Three from three for Donegal U-17s with home win over Cavan

A steady second half display in which they hit seven points and held a strong Cavan side scoreless for 25 minutes, was the basis for this fine victory for Donegal at the GAA Centre in Convoy in the Ulster GAA Football Minor League - Jim McGuigan Cup. 

Donegal 1-13 Cavan 1-9 

Donegal’s defence was especially outstanding in this period as was the searing accuracy of centre forward Shane Callaghan while centre back Darragh Hennigan was rock- solid and Owen Scott had a fine second half. The towering Lorcan McGee and rampaging wing back Finbarr Roarty were also major figures for the winners. 

Cavan full forward Jake Whyte oozed class and his accuracy caused Donegal a considerable headache in the first half. He was well supported by Ben O’Hara and Joshua Sheshu while Dylan Edwards was also a key figure. 

This deserved victory means that Donegal have three wins from three and could be looking at an final slot against Derry. Donegal had a whirlwind start and dominated to opening ten minutes despite playing into the breeze. 

And, they could have had a goal after just 50 seconds, but Danny Browne’s shot slid into the side netting. The elegant Shane Callaghan opened the scoring with a well struck point after just two minutes. 

The towering Lorcan McGee was causing Cavan problems on the edge of the square and he fed Callum McCrea who pointed. McGee was also provider tor Callaghan and then we had a magical left footed point for Donegal from Jack Hegarty as they led by 0-4 to 0-0 ten minutes into the match. 

But Cavan shook themselves and the highly impressive full forward Jake Whyte got them off the mark with a fine point. He repeated the dose in the 12th minute. Cavan were growing in confidence and Ben O’Hara narrowed the gap from a free. 

But the visitors then struck for a very well worked goal that finished with corner forward, Joshua Shehu who was wearing a bandage on his head after a pre match injury, rifled the ball to the roof of the net in the 16th minute. 

However, Donegal struck with interest within 50 seconds when Scott scrambled a goal to put them in front by 1-5 to 1-3.  But they could only tag on one more point in the run up to half-time. 

An increasingly confident Cavan hit four points from Whyte and O’Hara as they led by 1-7 to 1-6 at the break with Callaghan replying for Donegal. It was a much more assured and composed Donegal display in the second half as their defence got on top and Cavan had a scoring famine for 25 minutes. 

The excellent Scott tore through to level matters in the 32nd minute. And they were back in the lead through Callaghan who hit a corker from the wing with sub Dylan Mulholland landing a free to put Donegal ahead by 1-9 to 1-7. 

Cavan were finding it increasingly difficult to break out of their defence as Donegl narrowly missed a goal when Roarty’s thundering shot screamed past the Cavan post after a great run in the 45th minute. 

Scott and Callaghan made it 1-1 to 1-7 before Ben O’Hara finally got Cavan on the scoreboard in the 55th minute. Whyte another point, a minute late as Cavan pressed for a goal. But a well- organized Donegal defence held firm as Callaghan hit the final score. 

Donegal scorers: Shane  Callaghan 0-6,2f; Owen Scott 1-2; Callum McCrea, Jack Hegarty, Luke Clerkin, and Lorcan McGee 0-1; Dylan Mulholland 0-1f.

Cavan scorers: Jake Whyte 0-5, 2f; Ben O’Hara 0-4,1f; Joshua Skehu 1-0; 

Donegal: Padraig McBride; Donal Gallagher, Fionn McGinty, Callum McCrea; Finbarr Roarty, Darragh Hennigan, Luke Clerkin; Oisin Scanlon, Owen Scott; Jack Hegarty, Shane Callaghan, John James Sweeney; Danny Browne, Lorcan McGee, Owen Gallagher. Subs: Georide Gribbin for Fionn McGinty (29), Dylan Mulholland for Owen Gallagher (half-time), Gavin Doherty and Donnacha O’Baoill for Jack Hegarty and Danny Browne (53), Tiernan Ward for John James Sweeney (56)  

Cavan: Liam Bell; Philip Shannon, Cormac McAvinney, Fiachra Brady; Dylan Edwards, Ben Smith, Aaron Shekelton; Ben Tully, Eanna Ward; Ben O’Hara, Luke Allison, Odhran Madden; Joshua Skehu, Jake Whyte, Darragh Noonan. Subs; Donnacha Maguire for Aaron Shekelton (47), Ciaran Caldwell for Odhran Madden (49), Joe Dugdale for Darragh Noonan (54) Thomas Gilsenan for Dylan Edwards (58). 

Referee: James Lewis (Fermanagh)