Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 Final: Tyrone win extra-time thriller
Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 Football Championship Final
Tyrone 1-19
Donegal 2-14
(After extra-time)
from GAA.ie
All-Ireland U20 champions Tyrone are back in another semi-final, with a repeat of last year’s decider against Kerry on the way in a couple of weeks.
They retained their Ulster title in an extra-time thriller at Owenbeg, where Donegal’s brave challenge was finally extinguished down a thrilling last stretch.
The holders led by seven points at one stage down the additional stretch, but were hauled back by a determined opponent that struck for goals at crucial stages.
A cagey contest burst into life in the second half of normal time, and continued to ebb and flow through extra-time, with the Red Hands doing just enough to hold on, with the help of a nine points haul from full forward Ruairi McCullagh
Tyrone started brightly and had their opponents under sustained pressure in the opening seven minutes, going ahead Through Ruairi McCullagh, who converted a ’45, and Noah Grimes, with a neat fisted effort.
Despite losing Cian McMenamin to injury after just eight minutes, Donegal displayed immense discipline and maturity to reorganise and shut down the danger areas with a well organised defensive effort.
They set themselves up in a well organised shut-out, forcing their opponents to recycle and restricting the scoring opportunities.
Senior star Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell and Callum McCrea led the way in the Tir Chonaill resistance effort, forcing turnovers and launching their side into attack
After hitting their first score through Conor McGinty after 10 minutes, Donegal moved the ball patiently into the wind, picking their moments to get Kevin Muldoon and McGinty in for points to go level after 20 minutes.
Tyrone hit a rash of wides, giving their opponents the opportunity to take the lead for the first time through midfielder Muldoon on the half-hour.
But stoppage time scores from Caolan Donnelly and McCullagh sent the Red Hands in with a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the end of a cagey first half.
Donegal went three up within three minutes of the restart as substitute Shane Callaghan and Conor McCahill both sent over two-pointers.
Tyrone hit back with a Joey Clarke goal to go level again, and regained the lead with another McCullagh effort and a Conall Sheehy score.
But a brilliant run from Muldoon sent corner back Cathal Rua O Gallchoir in to smash home a 50th minute Donegal goal.
The sides were level going into the last five minutes as McCullagh knocked over a couple of frees, and neither side was able to find a winner, with Tyrone pressing but unable to prise an opening through a wall of yellow shirts.
They were level at 1-9 each at the end of normal time, but the Red Hands were seven clear four minutes into extra-time, with McCullagh, Eoin McElholm, and Shea McDermott all firing over two-pointers in an explosive burst.
The game was now opening up, and Donegal found a terrific response with 1-2, including a wonderful Seanan Carr goal, but they trailed by 1-17 to 2-11 at the turnaround.
Callaghan brought Donegal back to within a point, but the holders held on with a late McCullagh free to get over the line with two to spare.
Scorers for Tyrone: J Clarke 1-0, R McCullagh 0-9 (1 tp, 4f, 2 ’45), E McElholm 0-3 (1tp) S McDermott (tp), C Sheehy 0-2 each, M Quinn, C Donnelly, N Grimes 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: S Carr 1-1, C Rua O Gallchoir 1-0, S Callaghan 0-5 (1tp, 2f), C McCahill (1tp) 0-3, K Muldoon, C McGinty 0-2 each, S Martin 0-1
Tyrone: C McGarvey; F Nelis, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; C Daly, J Clarke, C Donnelly; Conan Devlin, C O’Neill; C Sheehy, C McElholm, M Quinn; N Grimes, R McCullagh, L Og Mossey.
Subs: S McDermott for Grimes (53), S McCAnn for Mossey (73).
Donegal: P McBride; A Neely, N Prenderville, C O Gallchoir; M Campbell, F Roarty, C McCrea; S Martin, K Muldoon; C McMenamin, C McGinty, M McDevitt; C McCahill, D Gildea, S Carr.
Subs: D Monaghan for McMenamin (8), S Callaghan for Gildea (h-t), D Mulholland for McDevitt (44), D Gallagher for Neely (55), T Carr for Monaghan (55)
Referee: K Faloon (Armagh).
