Gaeil Fhánada crowned inaugural winners of U-21 D championship against Bundoran

Gaeil Fhánada are the first ever Donegal U-21 D championship, following Saturday afternoon's win over Bundoran in a cracking final played in Páirc MacDiarmada, Lifford.

Daibhid Lynch, Conor Heraghty and Caolan McElwaine scored the goals as the team of 2025 ended a quarter-century drought of U-21 success for the boys in blue and white.

Gaeil Fhánada last swept the board at U-21 level with back-to-back triumphs in 1999 and 2000 over Glenfin and Carndonagh respectively.

Lynch also kicked five points in a man of the match performance at full-forward, while corner forward Charlie McAteer was the other Gaeil Fhánada point scorer.

Full forward Kyle McNulty, who was the Bundoran go-to man up front, capped a good personal performance with six points, while wing back Ryan Barrett posted a goal and two points for Realt na Mara. The goal was scored from the penalty spot late in the game.

Gaeil Fhánada started the game on the front foot and did all of the early pressing in the opening half, which was marred by a heavy drizzle that descended on Pairc MacDiarmada.

But despite the men from the north of the county enjoying the lion's share of the early possession, the sides were level at 0-2 each at the end of a low scoring opening quarter.

Lynch and McNulty, who scored the game’s opening point, raised the early white flags for their respective sides.

The game took a decisive turn in the early seconds of quarter number two when a long delivery from way out on the right hand side from the boot of Lynch went all the way to the Bundoran net.

Gaeil Fhanda now led 1-2 to 0-2, and a close-in Charlie McAteer free shortly after extending his side lead out to four points.

And that lead was out to seven points two minutes later when Conor Heraghty struck for goal number two after a penetrating run for 2-3 to 0-2.

The champions in waiting pressed home their advantage still further with a brilliant two point free from Lynch to take a 2-5 to 0-3 lead to the dressing room at half-time.

Eight points up at half-time, Gaeil Fhánada were in a good position. And the Aidan McAteer managed side, driven on by Shaun Carr and Heraghty in midfield, and Jamie McAteer at wing back, and they took a giant step to the title with goal number three four minutes into the new half.

Fullback Caolan McElwaine found the goal when his long strike into a crowded goal mouth went all the way to the net for a 3-5 to 0-3 lead.

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Ryan Barrett, with a colossal long range strike for two points, got Bundoran off the mark shortly after to trim two points off the Gaeil Fhánada advantage.

The champions added one more point off the boot of Lynch on the three quarter mark.

But even though their task seemed insurmountable with Ryan Barrett and McNulty battling to the end, Bundoran closed out the game with three more McNulty points, one from outside the arc, and a Barrett penalty to add respectability to the scoreline as they lost by four.

Gaeil Fhanada scorers: Daibhid Lynch 1-5,1tpf,1f; Caolan McElwaine and Conor Heraghty 1-0 each, Charlie McAteer 0-1,1f.

Bundoran: Kyle McNulty 0-6,1tpf,2f; Ryan Barrett 1-2,1-0 pen,1tp.

Gaeil Fhánada; Brian Gallagher; Ciaran McElwaine, Caolan McElwaine, Emmet Kelly; Jamie McAteer, Aaron McConigley, Callum McAteer; Conor Heraghty, Shaun Carr; Declan Brougham, Brandon Friel, Shane Carr; Charlie McAteer, Daibhid Lynch, Cormac Dunleavy.

Subs: Darren McElwaine for C McAteer (29, inj), Ciaran Sweeney for B Friel (ht); Eoghan Logue for D Brougham (54).

Bundoran: Jake Cassidy; Gareth Carr, Dylan Barrett, Kieran Doherty; Maitiu Tierney, Bradley McGowan, Ryan Barrett; Callum Tierney, Oisin Kane; Anton Govorov, Ryan Blanc, Ronan Wiggs; Mark Gallagher, Kyle McNulty, Brian McMahon.

Subs: Packo Laws for B McMahon (43); Brian McMahon for Ronan Wiggs (53).

Referee: Sean McDaid (Urris)