UNDERSTRENGTH DONEGAL SUFFERED defeat to Fermanagh in the North-West Under-21 Cup this afternoon in Ballyshannon.
Donegal 1-06 Fermanagh 2-04
A 56th minute goal by Sean Keenan saw Fermanagh snatch a dramatic late win against Declan Bonner’s team.
Donegal conceded two second half goals and Bonner was less than impressed with his side’s carelessness, even if they were missing as many as nine of what could be considered ‘first choice’ players.
After a low-scoring opening half, Donegal led 0-3 to 0-2, but Fermanagh moved in front early in the second half.
Owen McManus drew the Erne County level and then drilled a penalty beyond Shaun Graham to the Donegal net for the lead score.
Ciaran Corrigan was fouled after goalkeeper Graham had fumbled a long ball into the Donegal area, but the home side did respond with scores by Cian Mulligan, John Campbell and Conor Doherty to restore parity.
Ten minutes from the end, Donegal regained the advantage as Mulligan finished off a neat Donegal move. Danny Monagle and Adam Neely were involved and the latter off-loaded to Mulligan, who powered past Jack Kelly for a goal.
It was short-lived joy for Bonner’s boys, though.
Keenan tied things up with a free and, with four minutes remaining, Fermanagh pounced on a Donegal mistake to win the game.
Monagle went to go backwards with a free, but it was intercepted and the play worked its way to Keenan, who buried the match-winning goal.
Fermanagh had most of the possession in the first half, but kicked six wides in the first half-an-hour.
Donegal led 0-3 to 0-2 at the short whistle with Mulligan on the mark after a Garbhan Jones effort gave Fermanagh the lead before Adam Neely won and pointed a brace of frees.
Donegal: Shaun Graham; Colm Kelly, Bruce Waldron, Jack Quinn; Christian Bonner, Niall Friel, John McDyre; Leo McHugh, Niall Harley; Darren Curran, Callum Gallagher, Daniel Gallagher; Adam Neely (0-2, 2f), Cian Mulligan (1-2), Hugh Boyle. Subs used: Danny Monagle, Michael Miller, Conor Doherty (0-1, 1f), Mark Coyle, John Campbell (0-1), Jack Scally, Conor O’Donnell, Andrew McClean.
Fermanagh: Jack Kelly; Conor Kearney, Shane O’Hara, Michael Jordan; David Teague, Cian McManus, Lee Jones; Garbhan Jones (0-1), Damien McCarville; Conor Watson, Owen McManus (1-2, 1-0pen), Ciaran Corrigan; Shane Rooney, Conor McCauley, Luke Ryder. Subs used: Thomas O’Hara, James Flanagan, Sean Keenan (1-1, 1f), Ryan Kelly.
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).
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