Donegal minors  denied after a huge second half performance against Cavan

Donegal minors can hold their heads high after a very good second half performance which should have got at least a share of the spoils in a very entertaining opening game of the Ulster Minor Championship against Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park.

Cavan were the better team in the opening half and should have been further than four points ahead at the break but in the second half Donegal came thundering back into the contest and will not be happy with a number of refereeing decisions which ultimately denied them at least a draw.

There were some very good performances with Niall McBrearty outstanding; Mark Wilkinson, Matthew McGinley, Tadhg McDaid, Mark Anthony McGinley and MJ Ward in particular outstanding while Danny Og Cooney made a contribution from the bench.

Cavan started much the brighter and had points from Daire McCrystal and Conor Cabe inside two minutes. They also had a goal chance with Jack Forde hitting a post with the goal at his mercy,

The impressive Jay Graham added a third point from a free on five minutes before Donegal got their first point from Mark Wilkinson, who started at midfield.

Aaron McGinley then had a great opening for Donegal but his pass went astray and Cavan came upfield for Oisin Smith to smash home the opening goal of the contest.

The Donegal goal was under pressure with Cormac Crossan denying Jack Forde another goal.

Darragh O’Hare added the second Donegal point from a free but Cavan kicked on with a Hugo Morgan point and a big two pointer from Jay Graham on 17 minutes.

O’Hare was short from a very pointable free after MJ Ward was fouled but Donegal got a lifeline immediately after with Mark Anthony McGuinness creating a goal for Evan Duffy with a defence splitting pass.

Jay Graham (free) and Oliver Clarke opened the gap to 1-8 to 1-2 before two MJ Ward points (one free) left the half-time score at Cavan 1-8, Donegal 1-4.

Even before the half-time whistle Cavan had another goal chance as their superior physicality turned the ball over but Donegal were happy to see Jake Brady fumble when about to shoot.

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Donegal got a great start to the second half with a two pointer from Mark Anthony McGuinness. Cavan hit back with a point from Jake Brady but two MJ Ward points in quick succession saw the lead cut to one.

Matthew McGinley came forward to level matters at 1-9 each. Then a poor decision by referee Thomas Devlin against Niall McBrearty gifted Cavan the lead through Jake Brady.

A poor Donegal pass at one end with a goal chance on saw Cavan go the length of the field and win a free for Jay Graham to add to their lead. They were given another close call a couple of minutes later and ‘keeper Darragh Eccleston hit a two pointer.

But Donegal hit back with substitute Danny Og Cooney cutting in and crossing for Tadhg McDaid to palm home Donegal’s second goal.

MJ Ward was off target with a two point free effort before another tough call against Mark Anthony McGuinness for a pick up off the ground denied Donegal another goal chance. Donegal just couldn’t get level with Conor Griffin hitting a post and Ward wide.

With eight minutes left MJ Ward got Donegal level but Cavan came straight up the field from the kick-out and Jay Graham hammered home another goal.

Thomas McHugh cut the lead and Oisin Mullen was denied by the Cavan ‘keeper before MJ Ward pointed a free to leave just one between them again with a minute of normal time left.

They had one more chance from a free but the referee blew for time when the free was taken short.

Donegal will now go into the losers group and will have their second game next weekend.

Cavan scorers: Jay Graham 1-5,3f,1tp; Oisin Smith 1-0; Jake Brady 0-2; Darragh Eccleston 0-2,tpf;  Daire McCrystal, Hugo Morgan, Oliver Clarke, Conor McCabe 0-1 each.

Donegal scorers: Evan Duffy, Tadhg McDaid 1-0 each; Mark Anthony McGuinness 0-2,tp; MJ Ward 0-6,2f; Darragh O’Hare 0-1,f; Mark Wilkinson, Thomas McHugh 0-1, Matthew McGinley each

Cavan: Darragh Eccleston; Connor Caffrey, David Liggan, Andrew Smart; Simon Kolimar, Daire McCrystal, Conor McCabe; Charlie Reilly, Exceedingly Imade; Hugo Morgan, Oliver Clarke, Oisin Smith; Jack Forde, Jake Brady, Jay Graham.

Subs: CJ Fitzpatrick for C Reilly (41); Adam Smith for Morgan (43); Senan Graham for Clarke (52)

Donegal: Cormac Crossan (Letterkenny Gaels); Niall McBrearty (MacCumhaill’s), Mark Wilkinson (Red Hughs); Raynne Rowan (MacCumhaill’s); Thomas McHugh (Four Masters), Matthew McGinley (Glenswilly), Jamie Monaghan (Naomh Brid); Conor Griffin (Four Masters), Tadhg McDaid (Urris); Oisin Mullen (MacCumhaills), Mark Anthony McGuinness (St Michael’s), Aaron McGinley (St Michael’s); Darragh O’Hare (Moville), MJ Ward (Aodh Ruadh), Evan Duffy (St Eunan’s).

Subs: Lewis Cunnea (Naomh Columba) for A McGinley (19); Danny Og Cooney (Moville) for O’Hare (42); Jonah Cannon (Glenswilly) and Callum Dorrian (Aodh Ruadh) for Griffin and Duffy (54)

Referee: Thomas Devlin (Derry)