Donegal overcome Monaghan to top their group in Ulster Minor Championship

In a very important last group game Donegal proved much too strong for  Monaghan to finish top and qualify for the Ulster Minor Championship semi-final.

They got going in the second quarter with six points and then two goals in quick succession just before the half-time whistle.

They eased up considerably in the second half adding just four points but after losing last week to Down, they will be really happy with the way they dominated this game.

Donegal got off to the perfect start with Pauric Devine finding the range after 36 seconds. They had a half goal chance on four minutes with Eoghan Gallagher, impressive throughout the first half, causing a nuisance and the ball broke for Conor McCahill to point.

Monaghan got back on terms by the 10th minute with a free and a mark from Killian Kearns as Donegal went through a sticky patch.

They were defending well but their passing up front just weren’t sticking. But there seemed to be a switch turned on at the midway point and they were able to point at will.

Turlough Carr was central to the team finding their way, setting up Conor McCahill to point and then adding the fourth and fifth, the latter after good work by Max Campbell.

The Monaghan replacement ‘keeper was being put under pressure and further points followed from Cathal Mac Aoidh, Conor McCahill (after great work by Jordi Gribben and Devine). Eoghan Gallagher forced a turnover for Tomás Carr to hit the point of the half for an 0-8 to 0-2 lead.

Donegal ‘keeper Padraig McBride was lucky not to be punished in the 28th minute as he failed to hold a centre and it fell for Lorcan Mone to fist over.

But Donegal then finished the half really well with two goals in 90 seconds. Colm O Dochartaigh raced through to set up Eoghan Gallagher for the first and then Donnchadh O Baoighill fired home the second and send Donegal to the dressing rooms ahead by 2-8 to 0-3.

Monaghan had most of the possession in the early stages of the second half but had just one point, from Evan Treanor, in 10 minutes with three more wides recorded to add to their five in the opening half.

Donegal were in danger of becoming sloppy at times and Monaghan had a great chance when full-back Tiernan McGeough was in space but Padraig McBride made a great stop with his boot.

Donegal eventually got on the scoreboard again when Conor McCahill went on a mazy run to point and they opened up Monaghan again second later with Donnchadh Ó Baoighill denied at the expense of a ‘45’.

Scores were scarce with Tristan Nugent fisting a score for Monaghan on 44 minutes while Cian Rafferty added  another on 47 minutes.

Tomás Carr had Donegal’s second point of the half and they had a great goal chance when Cathal O Gallachoir got through and set up Colm O Dochartaigh but he palmed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Darcy Foy (free) and Evan Treanor cut the lead further for Monaghan but the  result was never in doubt.

Lorcan Mone had a late chance of a goal for Monaghan but Padraig McBride saved at the expense of a ‘45’

Donegal scorers: Conor McCahill 0-4; Turlough Carr 0-3,1f; Donnchadh O Baoighill and Eoghan Gallagher 1-0 each; Tomás Carr 0-2; Cathal Mac Aoidh, Pauric  Devine, Cathal Ó Gallachoir 0-1 each.

Monaghan scorers: Killian Kearns 0-2,f,m; Evan Treanor 0-2 each; Cian Rafferty, Darcy Foy (f), Tristan Nugent, Lorcan Mone  0-1 each.

Donegal: Padraig McBride; Elliot Friel, Jordi Gribben, Cathal Mac Aoidh; Pauric Devine, Cathal Ó Gallachoir, Max Campbell; Kalvin McLaughlin, Luke McGuinness; Turlough Carr, Tomás Carr, Donnchadh Ó Baoighill; Colm Ó Dochartaigh, Eoghan Gallagher, Conor McCahill.

Subs: Alex Cunnea for O Baoighill (48); Thomas McDevitt for Campbell and Eoghan Ban McNelis for E Gallagher (both 55); Paddy Ward for Tomas Carr (30+1)

Monaghan: Shane Clerkin; Mark McCaffrey, Tiernan McGeough, Senan Carolan; Shea Corrigan, Lorcan Mone, Conor Meehan; Simon Du Plessis, Andrew Stewart; Cian Rafferty, Senan Hanratty, James McKenna; Evan Treanor, Luke McKenna, Killian Kearns.

Subs: Darcy Foy for J McKenna (26); Joe O’Farrell for Hanratty, Tristan Nugent for L McKenna (both ht); Noah McGinty for Du Plessis (35); Oisin McConnon for Kearns (46).

Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone)