Magnificent Donegal retain Ulster title after extra-time thriller against Armagh

Once again it took extra-time to separate Donegal and Armagh but Jim McGuinness’s charges retained their Anglo Celt Cup thanks to a late winner from Niall O’Donnell.

Donegal held the lead for all of normal time and it looked as if they had done enough only for Armagh to force extra-time.

Armagh went ahead three times in extra-time but Donegal were not to be denied. A Ciaran Moore in the second period looked to have it won but Armagh came back again to level but then Niall O’Donnell stepped up to win it for Donegal.

In a whirlwind first half, Armagh hit the Donegal posts twice while Donegal were wide and short in the opening minutes. Eventually Michael Langan made the break only to be fouled and Patrick McBrearty opened the scoring.

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Ethan Rafferty levelled from a '45' and Langan and Andrew Murnin traded scores. A Ciaran Thompson two pointer got the first big shout. Ben Crealey replied but Donegal began to get a foothold. Dáire Ó Baoill pointed before Michael Murphy made a great catch. He was fouled and McBrearty pushed Donegal three clear.

Oisin Conaty hit back with two quick points on 21 minutes but Donegal hit a purple patch with three Oisin Gallen points and another from Michael Murphy to go 0-10 to 0-5 ahead.

Ross McQuillan pointed for Armagh but another two pointer from Ciaran Thompson and one from Michael Langan had Donegal seven clear.

Ross McQuillan hit his second of the game but Oisin Gallen replied with his fourth on 32 minutes. Shaun Patton's kick-out strategy went astray for a short period and Armagh made hay with Oisin Conaty punishing and then Oisin O'Neill with a two pointer and another that was set to be a two pointer but Patton got a hand to it as it went over the crossbar.

Half-time: Donegal 0-14, Armagh 0-11.

Michael Murphy had the opening point of the second half but Oisin Conaty and Callum O'Neill replied. Peadar Mogan pointed but Oisin O'Neill and Ross McQuillan cut the lead to one.

Then Donegal got the opening goal of the contest. The ball was initially blocked but fell to Hugh McFadden to first time to the net. Conor  O'Donnell and Ciaran Moore pushed the lead out to seven but again Armagh responded. They had  two goal chances but points from the impressive Conaty, Stefan Campbell and Oisin O'Neill with a two pointer and another cut the lead to just two.

The Donegal scoring was drying up and they had a few wides. Jason McGee put three between but Armagh kept coming with Stefan Campbell and Jason Duffy fisting another to cut the lead again to the minimum with five minutes left.

Donegal looked to have the game in the bag as they held possession with time running out but then a pass was intercepted and Armagh went forward for Conaty to send the contest to extra-time.

Donegal had three wides in the first period of extra-time as Armagh went into the lead for the very first time through Jarly Og Burns. Patrick McBrearty replied from a free. Jason Duffy edged Armagh in front again but Niall O'Donnell left it all square at half-time in extra-time.

Stefan Campbell put Armagh ahead again in the second period but Michael Langan created an opening for Ciaran Moore to find the Armagh net. It looked as if it would be enough but Ethan Rafferty landed a two point free to level matters.

Then up stepped Niall O'Donnell, who had a major impact off the bench, to win it for Donegal.

Donegal scorers: Oisin Gallen 0-4; Ciaran Thompson 0-4,2tp; Hugh McFadden 1-0; Ciaran Moore 1-1; Patrick McBrearty 0-3,3f; Michael Murphy 0-3;  Michael Langan 0-2; Niall O'Donnell 0-2; Dáire Ó Baoill, Peadar Mogan, Conor O'Donnell, Jason McGee 0-1 each

Armagh scorers: Oisin O'Neill 0-7,2tp; Oisin Conaty 0-6;  Ross McQuillan 0-3; Ethan Rafferty 0-3,45,1tp; Stefan Campbell 0-3; Ben Crealey 0-1; Andrew Murnin 0-1; Jason Duffy 0-2; Callum O'Neill 0-1; Jarly Og Burns 0-1

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Dáire Ó Baoill, Ciaran Thompson, Shane O’Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.

Subs: Conor O'Donnell for McBrearty (43); Jason McGee for McFadden (49); Jamie Brennan for O Baoill (52); Eoin McHugh for Moore (54); Aaron Doherty for Gallen (64)

Extra-time: Odhran McFadden Ferry, Ciaran Moore and Niall O'Donnell for A Doherty, J McGee and J Brennan; Patrick McBrearty for Murphy (6); Dáire Ó Baoill for R McHugh (8); Stephen McMenamin for McCole (14)

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker; Ross McQuillan, Greg McCabe, Jarly Óg Burns; Callum O’Neill, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullen, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Tiernan Kelly, Andrew Murnin, Oisin O’Neill.

Subs: Conor Turbitt for Kelly (41); Stefan Campbell for C O'Neill (49); Peter McGrane for McCabe (52); Jason Duffy for O O'Neill (60); Niall Grimley for Forker (60);

Extra-time: Connaire Mackin for Murnin; Cian McConville for Conaty (9); Shane McPartlan for Grugan (13); Tomas McCormack for McQuillan (18)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)