Donegal minors much too strong for Fermanagh in Donagh

Donegal ran out very easy winners in the opening round of the Ulster Minor Championship against Fermanagh at a windswept Donagh.

The elements with a strong swirling wind and intermittent rain was always going to be a factor but Donegal dealt with it very well and were just the far more superior side on the day.

Donegal were against the elements in the opening half but showed very good composure on the ball. They got on the board on five minutes when Paddy Ward, a late change to the programme team, finished a mark with the pass supplied by Turlough Carr.

Daire Chapman responded with a free but Donegal had their first goal on eight minutes with Conor McCahill and Eoghan Bán McNelis involved before Paddy Ward fisted the centre to the net.

Daire Chapman had Fermanagh's second point from play but Tomás Carr cancelled that with an excellent free.

Taidhg O'Brien from Devenish had a very good point for the home side before a lull in the scoring until the 19th minute when Conor McCahill came to life for Donegal and he was very prominent in the final 10 minutes of the half.

Daire Chapman had his third and Fermanagh's fourth point from a free as Donegal finished the half very well with McCahill hitting a good point and then when going for another, it dropped short and Paddy Ward fisted it over his head to the net for a six point advantage.

Half-time: Fermanagh 0-4, Donegal 2-4

Donegal took some time to adapt to the wind at their backs with a number of wides before Conor McCahill converted a free on 35 minutes.

McCahill won and pointed another free and then the points began to come freely. McCahill fisted another and Donncha O'Baoighill, just on the field, added another.

Colm O'Dochartaigh was denied with a great save but a minute later Turlough Carr sent Conor McCahill through and he didn't miss.

The points kept flowing with O Baoighill adding two more and Eoghan Ban McNelis also got on the scoresheet along with two from the man of the match Turlough Carr, who was everywhere.

Thomas Cathcart had a very good goal for Fermanagh late on but it proved to be their only score of the half.

Scorers for Donegal: Conor McCahill 1-5,2f; Paddy Ward 2-1,0-1mark; Donnacha O Baoighill 0-3,1f; Turlough Carr 0-2; Tomas Carr (f), Eoghan Ban McNelis 0-1each.
Fermanagh scorers: Daire Chapman 0-3m2f; Tomas Cathcart 1-0; Taidhg O'Brien 0-1.

Fermanagh: Daire Treacy; Niall Flynn, Conrad Reihill, Alex McCaffrey; Conor Casey, Ryan McCann, Taidgh O'Brien; Conor Mulligan, Daithi Mohan; Nathan Beattie, Daire Chapman, Dara Rooney; Odhrán McGovern, Dan O'Connor, Michael Duffy.
Subs: Conall Rasdale for O McGovern (14); Tomas Cathcart for Flynn (ht); James Tierney for O'Brien (40); James Moore for Reihill (5);Ryan Hannigan for O'Connor (52).

Donegal: Padraig McBride; Elliot Friel, Jordi Gribben, Cathal McGee; Dallan Ó Baoill, Alex Cunnea, Cathal Gallagher; Kalvin McLoughlin, Tomás Carr; Turlough Carr, Eoghan Bán McNelis, Colm Ó Dochartaigh; Eoghan Gallagher, Paddy Ward, Conor McCahill.
Subs: Pauric Devine for Dallan Ó Baoill (22); Donnacha O Baoighill for Cunnea (44); Shane McCormick for E Gallagher (51); Thomas McDevitt for McCahill (55); Sean O'Carroll for Ward (56)

Referee: Neil McGeown (Armagh)