Donegal begin Ulster Minor League with nine-point win over Fermanagh

DONEGAL OPENED THEIR Ulster Minor League Group B campaign with a comfortable win over Fermanagh in Ballyshannon this afternoon.

Donegal 2-11 Fermanagh 0-8

In Shaun Paul Barrett’s first match in charge having taken over from Declan Bonner – who won the competition in each of the last two years – there were no real complications in the sunshine by the River Erne.

A solid first half was the better of the two, so the foundation stone was laid. Niall O’Donnell scored 1-5 and Shane McGrath can be content with his run-out not far from home and Peadar Mogan did very well. Barrett, though, can be happy enough with his lot for starters.

Throw-in was delayed by 32 minutes due to match referee Stephen Campbell being held up due to a minor car accident so both sets of players had to be content with a prolonged warm-up.

When the the action did belatedly get underway, the hold-up didn’t have an adverse influence on the hosts.

Five minutes in, captain O’Donnell turned and smashed home a goal from close range following a flowing move that had good approach play from Odhrán Ferry, Enda McCormack and McGrath.

Donegal were settling into the task, 1-2 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes, with Eoin Beacom opening the visitors’ account with a spectacular effort and Tiarnan Bogue also on the mark.

Barrett’s side are also in action with a home fixture in Ballybofey against Tyrone this day fortnight, away to Derry at Celtic Park on April 2 and then they visit Antrim a week later.

This afternoon, Antrim surprised Tyrone to post a 2-10 to 2-5 win at Mallusk.

McGrath, playing on his home turf at Fr Tierney Park, assisted for the second Donegal goal on 16 minutes when he took on possession from Aiden McLaughlin and Eoghan Carr and the Aodh Ruadh forward  precisely rammed a second goal right into the bottom corner when shooting across goal.

A third goal almost arrived on 23 minutes when, with the construction of the move again well put together, Ciaran McGinley from St Michael’s got in after a final ball from McGrath, but Gary Doherty in the Fermanagh goal scampered from his line to black.

Fermanagh had some lively forwards but their shooting on occasion let them down, kicking four first half wides – the same as Donegal – from positions of potential.

Goalkeeper Doherty saved again in first half injury time, this time staying on his feet well to get two strong hands behind and shot on the turn from Carr as a floater from O’Donnell dropped short.

Then, in the last play of the half, McGinley slapped a McCormack 45 inches off target as it veered left.

All in all though, the new management team in place with Donegal would’ve been content with their first half, which concluded with them 2-5 to 0-2 in front.

Donegal goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany, on the week he helped Abbey Vocational School to the Markey Cup, was finding his men from varied kick-outs, the defence and midfield were winning their respective sectors and there was a bit of spark up top.

McCormack set up O’Donnell to punch over the first score of the second half and when Bogue scored at the other end, it was the first time Fermanagh had bothered the umpire’s flag in 28 minutes. He would add another within five minutes.

The second half saw both teams fluff a number of chances – kicking three wides apiece inside of the first 12 minutes.

Donegal moved 2-8 to 0-4 in front when O’Donnell blasted over on the run following a pass from McLaughlin and McCormack, who hobbled off in the closing stages, pointed from the next attack.

Fermanagh scored three points in success with Conall Quinn, Colm Jones and Conor McGee on the mark.

But Donegal finished well with the impressive Mogan adding his second point from centre-back, who almost grabbed a third goal in the last minute when he struck the angle of post and crossbar following a pass from O’Donnell.

At the other end, entering stoppage time, Fermanagh passed up on a golden opportunity to grab at least a goal when Quinn side-footed wide from the ground with the goal at his mercy.

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (St Naul’s); Seaghan Ferry (Gaoth Dobhair), Aaron McCrea (Four Masters), Daniel Lyons (Kilcar); Aiden McLaughlin (0-1, Naomh Padraig, Muff), Peadar Mogan (0-2, St Naul’s), Nathan Boyle (Aodh Ruadh); Kieran Gallagher (Naomh Conaill), Ciaran McGinley (St Michael’s); Odhran Ferry (Gaoth Dobhair), Enda McCormack (0-2, 1f, Termon), Shane McGrath ( 1-0, Aodh Ruadh); Jack Flannery (Naomh Conaill), Niall O’Donnell (1-5 3f St Eunan’s), Eoghan Carr (0-1, Gaeil Fhanada). Subs: James McSharry (Termon) for Flannery (half-time), Mark Curran (Dungloe) for Ferry (33, black card), JD Boyle (Naomh Conaill) for McCormack (53), Odhran Shiels (Gaeil Fhánada) and Tony Harkin (Ardara) for McCrea and N Boyle (58),Senan Boyle (Ardara) for McLaughlin (59).

Fermanagh: Gary Doherty; Johnny Cassidy, Ryan Keane, James McCafferty; Conor Cameron, Shane McGullion, Conor McGee (0-1); Darragh McGurn, Daire Ó Caithin; Tiarnan Bogue (0-4, 1f), Timmy Boyd, Eoghan Curran; Conall Quinn (0-1), Eoin Beacom, Paul Óg O’Reilly (0-1). Subs: Conor McGann for Cameron (27), Colm Jones (0-1, 1f) for McGann (half-time, black card), Ryan Flanagan for McGurn (40), James McGrail for McCafferty (60).

Referee: Stephen Campbell (Tyrone).