McGee goals power Donegal into the final of Conor McGurk Cup after win over Fermanagh

A brace of goals in 90 seconds from Josh Cronnolly McGee ensured Donegal are through to the Conor McGurk Cup final to defend their title won last year after a good workout against Fermanagh in Brewster Park.

Fermanagh 1-12   Donegal 2-16

Donegal are the defending champions and they will be back in Belfast on Saturday to take on Down in the final.

It wasn’t an easy night for Donegal who found it hard to get frees and they also hit seven first half wides.

On a cold and frosty night in Enniskillen Donegal were out of the blocks fast with points from Ruairi Campbell (38 secs) and Liam McKinney (1.20). Sean McVeigh added  a third before John Duffy got Fermanagh on the board.

Liam McKinney had Donegal’s fourth on five minutes but they didn’t raise another white flag until a beautiful Gerry Gilmore sideline cut  ojn 17 minutes. In between Danann McKeogh had cut the lead to 4-2.

Donegal were finding it hard to get a free off James Clarke with Stephen Gillespie having his helmet pulled twice but he got nothing.

The scoreboard was ticking again for Donegal in the second quarter with Conor O’Grady, Gilmore (two frees) and Ruairi Campbell for an 0-9 tp 0-5 lead.

Luca McCusker was to the fore for Fermanagh from play and frees notching four first half points.

Sean McVeigh and Conor Gartland closed out the first half scoring for Donegal,  who were nearly punished for overplaying the ball in front of their goals with Jimmy Tormey being fouled for McCusker to point.

Half-time: Fermanagh 0-6, Donegal 0-11.

The start of the second half was a shoot-out between Gerry Gilmore and Luca McCusker as they shared the opening five points to leave four between them, 0-13 to 0-9. After a good run from from Danny Teague yielded another free, McCusker cut the lead further after 45 minutes.

Gerry Gilmore had a point waved wide and Brian MacIntyre denied Fermanagh a point with a great block. Donegal couldn’t buy a free with 16 minutes of second half played. Fermanagh were getting them easier and McCusker cut the lead to two.

MacIntyre made another great block as Donegal eventually got a free from the referee on 55 minutes and Gilmore converted.

A great break from Conor Gartland released Liam McKinney and he went for goal but the ball went over off the crossbar.

Jimmy Tormey and Sean Ward traded scores as the game entered the final 10 minutes as Fermanagh refused to throw in the towel.

The  killer punch came on 66 minutes when a long ball  broke and Josh Cronnolly McGee was in like a flash to fire to the net.

McGee hit the second goal a minute later after great work by Liam McKinney while Fermanagh had a late consolation goal with the last puck from Luca McCusker.

Donegal scorers: Josh Cronnolly McGee 2-0; Gerry Gilmore 0-6,4f, one sideline; Liam McKinney 0-3; Sean  McVeigh 0-2; Ruairi Campbell 0-2; Conor O’Grady, Conor Gartland, Sean Ward 0-1 each.

Fermanagh scorers: 1-9, 6f; John Duffy, Jimmy Tormey, Danann McKeogh 0-1 each.

Fermanagh: Mark Curry; Dylan Bannon, Rory Porteous, Ciaran Duffy; Aidan Flanagan, Ryan Bogue, Ronan McGurn; Danny Teague, Odhran Johnston; Luca McCusker, Ben Corrigan, John Duffy; Tom Keenan, Jimmy Tormey, Danann McKeogh.

Subs: Ultan O’Reilly for Duffy (53);Thomas Burns for McGurn (59); Cahir McManus for B Corrigan (61); Oisin McPhillips for D Bannon (66);

Donegal: Luke White; Ciaran Curran, Ciaran Bradley, Oisin Kelly; Jack O’Loughlin, Stephen Gillespie, Conor O’Grady; Brian MacIntyre, Ryan Hilferty; Sean McVeigh, Conor Gartland, Liam McKinney; Peter Kelly, Gerry Gilmore, Ruairi Campbell.

Subs: Josh Cronnolly McGee for P Kelly (30); Gavin Browne for Hilferty (41); Sean Ward for O Kelly (54); Cormac Finn for Campbell (60); Oisin Marley for McKinney; Kevin Curran for Gillespie and Dean Harron for O’Grady (all 69)

Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)