Brilliant Donegal upset the odds to topple Armagh and once again lift Ulster title

Donegal tore up the formbook in spectacular fashion as they downed reigning champions Armagh in the Ulster decider at Owenbeg. 

Donegal 1-10 Armagh 0-9

Three weeks ago Shane McCormack’s girls enjoyed a comprehensive eight-point championship win over the Tir Chonaill outfit. 

However, the playing field was levelled considerably this time out with the pre-game news that Maxi Curran had experienced duo Niamh Hegarty and Tanya Kennedy back in the mix. 

Against the breeze, Donegal took a controlled 0-7 to 0-5 lead in at the break. Armagh did turn the screw in the second period and edged themselves 0-9 to 0-8 in front nearing the final ten minutes.

But it was Donegal digging deepest in those frantic final exchanges as they deservingly picked up the Ulster title for the first time since 2019. 

Armagh had opened in confident fashion when they immediately jumped two clear thanks to efforts from Eve Laverty and an Aimee Mackin free. Donegal would open their account on five minutes as Niamh Hegarty won and converted a close range free.

Still, Armagh would strut their way out to a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage by the 11th minute as Mackin registered a fine brace - one from a free and, the second, a brilliant solo effort where she gave both Tanya Kennedy and Katie Dowds the slip. 

But Donegal, to their credit, found top gear in the second quarter as they rattled off six points on the bounce to open up a three-point lead nearing half-time. Karen Guthrie got  that scoring burst under way while efforts from Hegarty (free) and Dowds levelled the contest up on 20 minutes. 

Donegal took the lead for the first time shortly after when brilliant approach play from string-puller Niamh McLaughlin forged the chance for Katie Long to move Donegal onto five points. 

Amy Boyle Carr followed that up with an excellent double as the underdogs went two clear verging on the midpoint. Armagh finally broke a 22-minute scoring duck when Mackin converted from another free, on the short whistle, as Donegal eventually went in 0-7 to 0-5 clear. 

The second-half opened with Kelly Mallon halving the deficit from a free but with Long also on target for Donegal, two remained the difference nearing the 40-minute mark. 

Armagh upped the ante and consecutive points from Lauren McConville as well as replacement Caitriona O’Hagan tied matters up as the contest moved into the last quarter. 

Mackin then cut a passage through the Donegal rearguard and it took a desperate and last ditch block from Emer Gallagher to prevent the Ochard dangerwoman from getting her shot off on goal. 

The play was, however, called back for a foul on Mackin and having shipped a heavy knock in that subsequent coming together with Gallagher Mackin, after a lengthy stoppage, was forced to depart the fray due to injury. 

Mallon would eventually convert the free to once again push Armagh to the fore at 0-9 to 0-8. Niamh Hegarty then almost found the top corner but her drive for goal was pushed onto the bar by Anna Carr. 

Still, a brilliant ball from Guthrie found Hegarty inside and she once again levelled the contest up. Nearing the final five minutes a lung piercing run from McLaughlin won a close range free which Guthrie landed to nudge her side 0-10 to 0-9 clear. 

And, in the dying seconds, Donegal sealed the deal as substitute Ciara McGarvey - with her first touch - rattled the Armagh net. 

Donegal scorers: Ciara McGarvey 1-0; Amy Boyle Carr 0-2; Karen Guthrie 0-2,1f; Niamh Hegarty 0-3,2f; Katie Long 0-2; Katie Dowds 0-1

Armagh scorers: Aimee Mackin 0-4,3f; Kelly Mallon 0-2,2f; Caitriona O’Hagan 0-1, Niamh Coleman 0-1; Lauren McConville 0-1. 

Donegal: Claire Friel; Niamh Carr, Abigail Temple Asoko, Nicole McLaughlin; Amy Boyle Carr, Karen Guthrie, Tara Hegarty; Niamh Hegarty, Niamh McLaughlin; Roisin Rodgers, Katie Long, Katie Dowds; Emer Gallagher, Katy Herron, Tanya Kennedy. 

Subs: Shannon McGroddy for Long (50), Susanne White for Roisin Rodgers (52), Ciara McGarvey for Guthrie (59).

Armagh: Anna Carr; Shauna Grey, Clodagh McCambridge, Catherine Marley; Grace Ferguson, Lauren McConville, Cait Towe; Niamh Coleman, Eve Lavery; Blaithin Mackin, Aimee Mackin, Eimile Druse; Niamh Marley, Kelly Mallon, Aoife McCoy. 

Subs: Caitriona O’Hagan for Lavery (40), Niamh Reel for A Mackin (46), Louise Kenny for N Marley (51),  Blathnaid Hendron for C Marley (55), Tiarna Grimes for for Drude (56), 

Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan).