Donegal minors lose out to Monaghan in Ulster Minor League

Donegal are still searching for a first win in the Ulster Minor League as Monaghan held on for a two point win at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.

Karl Lacey's men were against a strong breeze in the first half, and five points from Alex McGinnity and two pointers from Noah Hughes and Cillian McKenna gave Monaghan a healthy 0-12 to 0-6 lead at the break.

And while Peter Gilmartin hit the net two minutes after the restart, Donegal hit a total of five two-pointers in the second half to claw the deficit back to one in added time.

But McGinnity’s 62nd-minute free from close range meant Donegal needed a two-pointer, although they never got that chance as Monaghan defended well to make it two wins from two, while Donegal are yet to win after an opening day draw away to Antrim.

With the breeze in their favour, Monaghan started strong as Cillian McKenna cut in from the left and pointed after 30 seconds, while McGinnity fired over from close range with half a goal chance on a minute later.

McGinnity added another score from play, and he had a two point free effort hit the post and go wide.

MJ Ward missed a free from close in early on, but he did well to curl over from the left for a first Donegal score.

McGinnity got his third score of the game straight after, while Donegal went close as Ward’s shot was blocked to an unmarked Jonah Cannon, but he couldn’t get enough power on the punch to take it past Shane Maloney.

Darragh O’Hare opened his account with a free, but Noah Hughes bettered that with a two-pointer from a placed ball.

Monaghan had a goal chance when they won a free high up and played on quickly, with Cillian McKenna playing it off to Mickey Doogan Burke, but he fired wide as it was brought back for a free that McGinnity converted.

Donegal got a couple of scores in quick succession as MJ Ward was played in by Mark Anthony McGuinness, while O’Hare added another free soon after.

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McKenna hit a superb two-pointer from play that Cormac Crossan could only push over the bar, while McKenna then fired over from the right, and Cormac Kelly fisted over as the visitors led by seven.

But Thomas McHugh curled one over on his right foot, and another free from O’Hare reduced the deficit momentarily.

And while McGinnity added a fifth score of the half for an 0-12 to 0-6 lead, Monaghan could have led further with the last kick of the half, but Hughes fired wide from a two-point free.

But they had a perfect start to the second half, Adam Borsje breezing past his marker, and while his effort dropped short, it fell invitingly to Peter Gilmartin, who squeezed a shot past Crossan.

Donegal quickly pulled back the nine-point lead and hit a trio of two-pointers, the first from play through Tadhg McDaid.

And MJ Ward hit two brilliant frees from outside the arc, the second way out on the left.

But Donegal were faced with a setback on 43 minutes as Mark Wilkinson was black-carded for a push off the ball, with Hughes converting the free.

Karl Lacey’s men almost got a goal back when Matthew McGinley played in Ward, but his effort went just left of the top corner.

McKenna got another point for Monaghan after playing a quick 1-2 from a free to give himself a better angle, as they led by five, although a two-pointer from O’Hare and a quick counter saw Conor Griffin point from close range.

Aodhan Lawless pointed from play, but another two-pointer from O’Hare left the minimum in it as we entered three minutes of added time.

And a vital free from close range through McGinnity meant Donegal needed another two-pointer, but the Farney men defended well to prevent them from getting the chance as the final whistle sounded.

Donegal scorers: Darragh O’Hare 0-7,3f,2tp; MJ Ward 0-6, 2tpf; Tadhg McDaid 0-2,tp; Thomas McHugh and Conor Griffin 0-1 each.

Monaghan scorers: Alex McGinnity 0-6,2f; Cillian McKenna 0-5,1tp; Peter Gilmartin 1-0; Noah Hughes 0-3,1tpf,1f; Cormac Kelly and Aodhan Lawless 0-1 each.

Donegal: Cormac Crossan; Niall McBrearty, Mark Wilkinson, Raynne Rowan; Thomas McHugh, Tadhg McDaid, Matthew McGinley; Conor Griffin, Danny Óg Cooney; Lewis Cunnea, Mark Anthony McGuinness, Oisín Mullen; Darragh O’Hare, MJ Ward, Jonah Cannon.

Subs: Evan Duffy for Cunnea (44), Aaron McGinley for Cannon (57).

Monaghan: Shane Maloney; Ciaran Farrelly, Joe Boylan, Niall Fanthorpe; Mickey Doogan Burke, Aodhan Lawless, Darragh Feeney; Jacob O’Loan, Peter Gilmartin; Cillian McKenna, Adam Borsje, Cormac Kelly; Alex McGinnity, Sean MacCionna, Noah Hughes.

Subs: Cormac Mac Cionnaith for Boylan (41), Gary Collins for Feeney (49), Luke Kelly for C Kelly (57).

Referee: Caolan Hazlett (Derry)