady, A McLean, D McCann, T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey, M McCann, A Gallagher,T O’Neill, K Brady, N McKeever, P Cunningham, S Burke, T McCann.
Subs: K O’Boyle for D McCann ‘49, K Niblock for Burke ’50, C Close for Brady ‘54, B Hasson for McKeever ‘63.
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).
Related:
– Video: Antrim’s win was no surprise to Liam Bradley
– Video: Paddy Cunningham captains Antrim to a famous victory
– Video: Goalscorer Tomas McCann and midfielder Aodhan Gallagher after victory in Donegal
– Video: Sean McGreevy had a bitter-sweet day in Ballybofey
– Video: Peter Graham came off the bench and made history
– Photo Gallery: USFC – Donegal v Antrim
