Dramatic ATU Donegal comeback ends in extra-time loss to DCU

Donegal ATU made their exit from the HE Senior Football League Division 1 campaign following a dramatic encounter against Dublin City University at the quarter-final stage at St Claire’s in Drumcondra.

Dublin City University 4-14
ATU Donegal 2-18
(after extra-time)

Maxi Curran’s side looked to be crashing to a heavy defeat aws they trailed by 10 points at the break but managed to produce a stirring second half to tie the game up at 2-15 to 3-12 to force extra-time.

Lorcan O’Dell of Dublin scored two goals for DCU, with Monaghan’s Sean Jones grabbing the other. However, with Conor O’Donnell, who scored six points in all, on song and Killybegs’ Jack McSharry hitting four on the night, goals from Milford’s Rory O’Donnell and Ryan McFadden from Termon, ATU Donegal somehow forced extra-time.

However, DCU, who lined up with Oisin Cannon from St Michael’s in goals, Jamie Grant of Termon at quarter-back and Glenfin’s Ross Marley in defence, came good in extra-time to win out by a four-point margin to reach the semi-final.

Colm Fadden joins up with Sligo senior set-up as forwards coach

Former Donegal player Colm McFadden is now part of the Sligo backroom team under manager Tony McEntee as a forwards coach

The defeat marks the last game for ATU Donegal - who beat Queen’s University Belfast and St Mary’s before losing to University of Ulster in the group stages -prior to the start of the Sigerson Cup in mid-January. The Letterkenny-based college were semi-finalists in the competition on their first ever appearance in 2020 and on their return after the pandemic made it to the last eight in 2022, losing out to eventual winners NUI Galway.

ATU Donegal scorers: Conor O’Donnell 0-6; Jack McSharry 0-4; Rory O’Donnell and Ryan McFadden 1-0 each; Mark McAteer and Jason McGee 0-2; Beanon Corrigan, Kealan Dunleavy and Dylan Dorrian 0-1 each.

ATU Donegal: Johnny Toye (Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin); Aaron Gilhooley (Sean MacCumhaill’s), Kieran Tobin (St Eunan’s), Dylan Dorrian (Milford); Beanón Corrigan (St Geraldine's, Co Louth), Jack Gallagher (Glenswilly), Kealan McGroddy (Downings); Jason McGee (Cloughaneely),  Rory O’Donnell (Milford); Kealan Dunleavy (Glenswilly), Jack McSharry (Killybegs), Ryan McFadden (Termon);  Conor O’Donnell (Carndonagh), Mark McAteer (Gaeil Fhánada), Blake McGarvey (Cloughaneely). Subs: Jack Gillespie (Red Hughs) for Corrigan (20),  Darragh McMenamin (Red Hughs) for Gillespie (73)