Sean MacCumhaills hang on to win Donegal Minor A Hurling final against Setanta

The hurling revival in the Twin Towns is continuing after a powerful Sean MacCumhaills team clinched the Donegal Minor Hurling Championship on Thursday evening with a 1-10 to 0-9 point win over Setanta. 

In a close encounter at the Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence, MacCumhaills held out against spirited Setanta to eventually win by four points but they will not be happy with a total of 12 wides, many from scoreable positions to a lighter Setanta tally of seven wides in what was a pulsating tussle. 

It looked like all the momentum was with MacCumhaills as they led by 1-7 to 0-5 at the break, facing into the second half with the aid of a slight breeze. 

And three points, two from Dan Donnelly and a soaring effort from Jacob Malone put them ahead by 1-10 to 0-5 by the 40th minute. 

That should have been the platform to kick on but Setanta hit back and nailed the next four points in a frenetic finish where it took a superb save from MacCumhaills’ goalkeeper Fionn McNulty to keep out a thunderbolt from Setanta’s excellent Mark Wilkinson as referee Trevor Maloney played five minutes of extra-time. 

But MacCumhaills were deserving winners as Dylan Patton’s first-half goal in the 20th minute proved crucial. 

MacCumhaill’s started this final briskly with Donnelly and Patton easing them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead by the fifth minute. 

Daimhin Byrne had a great chance of a goal for MacCumhaills but he was rightly blown up for overcarrying. 

But they were not having it easy, as Sean McMenamin and Wilkinson levelled matters for Setanta who were getting in a number of hooks and blocks and showing the benefit of county star Danny Cullen’s coaching. 

MacCumhaills threatened danger and Rory Doherty and Sean Brady Devenney put them back in front by 0-4 to 0-2. 

The hard-working Ryley Stewart cut the margin by a point before Wilkinson levelled matters on the 19th minute. 

Byrne restored the lead for MacCumhaills who had racked up six wides by this stage, before they struck for the crucial goal in the 20th minute. 

A speculative long ball deep into the Setanta defence fell at the feet of Patton and he showed a true forward’s instinct by first timing the sliotar to the net on the ground for a goal. 

This was to prove to be a huge score, and it was followed immediately by a point from the powerful Donnelly, with him and Wilkinson swapped points as MacCumhaills led by 1-7 to 0-5 at the break. 

It seemed well set up for them to surge clear with the wind and Donnelly (0-2) and the powerful Malone put them in front by 1-10 to 0-9 by the 40th minute. 

But they continued to hit a number of wides as Setanta battled their way back into contention. 

Wilkinson made it 1-10 to 0-6 before MacCumhaills’ goalkeeper McNulty denied the same player a certain goal from a good pass from Fionn Farren. 

Setanta were pressing hard and had further points from Wilkinson, a shot from Conor Gallagher that was deflected over the bar and a final point from Stewart as MacCumahail’s hung for an eventually nervy victory. 

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Dylan Patton 1-1; Dan Donnelly 0-4, 3fs; Sean Brady Devenney, Rory Doherty, Jacob Malone, Rory Doherty and Daimhin Byrne 0-1 each. Setanta scorers: Mark Wilkinson 0-4, 1f; Ryley Stewart 0-2; Conor Gallagher, Liam Carlin and Sean McMenamin 0-1 each. 

Sean MacCumhaills: Fionn McNulty; Davitt Bradley/Flynn, Adam Byrne, Shay Bradley; Oisin Mullen, Jacob Malone, Lorcan Byrne; Sean Brady Devenney, Pauric Kelly; Rory Doherty, Dan Donnelly, Jamie Gallen; Dylan Patton, Riain McBrearty, Daimhin Byrne. Subs: Fionn McGinty for Daimhin Byrne (52 mins), Shay McNulty for Riain McBrearty (57 mins). 

Setanta: Oisin Coyle; Cameron Porter, Daire Galvin, James Wray; Killian Gallinagh, Fionn Farren, Conor Galvin; Conor Gallagher, Mark Wilkinson; Liam Carlin, Ryan McConnell, Ryley Stewart; Sean McMenamin, James Foy, Emmet Brown. Subs: Matthew Wray for James Foy (48). 

Referee: Trevor Maloney (Buncrana)