Wicklow put paid to Donegal's Nickey Rackard Cup dreams

Wicklow’s strength in depth proved the decisive factor in the Nickey Rackard Cup final win over Donegal at Croke Park.

Wicklow 1-20 Donegal 3-12

The dream died for a gallant Donegal side who led for 58 minutes of this exciting encounter but could not match the physique and sheer quality of the Wicklow bench.

The Garden County threw on outstanding performers like Seanie Germaine, Daniel Staunton, Padraig Doyle, Gavin Weir and Mathew Traynor.

This excellent quintet effectively turned this match on its head as Wicklow bounced back from a 2-8 to 0-10 interval deficit to outscore Donegal by 1-10 to 1-4 in the second half.

In context, the absence of Declan Coulter was a huge loss to Mickey McCann’s men, and they were also minus the experienced Bernard Lafferty and Daire O’Maoileidigh. But once again, the bugbear of inaccuracy bit deep as Donegal hit a crippling 14 wides to Wicklow’s relatively paltry six.

Team captain Ronan McDermott was emptied by two Wicklow defenders in the run up to half-time and had strong claims for a penalty.

But the referee, Cavan’s James Clarke, ignored the episode and did not consult with his umpire who was four yards from the incident. McDermott had an outstanding first half and set up two great goals for Ryan Hilferty and Liam McKinney.

They were beaten by a better team in the second half, so there will always be an element of ‘what if?’. Ruairi Campbell cleverly won a 50/50 ball and arrowed over a fine point for Donegal after two minutes.

McDermott doubled that tally a minute later before Wicklow opened their account with a well-struck point from Luke Evans. McDermott stretched Donegal’s lead as the giant Jack Doyle responded for Wicklow in a lively opening.

It was then that Ryan Hilferty struck a superb goal for Donegal in the 12th minute. McDermott, who was being double-marked found himself in space inside the Wicklow defence and he gave Hilferty the perfect pass.

The St Eunan’s man showed great composure before sending a beauty low and hard to the corner of the Wicklow net from a tricky enough angle. It was the tonic Donegal needed and Jack O’Loughlin added another point as they were playing into a fresh breeze.

Suddenly Donegal had eased into 1-5 to 0-4 lead. Shell-shocked Wicklow were gradually growing into the game and Michael Boland hit a fine point.

Luke White hit a long-range free for Donegal before Wicklow marksman Christy Moorehouse and clever full-forward Andy O’Brien made it 1-6 to 0-6. But Donegal struck back with another great goal, again created by McDermott for Liam McKinney to smash a superb shot to the roof of the net and put Donegal into a 2-6 to 0-6. Christopher McDermott extended Donegal’s lead and Ronan McDermott was on target again.

But three rapid-fire points from Moorehouse left Donegal leading by 2-8 to 0-10. Meanwhile, Wicklow sent on Seanie Germaine for Michael Boland and he was very effective.

However, Donegal should have been a lot more in front as they also hit seven wides. Donegal turned over with the breeze in the second half-but Wicklow threw on two class acts in Daniel Staunton and Matthew Traynor for Sam O’Dowd and the injured Diarmaid Masterson.

Both had an immediate effect with Staunton getting on the scoreboard and Traynor using his considerable physique to great effect. A much physically superior Wicklow took control of matters.

Moorehouse landed two superb points and Germaine it another to leave Donegal leading by 2-9 to 0-12.

And then, in the 47h minute disaster struck for Donegal when a long high ball seemed to be about to be batted out by the keeper but somehow Wicklow’s Andy O’Brien somehow got his stick to the sliotar to flick it to the net.

Suddenly the sides were level at 2-9 to1-12, and even though Danny Cullen landed a fine point for Donegal, Wicklow were winning all the battles Staunton and Germaine swapped points with Luke White to leave the score at Donegal 2-12 Wicklow 1-15.

But Wicklow finished strongly in the final quarter as they took the lead for the first time through David Maloney in the 58th minute. This was added to by Luke Evans as Wicklow surged for victory.

They led by 1-20 to 2-12 thanks to points from Evans, Staunton and Padraig Doyle. With time almost up keeper White slammed a rare 20 metre free for Donegal to leave just two points between the sides.

There was one more attack in a pulsating three minutes of extra time. But Wicklow held firm for a narrow but deserved victory.

Wicklow scorers: Christy Moorehouse 0-7,1f; Andy O’Brien 1-1; Daniel Staunton 0-3; Luke Evans 0-2; Seanie Germaine 0-21f; Padraig Doyle 0-1; David Maloney 0-1; Michael Boland 0-1; Andrew Kavanagh 0-1; Gavin Weir 0-1;

Donegal scorers: Luke White 1-2; Liam McKinney 1-1; Ryan Hilferty 1-0; Ronan McDermott 0-3; Gerry Gilmore 0-2; Brian McIntyre 0-1; Ruairi Campbell 0-1; Jack O’Loughlin 0-1; Danny Cullen 0-1;

Wicklow:; Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Andrew Kavanagh, Martin O’Brien; Padraig Doran, John Henderson, Sam O’Dowd; Jack Doyle, Diarmuid Masterson; Michael Boland, Christy Moorehouse, Eoin McCormack; David Maloney, Andy O’Brien, Luke Evans. Subs; Seanie Germaine for Boland (27), Daniel Staunton and Matthew Traynor (h-time), Gavin Weir for O’Brien (49), Padraig Doyle for Evans (58)

Donegal: Luke White; Stephen McBride, Michael Doanghue, Padraig Doherty; Gavin Browne, Danny Cullen Christopher McDermott; Jack O’Loughlin, Stephen Gillespie; Ryan Hilferty, Ronan McDermott, Liam McKinney; Gerry Gilmore,, Conor Gartland, Ruairi Campbell (0-1) Subs; Brian McIntyre for Christopher McDermott (42), Sean Ward for Gartland (46), Richie Ryan for Campbell (49), Ciaran Bradley for Hilferty (58), Oisin Marley for Gilmore (69)

Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)