DONEGAL 0-10 MONAGHAN 0-11
MONAGHAN won the Ulster SFC for the second time in three years after the narrowest of wins over Donegal at St Tiernach’s Park.
In a frantic finish, Donegal clawed their way back from five points down to trail by just the one but just couldn’t find the score that would clinch a replay. In the end, 11 second half wides will haunt Rory Gallagher, the Donegal manager.
On the other hand, Monaghan weren’t near as wasteful and Conor McManus scored six times, while a late effort from Patrick McBrearty, who was very bright throughout, fell inches wide as half the Donegal support cheered deliriously thinking it was over. It was the last chance of the match.
Donegal, as had become a feature in this summer, started impressively and inside of five minutes, had spun off three points from play. McBrearty scored a wonderful point on the turn, while Karl Lacey joined the attack to knock over and Frank McGlynn took advantage when Rory Beggan, the Monaghan goalkeeper, had bother dealing with an awkward dropping ball from Colm McFadden.
Monaghan, though, stuck to their guns and kept Donegal to just a single score – a Michael Murphy free on 33 minutes – between then and the end of the half.
For stages, there was a stand-off between the teams, similar at times to the dour struggle in the Allianz League Division One in Letterkenny in March, where Malachy O’Rourke’s side triumphed 0-9 to 1-4.
After Karl O’Connor’s fine individual score, O’Rourke’s side mirrored Donegal’s formation in many ways but the difference for the most part in that first half was their ability to work themselves a chance. Dermot Malone, on 14 minutes, ghosted onto a Colin Walshe reverse pass with the Donegal backline unawares.
Paul Durcan charged from his goalline to make a vital save, although was penalised by referee David Coldrick for touching the ball on the ground and Conor McManus tapped over the free for 0-3 to 0-3.
It was in the second quarter that Monaghan pushed on. Whilst they had support buzzing around the man in possession, Donegal’s upfield charges often resulted in men getting isolated in the channel.
Perhaps an indicator of the type of contest it was came on 26 minutes when Owen Duffy, faced with a yellow and green wall across the Donegal 45-metre line had no hesitation in kicking possession back 50 metres to Ryan Wylie. However, the passage of play showed the level of patience Monaghan were willing to operate at when Duffy was found the ball in his hands following the recycle and kicked his team in front of the first time.
Between then and half-time, Kieran Duffy, Wylie, Â Dessie Moan and McManus all scored inspirational scores as the decibel level rose and rose among those in the sell-out crowd in the rustic old town. Monaghan were 0-8 to 0-4 up at half-time. And were good value for it.
Gallagher would certainly have craved as his side made their way back out for the second half was a good start. But three wides deflated whatever optimism that might’ve been there and then. Monaghan, with their first attack of the second period, saw Owen Lennon drop one over Durcan’s crossbar.
Two McBrearty frees – the first well won by Ryan McHugh and the second by his brother Mark – gave Donegal a little traction but by the 48th minute, Monaghan saw McManus maintain their four-point cushion, 0-10 to 0-6.
McManus then added his sixth of the day, neatly on the turn before Murphy’s 40-metre free replied for Donegal.
Donegal continually blunted their chances of getting closer than arm’s length with a succession of missed opportunities  -shot selection not being anything like it should be. Sitting on a lead suited Monaghan and they sat in and defended the ‘scoring zone’, content to play on the break.
Murphy was largely withdrawn but did move to the edge of the square in the closing minutes but it was McBrearty who looked most likely. The Kilcar forward struck a brilliant long-range point and then a free to bring it down to the bare minimum. Donegal almost pulled it out of the fire but the a late McBrearty show fell inches wide of the post.
Donegal: Paul Durcan; Paddy cGrath, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Ryan McHugh, Karl Lacey (0-1), Frank McGlynn (0-1); Neil Gallagher, Martin McElhinney; Christy Toye, Odhrán MacNiallais, Mark McHugh; Patrick McBrearty (0-5, 3f), Michael Murphy (0-2, 2f), Colm McFadden. Subs: Martin O’Reilly for Toye (33), Anthony Thompson for Lacey (40), Darach O’Connor for McFadden (53), Leo McLoone for MacNiallais (69)
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Dessie Mone (0-1), Vinny Corey, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe, Fintan Kelly, Karl O’Connell (0-1); Neil McAdam, Darren Hughes; Owen Duffy (0-1), Kieran Duffy (0-1), Owen Lennon (0-1); Dessie Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (0-6, 3f). Subs: Ryan McAnespie for O Duffy (45), Stephen Gallogly for Malone (55), Dick Clerkin for Lennon (69)
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
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