Donegal Masters qualify for All-Ireland final after comfortable win over Kildare

Donegal Masters are back in the All-Ireland Shield final after overcoming Kildare  for the second year in-a-row in the semi-final in Templeport, Co Cavan on Wednesday night.

Donegal 1-9
Kildare 0-7

The Bawnboy venue is becoming a favourite place for Masters manager, Mark Cannon, as it is his third big win there in a year. He was part of the Donegal panel last year when Donegal won the Masters Shield, defeating Westmeath while he managed his school, St Columba’s to Markey Cup success at the venue earlier this year.

The five point win on Wednesday night was a comfortable victory for Donegal, who led by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break.

The big turning point in the game came after 10 minutes when Paddy McNulty played a couple of one-twos on a run from midfield to blast home the only goal of the game.

Donegal went on to pull players back in the second half and defend the lead and even though they lost the second half by four points to two, they were never in any real trouble.

The Donegal and Kildare panels after Wednesday night's game

“We had a goal disallowed in the second half and their goalkeeper, who seemed to be 7 ft tall, stopped a couple of points above the crossbar,” said Donegal boss Cannon.

“Kildare were physical in the second half and were lucky to finish with 15 with Paddy McNulty and Sean McDaid taking a couple of bad hits.”

The manager said that they wanted to start better after conceding goals to Dublin in the play-off and it worked well for them. “We got a couple of points and then Paddy McNulty’s goal set us on our way.

“We were well in command and first to every ball. We had Conor McShane back at full-back and Sean McDaid was sweeping and Cathal Gallagher didn’t have a shot to save.

“It was good also to have Paddy McNulty and Benny Boyle back at midfield which gave us options for the kick-out and we also had Eunan Keaveney back in the forward line,” said Cannon.

“We had 29 players with us on the night and most of them got a run.”

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Donegal will play Galway in the All-Ireland final which is likely to be a double header with the Division 4 final and is scheduled for Saturday, 3rd September. No venue has yet been decided.

Donegal scorers: Paddy McNulty 1-2; Benny Boyle 0-2; Liam McGroarty, Benny Quinn, Gerard McBrearty, Brian McLaughlin, Stephen Coyle 0-1 each.

DONEGAL: Cathal Gallagher; Charlie Doherty, Hugh Foy, PJ Doohan; Conor McShane, Patrick Gallagher, Seamus Hegarty; Paddy McNulty, Benny Boyle; Benny Quinn, Stephen Coyle, Eunan Keaveney; Gerard McBrearty, Brian McLaughlin, Sean McDaid. Interchange players: M Cannon, L McGroarty, D Slevin, K Ryan, D McShane, G Gillen, N McGarrigle, P Gallagher, S Doherty, M Mooney, M Canning, L Breen, M Keown, P Patton.