Cavan and Donegal through to U21 Final

Cavan and Donegal will contest the 2014 Cadbury’s Ulster U21 Football Championship Final following semi final victories over Monaghan and Armagh respectively tonight.

Cadburys Ulster U21 Football Championship Semi Final
Cavan 1-7 v 0-4 Monaghan at Athletic Grounds Armagh

Cavan’s incredible run in the Ulster U21 Football Championship continued at the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday night as they defeated Monaghan to reach their fifth provincial decider in a row.

Cavan lost the 2010 decider to Donegal, but the Breffni Blues have won the last three championships in a row and have won 12 consecutive games at the grade in the province. They will play Donegal in the final on April 9, bidding for a fourth title in a row.

A Michael Argue goal for Cavan with just over 10 minutes to go proved to be the decisive score in the game. It was a long kick in towards the goal from the Bailieborough man, and it went over the head of Monaghan goalkeeper David Kirk and into the net.

That made it 1-5 to 0-3 in favour of Cavan, and points in the final quarter from Aaron O’Hara and Cian Byrne completed another convincing Cavan victory, following on from wins over Derry and Tyrone in the earlier rounds.

Cavan led 0-3 to 0-2 after a dour first half, with Christopher McKenna and Padraig McKenna scoring at either end of the half for Monaghan. Cavan’s three first half points came from Kevin Bouchier (two frees) and Tom Hayes.

A Dara McVeety point midway through the second half for Cavan pushed them two clear and then Argue’s goal effectively ended the tie.

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Cadburys Ulster U21 Football Championship Semi Final
Donegal 0-15 v 0-10 Armagh at Kingspan Breffni Park Cavan

Donegal qualified for the Ulster U21 final for the second year in a row following a five-point win over Armagh at Kingspan Breffni Park on Wednesday night. They will meet Cavan in the final on Wednesday, April 9 in a repeat of last year’s decider, which the Breffni County won by 0-13 to 0-6.

The match was originally scheduled for Healy Park but an unplayable pitch in Omagh meant the game was switched to the Cavan venue and moved to an 8.30pm throw-in. Senior player Patrick McBrearty, who is in his final year in the U21 grade, starred for Donegal, hitting 0-8 on the night.

Maxi Curran’s charges led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break, with McBrearty and Ryan McHugh doing most of their scoring. Two frees from Callum Cummiskey saw the Orchard County, managed by Armagh legend Steven McDonnell, cut the gap to the minimum after the break.

However, scores from Marty O’Reilly and Ryan McHugh nudged the Tír Chonaill men into a more comfortable position. McBrearty then scored a fine point from play and set up another for O’Reilly to put his side well ahead in the closing stages.

Armagh had Aaron Findon sent off for a second yellow card offence near the end, before McBrearty and Darach O’Connor added further scores in injury time to add a coat of gloss to Donegal’s margin of victory.

Report: gaa.ie

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Wednesday 9th April
Cadburys Ulster U21 Football Championship Final:
Cavan v Donegal, Venue TBC

To view the complete fixtures, admission prices and all other information relating to the 2014 Ulster U21 Football Championship go to www.ulster.gaa.ie/u21championships2014/