Molloy goal vital as Donegal seal Ulster U-20 semi-final spot with win over Armagh

Donegal secured a spot in the Ulster U-20 Football Championship semi-final with a two-point victory over Armagh in O’Donnell Park.

KJ Molloy’s first-half goal proved to be pivotal, on a day where scores were hard to come by. Shaun Paul Barrett’s side went into the break with a two-point advantage and maintained this throughout the second period to get over the line.

It was an occasion where conditions proved difficult, with the breeze swirling around the Letterkenny ground throughout, following on from Wednesday night’s postponement in Ballybofey due to an unplayable pitch.

The hosts began this encounter brightly. They opened their account on four minutes, with Luke McGlynn slotting over a 13-metre free. On 13 minutes, the advantage was doubled with corner-back Karl Magee firing over a fine score from distance.

Armagh responded immediately, however, with Pierce Blessing slotting between the posts from distance in the very next attack. On 18 minutes, they found the white flag again. A great ball from Fergal Boylan found the run of Ruari O’Brien who fisted over the bar to lo level the scores.

Shaun Ward kicked the home side back into the lead with a fantastic free off the deck before Shaun Paul Barrett’s men found the green flag. An attempted point from Oisin Caulfield fell into the path of KJ Molloy who made no mistake in firing the ball home to push the lead to four.

The Orchard men replied well to this setback, kicking the opening stanza’s final two scores through Fergal O’Brien and Pierce Blessing to leave them trailing Donegal by two at the break, 1-3 to 0-4.

Donegal came out after the interval and immediately extended their lead, with Molloy pointing a 33rd-minute mark. This was cancelled out on 40 minutes, however, with Ryan Duffy’s effort creeping just over the upright.

The period of the game that followed this score was finely poised, with the two sides knowing the prize that was at stake.

On 49 minutes however, the hosts found the target as Luke McGlynn slotted a free between the posts. Four minutes later, the Glenfin sharpshooter repeated the trick to push the gap to four points.

Armagh came at Donegal in the closing stages of the game, with a win essential for them to progress to an Ulster semi-final. They halved the deficit to two points courtesy of back-to-back frees from centre-back Brendan O’Hagan.

They continued to battle in search of a crucial goal and launched a dangerous ball high into the square on 63 minutes. However, Shaun Paul Barrett’s men came away with the ball and Diarmuid Boylan called an end to proceedings to the home faithful’s delight. There was something of a melee with players and a mentor or two from both sides at the final whistle.

When the dust settled, Donegal have a home semi-final to look forward to on Wednesday week, with Armagh now due to face Monaghan in a quarter-final.

Donegal scorers: KJ Molloy 1-1, 1m; Luke McGlynn 0-3, 3f; Karl Magee 0-1; Shaun Ward 0-1, 1f.
Armagh scorers: Pierce Blessing 0-2, Brendan O’Hagan 0-2, 2f; Ruari O’Brien, Fergal O’Brien and Ryan Duffy 0-1.

Donegal: Damien McGowan; Callum McCrea, Finbarr Roarty, Karl Magee; Finn Coll, Oisin Caulfield, Sean Martin; Conor Reid, Shaun Ward; Conor McGinty, Luke McGlynn, Seanan Carr; Eoghan Kelly, Patrick McElwee, KJ Molloy. Subs: Daithi Gildea for Carr and Cian McMenamin for Reid (49), Kevin Lynch for Molloy (58), Adam Mag Iomhar for McGinty and Donal Gallagher for Ward (62).
Armagh: Rhys Stevens; Emmet Magee, Gareth Murphy, Odhran Carragher; Fergal O’Brien, Brendan O’Hagan, Calum O’Neil; Tadgh Grimley, Pierce Blessing; Padraig O’Keefe, Ruari O’Brien, Ryan Duffy; Fergal Boylan, James Austin, Michael Burnett. Subs: Aaron O’Neill for O’Keefe (half-time), Conal McGeough for Austin (49), Cathal Agnew for R O’Brien (55).
Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan).