Donegal minors triumph over Fermanagh with a dominant second-half performance

Donegal 2-9 Fermanagh 0-5
It took the Donegal minor footballers almost 30 minutes to eventually find their rhythm in MacCumhaill Park this evening as Barry Ward’s side opened their Ulster Minor League campaign with a 10-point win over Fermanagh.  

In what was an extremely dull defensive game of football, the U-17 side started the better of the two teams, but their final pass on the attack always seemed to escape them and what looked like a dangerous and possible score would immediately transfer into an unforced turnover. 

The setups resembled something of a chess match with neither team willing to break away from their formations, so much so that there was no surprise when the scoreline read 0-3 to 0-3 at the half-time break. 

Corner-forward Eoghan Gallagher opened the scoring on the eighth minute when his inside forward counterpart Conor McCahill drove a 30-metre kick down along the sideline after Fermanagh with caught for overcarrying the ball in possession. 

The resulting attack allowed the Naomh Bríd man to steady himself and fire over for the opening score. 

This was followed by Donegal winning the opposition kickout, they powered towards the Erne men’s defense, with Max Campbell on the end of the play as he squeezed the ball between the posts. 

Fermanagh would show signs of potential and briefly shook the home supporters when they took the lead with three unanswered scores from Ryan Hannigan, Daire Chapman, and Odhran McGovern, but Donegal would level the match minutes later when McCahill, using great inside forward knowledge, was able to escape his defender and find the space to bring the match to 0-3 apiece at the break. 

The were brief worries that Fermanagh could cause an upset tonight, but by the third minute of the second half, Donegal found their grove with their first goal. 

McCahill won a ball inside, and instead of fisting over, he opted to play across the goalmouth Gallagher, whose shot was blocked down, but the rebound fell into the hands of midfielder Luke McGuinness who fired the ball into the net. 

And while the management team will certainly be unhappy with their side’s wide tally of 12, Donegal would land further scores from Gallagher, McCahill, and Turlough Carr.  

And by the time substitute Alex Cunnea from Naomh Columba smashed a wonderful goal on the 54th minute, it was clear the day belonged to the green and gold who ran out worthy winners based on their second-half performance. 

Scorers – Donegal: Conor McCahill 0-4 (1f), Alex Cunnea 1-1, Luke McGuinness 1-0, Eoghan Gallagher 0-2, Turlough Carr, Max Campbell 0-1 each. Fermanagh: Daire Chapman 0-2 (2fs), Odhran McGovern, Ryan Hannigan, and Michael Duffy 0-1 each. 

Donegal: Padraig McBride (Gaoth Dobhair); Elliot Friel (Buncrana), Fionn McGinty (Sean MacCumhaill’s), Cathal McGee (Gaoth Dobhair); Max Campbell (Naomh Conaill), Jordi Gribben (Gaoth Dobhair), Cathal Ó Gallachoir (Gaoth Dobhair); Kalvin McLaughlin (Carndonagh), Luke McGuinness (St Eunan’s); Turlough Carr (Four Masters), Tomas Carr (Four Masters), Eoghan ‘Ban’ MacNelis (Ardara); Eoghan Gallagher (Naomh Brid), Seán O’Carroll (Carndonagh), Conor McCahill (Four Masters). Subs: Pauric Devine (Glenswilly) for McLaughlin (22 mins), Alex Cunnea (Naomh Columba) for O’Carroll (40 mins) for McNelis (45 mins), Paddy Ward (Glenswilly) for Gribben (54 mins), Donnachadh O Baoighill (Cloughaneely) for McCahill (61 mins). 

Fermanagh: Rhys Ray; Niall Flynn, Conrad Rehill, James Moore; Conor Casey, Ryan McCann, Taidgh O’Brien; Conor Mulligan, Daithi Mohan; Ryan Hannigan, Daire Chapman, Daniel McGovern; Odhran McGovern, Dan O’Connor, James Tierney. Subs: Thomas Cathcart and Michael Duffy for D McGovern and Hannigan (Half-Time), Nathan Beattie for O McGovern (35 mins), Gavin McCann for O’Brien (45 mins). 

Referee: Enda Mallon (Armagh)