Donegal U-20 hurlers make it two from two with win over Fermanagh 

Donegal clocked up their second win of the Ulster U-20 Development Hurling League with a comfortable victory over Fermanagh this afternoon at the Donegal GAA Training Centre, Convoy. 

Fresh from last Sunday’s 3-12 to 2-5 win over Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park, the Aidy Gaffey-managed side had 14 points to spare at the final whistle against a dogged Fermanagh. 

Donal Farrelly scored  the goal for Donegal, who had the luxury of seeing a Matthew Winters late penalty skim the crossbar for a point. 

Donegal played against a stiff wind in the first half and led 0-6 to 1-1 at half-time with Fiachra Gill, Matthew Winters, Eoghan Walsh, Ciaran Porter and Brendan Gaffey all raising white flags.

Joe Ferguson, from a sideline cut between the 20 metre and 45 metre line  somehow deceived the Donegal ‘keeper Joseph Patton to end up in the back of the net.

That was on 24 minutes and was no more than the Erne County play deserved after they had enjoyed  their fair share of the possession but came up against a well marshalled Donegal rearguard. 

The goal reduced the Donegal lead to two points, 0-5 to 1-0, with under six minutes on the first half clock. Gaffey and Daly traded frees before half-time for a 0-6 to 1-1 lead. 

The Donegal U-20 Hurling Development squad pictured before Fermanagh game Picture: Evan Logan

Cormac Daly drew first blood on the resumption and the Erne men outscored the locals two points to one in the opening five minutes of the new half. 

But with the wind in their backs Donegal kicked on in the second half. Brendan Gaffey landed four points from placed balls and the impressive Eoghan Walsh landed a fine point for an 0-12 to 1-3 lead by the end of the third quarter,

And the locals were well on their way before  Donal Farrelly scored  ten minutes from time for a 1-13 to 1-3 lead. Farrelly along with Conor Neely,  Oisin Diver, Matthew Winters, Eoghan Walsh and Brendan Gaffey were the standout players  on the day Donegal won all the key battles.  

Donegal scorers: Brendan Gaffey 0-8,6f,  Donal Farrelly 1-2, Matthew Winters 0-3,1f, Eoghan Walsh 0-2,1f, Fiachra Gill 0-2,2f, Ciaran Porter 0-1.

Fermanagh scorers: Joe Ferguson 1-0, Cormac Daly 0-3,3f, Oisin Farry 0-1. 

Donegal: Joseph Patton; Joseph Duddy, Conor Neely, J P Curran; Eoin McFadden, Oisin Diver, Aidan McKinney; Daire Tully, Donal Farrelly; Matthew Winters, Fiachra Gill, Eoghan Walsh; Ciaran Porter, Johnny Lambe, Brendan Gaffey.

Subs: Matthew Callaghan for F McGill; Fionn Farren for E McFadden, Michael McCarron for J Lambe, Rian McBrearty for J Lambe, Odhran Mulligan for M Winters, Conor Murphy for  J P Curran,  Cormac Hanlon for C Porter, Oran Lafferty for E Walsh. 

Fermanagh: Sean Boylan; Sean Cassidy, Matt Britton, Dara Gormley; Eoin Fee, Seamus Cleary, Ciaran Wright; Joe Ferguson, Darragh Flanagan; Oisin Farry, Ciaran McPhilips, Darragh Flanagan; Shea McElroy, Keilan Dolan, Cormac Daly. 

Subs: Christy Grimes for S McElroy, Joe O’Connor for K Dolan,

Referee: Liam McIvanna (Tyrone).