Donegal Minors emphatically won their opening game in the Ulster Minor Jim Mc Guigan Cup against Fermanagh Minors at Fr. Tierney Park in Ballyshannon.
Donegal 3-16 Fermanagh 0-0
Report by Charlie Collins
The Minors display was nothing short of ruthless, especially from Johnny McGroddy (1-6) who was outstanding under difficult conditions.
Donegal took real charge in the opening half with a strong wind in their favour, while Fermanagh struggled to enforce themselves in south Donegal.
Accumulating a total of 12 points in the first half an hour, Johnny McGroddy was at the forefront of everything for Donegal minors scoring three points before the interval and adding a goal to his name from the penalty spot.
By the 12th minute, Gary Duffy’s outfit had a five-point lead for their efforts.
Jamie Grant and Senan Rooney doing good work of their own before getting points either side of McGroddy’s point free-kick.
Donegal had the chance to snatch their first goal after six minutes but Daryl Maguire was denied by a superb save by Kian O’Dowd.
Midway through the first half and Donegal really began to turn the screw.
Six minutes before the break and the minors extended their lead, smothering the Fermanagh defence and breaking down their limit charges at every chance.
McGroddy, Conor Coyle, Daithi Roberts and Jack Gallagher added to Donegal’s domination.
The turning point came after 35 minutes when Donegal got their goal from the penalty.
A clumsy foul was award when a Fermanagh defender foot-blocked Carlos O’Reilly’s clear opportunity before McGroddy made no mistake from the spot.
In the second half, Donegal remained on course for an emphatic victory and luck was clearly on their side with the wind turning in their favour again.
And they sent a clear signal of their intent when McGroddy added two further free-kick points.
After 40 minutes, Donegal turned on the style and a lovely integrate move by the minors paid dividends as they worked the ball smoothly towards the goal line before Paul O’Hare tapped home from close range.
With a 2-11 lead, Donegal showed no mercy, recording another five points from McGroddy, O’Hare, Richard O’Rourke, Jack Bradley and Rooney before sealing a majestic display with a final blow.
Scoring their third goal of the game, Rooney ran riot towards the Fermanagh goal before scoring with a fine finish beyond O’Dowd.
It was a real message of intent by Duffy’ side, who showed they will be a difficult side to break down at home.
However, tougher tests are yet to come for Donegal, with an away trip to Tyrone next weekend.
Scorers – Donegal: Johnny McGroddy (1-6,5f) Senan Rooney (1-2), Paul O’Hare (1-1), Daithi Roberts (0-2,2f) Jamie Grant, Conor Coyle, Jack Gallagher, Richard O’Rourke, Jack Bradley (f) 0-1)
Donegal: Daithi Roberts, Conor Roarty, Kieran Tobin, Dylan Dorrian, Conor Coyle, Jack Gallagher, Richard O’Rourke; Eoin Dowling, Kealan Dunleavy; Daryl Maguire, Johnny McGroddy, Jamie Grant, Carlos O’Reilly, Paul O’Hare, Senan Rooney
Subs: Ciaran Moore for C O’Reilly (34), Ryan McShane for D Dorrian (38),Jack Bradley for McGroddy (47), Bobby McGettigan for Dowling (50), Matthew Gallagher for Grant (25)
Fermanagh: Kian O’Dowd, Rhys Campbell, Michal Prusakiewicz, Aaron Jones; Robbie McKenna, Conor Murphy, Pauric Rice, Oliver Hughes Jordan, Ronan McCaffrey, Odhran Mulligan, Oisin Farry, Oisin Murphy, Lawrence McKeown, Ronan McGovern, Enda McCabe.
Subs: Eimhin Curran for E McCabe (17), Ultan O’Reilly for R Campbell (22), Diarmaid King for P Rice (25), Conor Courtney for O Murphy (HT), Justy McCabe for L McKeown (34), Fionnan O’Brien for Mulligan (39), Michael Flanagan for Prusakiewicz (47)
Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)
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