Great success for Donegal U-15s with Brian McLernon Shield final win over Down

After losing the Cup final last year at U-15 level against Tyrone, Donegal had a good win in this year's final against Down at Garvaghey on Saturday.

The win was great reward for the entire panel of 50, with the management team having the difficult task of picking the 26 for the match day squad for the final.

Donegal were just two points ahead at half-time, 0-7 to 0-5, but struck for three goals in the second half. Mark Anthony McGuinness struck the first goal five minutes into the new half and the second goal from Finn Gillespie arrived a few minutes later.

The third goal from Oisin Mullan on 50 minutes set Donegal on their way to victory.

Manager Shane McNulty paid tribute to the entire squad and to the work put in by club coaches and parents in getting the players to training. He also thanked the coaching staff with the U-15s including Michael Murphy, Emmett Gallagher, Sean O'Haire, Sean McDaid, Paul Sweeney, Gavin Maguire, Damien Bradley, Damien McIntyre and Karl Hughes.

"We started out with the panel being cut down to 38 but we have given an avenue to other players to make their mark in the panel.

"The U-15 development squad is not about winning but about getting performances. All we want to do is provide the environment for them to develop. We have some great coaches involved in the project which was originally set out by Karl Lacey and now being driven forward by Declan Bushell," said McNulty, who added that the panel was open ended and they are always on the lookout for new players and providing a platform for them to develop.

Donegal: Ronan O'Donnell, Niall McBrearty, Mark Wilkinson, Eoghan Tomas, Seaghan Boyle, Ryan Buckley, Tadhg McDaid, Conor Griffin, Matthew McGinley, Darragh O'Hare, Oisin Mullan, Thomas McHugh, MJ Ward, Shay McNulty, Finn Gillespie, Shay Campbell, Daimhin Byrne, Caolan McTaggart, Fionan Coyle, Lewis Cunnea, Patrick McHugh, Evan Duffy, Mark A McGuinness, Logan Melly, Rian Regan, Rory Gill.

Extended panel: Max O'Reilly, Luke Kelly, Charlie Barrett, Patrick Gallagher, Micheal Byrne, Zak Smith, Jake Bonner, Micheal Sweeney, James Toner, Davin Kelly, Ryan Toye, Shay Sweeney, Adam Cunningham, Anton Doherty, Mick McDermott, Charlie McLoughlin, Owen Lynch, Luan Lynch, Cormac Crossan, Danny Og Cooney, Callum Dorrian, Gavin Gallagher, Finn Nolan.