Donegal Under-20s advance after shoot-out win over Antrim

The nerves jangled, but Donegal prevailed on penalties to, finally, defeat Antrim in the Ulster Under-20 Football Championship.

Donegal 0-15 Antrim 0-15
(after extra time, Donegal win 5-4 on penalties)

Donegal needed late scores at the end of both normal time and extra time, but Leo McLoone's men squeezed into a semi-final against Derry.

Shaun Ward fired three points in the second half of extra time, a 13-metre free right at the death pulling the tie from the burning embers for Donegal, who were three down at one stage.

Donegal were flawless with their penalties. Blake McGarvey, Ward, Daniel Gildea, David Boyle and Daniel Marley all netted while goalkeeper Aaron Cullen saved from Eoin Gough.

Antrim had refused to wilt after Conor O'Neill and McGarvey put Donegal two up in the extra period and there was a time when they seemed likely victors.

Niall Jackman's side clipped four-in-a-row, the outstanding Ryan McQuillan and Conhuir Johnson – who had a big influence off the bench - each landing two, for a 0-13 to 0-11 advantage at half-time in extra-time.

While Callum Higgins opened a three-point gap for the first time, but Ward gave Donegal another go. Having hit 17 wides over the 70 minutes, Donegal kept their cool in the shoot-out.

Three minutes into added time at the end of normal time, Christy Mulligan arrowed over to force extra time, evening the sums at 0-9 aside, just when it looked as if Donegal were ready to get their coats.

Donegal were 0-7 to 0-5 behind when a pair of Boyle frees cancelled out the deficit 12 minutes from the end.

The St Eunan's man posted seven points in all, but McQuillan struck twice in a minute, the second of them a fine off-balance point to put the margin out to two.

Boyle, picked out by the quick-thinking Ward, might have nicked it for Donegal with three minutes to go, but 'keeper Shea Laverty repelled the shot.

Early in the night, Boyle and the lively McGarvey clipped over quick-fire points for Donegal after Boyle and Ronan McKillop traded the opening blows.

Donegal were racking up the wides, posting six inside the opening 20 minutes. Antrim fared little better, the Saffrons registering five in the same period.

Antrim carved out a good opening in the 19th minute, but McKillop screwed wide on the left-hand side when a pass inside for Niall Fallon might've been the better option.

Boyle featured as a sub in last year's Ulster semi-final defeat by Down. Oisin Caulfield was included from the off here having also played in the fixture, but the absence of Glenfin ace Luke McGlynn proved a blow for Donegal.

Ryan McQuillan converted a free and Fallon bent over an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

With the teams all square, 0-4 apiece, at the interval, Antrim were down to 14 men when Gough was black-carded just three minutes into the second half.

The visitors made light of the numerical disadvantage as McQuillan soared over a free and a monster point from impressive midfielder Eunan Quinn saw them lead for the first time, 0-6 to 0-5, by the 40th minute.

McQuillan drilled over to extend the lead by the time Gough returned to the fold and the drama was only just beginning.

Donegal scorers: David Boyle (5f) 0-7; Shaun Ward (2f, 1 '45) 0-3; Conor O'Neill (1f), Blake McGarvey 0-2 each; Christy Mulligan 0-1.

Antrim scorers: Ryan McQuillan (4f) 0-8; Conhuir Johnson (1f) 0-2; Conor Hand, Eunan Quinn, Ronan McKillop, Niall Fallon, Callum Higgins 0-1 each.

Donegal: Aaron Cullen; Sean Doherty, Ferdia Doherty, Donal Gallagher; Cian McMenamin, Kyle Murray, Karl McGee; Christy Mulligan, Liam McGranaghan; David Boyle, Shaun Ward, Oisin Caulfield; Cian Rooney, Kevin Lynch, Blake McGarvey. Subs: Conor O'Neill for Rooney (half-time), Daniel Marley for McGranaghan (42), Daniel Gildea for Lynch (51), Conor Reid for McMenamin (69), Oisin Crawford for Mulligan (70).

Antrim: Shea Laverty; Eoin Gough, Dan McNicholl, Cahir Donnelly; Tiernan McCormick, Conan Johnston, Patrick Ferris; Eunan Quinn, Conor Hand; Callum Higgins, Tom Shivers, Ronan McKillop; Niall Fallon, Ryan McQuillan, Benen Kelly. Subs: Conchuir Johnson for Shivers (half-time), Conail McGill for Hand (38), Ciaran McAleese for Kelly (46), Niall Duffy for McKillop (60), Conor Hand for Ferris (68), Benen Kelly for McAleese (70), Ronan McKillop for Higgins (80).

Referee: Enda Mallon (Armagh).