How Donegal's Ulster champs fared in the All-Ireland club series down the years

Red Hughs 2018/19

Red Hughs’ quest to reach the All-Ireland JFC club final fell short when they went down to Easkey from Sligo at Sean O’Heslin’s Park in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.

The side managed by Seosamh Mac Ceallabhui had made the last four courtesy of Donegal and Ulster JFC wins, which both preceded an extra-time success over Dunedin Connolly’s from Edinburgh in the All-Ireland quarter-final in Letterkenny a month beforehand.

A goal by Easkey’s James Lindsay midway through the second half meant the Donegal and Ulster champs had a mountain to climb at five points down in the All-Ireland JFC semi-final.

Red Hughs, as they frequently did, rallied. In the end, though, they had gone to the well once too often and the curtains finally closed on their memorable season.

It was 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time and Ryan McKenna scored four points for Easkey. For Red Hugh’s, who trailed 0-4 to 0-3 on 15 minutes, Damien Browne scored all their points from frees.

“If possession is nine-tenths of the law, then it doesn’t overrule the scoreboard,” Donegal Sport Hub penned. “Red Hugh’s perhaps had as much or more of the ball in the first half but were constantly frustrated by the stout Easkey defence.”

Browne would end up with six points, Odhran Doherty and Johnny Carlin with one apiece. Easkey had no answer for Beaufort in the final at Croke Park, with the Kerry team winning 3-17 to 0-5.

Red Hughs won Ulster thanks to a 3-8 to 0-8 quarter-final win over Glenravel of Antrim, followed by victories over Emyvale from Monaghan, 1-13 to 0-12, and a 1-11 to 1-9 Ulster JFC success over Limavady Wolfhounds from Derry. The Killyogordon side were 4-9 to 0-5 victors over Urris in the Donegal JFC final.