Impressive Donegal open Ulster U20 campaign with win over Armagh

Donegal set up an Ulster U-20 Football Championship quarter-final against Tyrone at Healy Park next weekend following their routine victory over Armagh in Ballybofey.

Donegal 1-17
Armagh 0-9

A fine second quarter saw the side managed by Gary Duffy push a one-point lead into a seven-point half-time cushion with Eoin Dowling finding the net in the first minute of injury time, when he plucked Padraig McGettigan’s long ball in over his head to turn and score. 

The visitors looked content to sit in and that forced Donegal to polish up on their long-range shooting, which they did with mixed success. McGettigan and Ryan McFadden were on the money from range and brought the home team back on terms at 0-2 to 0-2.

Armagh, when they went, looked dangerous to being with, with James McCormac in particular a threat. McFadden’s second point with the last kick before the water-break edged Donegal into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead. When Donegal clicked, they managed to reel off six points in succession, with Dowling adding two, Richard O’Rourke and Shane O’Donnell all getting those green flags waving.

McGettigan, on 28 minutes got in behind the Armagh defence, and had eyes only for goal. The angle wasn’t the kindest and Shea Magill made a useful save. McCormac’s second score was Armagh’s first in 21 minutes. However, just when it looked like that swing would be a decent one for Peter McDonnell’s side going into the break, Dowling struck the opening goal. Donegal were 1-8 to 0-4 ahead at half-time.

Armagh could’ve counted themselves a touch unfortunate as moments before Dowling’s goal McCormac saw a pop for a point come back down off the upright, only for those in green and gold to gather and seize possession.  

With a relatively decent advantage, Donegal had shown in the opening half they’d an array of players capable of keeping the scoreboard ticking over, while Johnny McGroddy could take responsibility from frees. That’s exactly how it panned out with Donegal 1-13 to 0-6 in front by the second water-break and the fact Armagh’s top-scorer was Mark McKeever with three frees in all told a story in itself.

Collectively, dropping four balls into Donegal goalkeeper Daithi Roberts’ breadbasket didn’t help, nor did Diarmaid Loney blazing wide when he had half a sight at goal. Job done. Omagh to come.

Shane O’Donnell, under the lights, kept Donegal on the front foot and McGettigan almost grabbed a second goal only to see his shot come back down off the crossbar and he was content enough to drive the rebound over. It was that sort of second half.

Donegal scorers: E Dowling (1-2), J McGroddy (0-3, 3f),P McGettigan (0-4),  S O’Donnell (0-3), R McFadden (0-2), R O’Rourke, R O’Donnell, C McColgan (0-1).

Armagh scorers: M McKeever (0-3, 3f), J McCormac (0-2), E Woods, J Martin (0-1), L Camara (0-1, 1f), J Sheridan (0-1,1m).

Donegal: Daithi Roberts (Gaoth Dobhair); Caolan McColgan (Naomh Padraig, Muff), Jamie Grant (Termon), Jack Gallagher (Glenswilly); Kieran Tobin (St Eunan’s), Paul O’Hare (Naomh Columba), Richard O’Rourke (Four Masters); Rory O’Donnell (Milford), Ryan McFadden (Termon); Carlos O’Reilly (St Michael’s), Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s), Ryan McShane (Kilcar); Eoin Dowling (St Eunan’s), Padraig McGettigan (St Eunan’s), Johnny McGroddy (Downings).Subs: Nathan Byrne (Naomh Conaill) for O’Hare (42), Ronan Frain (Letterkenny Gaels) for O’Reilly (52), Keelan Dunleavy (Glenswilly) for O’Rourke (55), Anthony Doherty (Carndonagh) for Tobin (57), Ronan Gallagher for Dowling (59).

Armagh: Shea Magill; Peter McGrane, Oran McKeown, Lee Rice; Redmond French, Lennox Camara, Sean Quigley; Niall McCorry, Eoin Woods; Dara O’Callaghan, Jamie Martin, Tiernan Kelly; Mark McKeever, Louis Hughes, James McCormac. Subs: Rory Kearney for Quigley (29), Joe Sheridan for O’Callaghan (29), Diarmaid Loney for Hughes (36), Oisin King for Kelly (46), Aidan Harney for French (47).

Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan).