Drumragh Gaa Club just outside Omagh provided an excellent setting and facilities for this keenly contest Ulster Under 17 Jim Mc Guigan Cup Final between Donegal and Monaghan. After a good start with the wind at their backs Donegal raced to a 0-05 to 0-01 and then a 0-07 to 0-02 lead but by half-time an impressive Monaghan team had turned that around to lead by 1-09 to 0-09 and went on to take the victory with a strong second-half performance. DONEGAL 1-12 V 2-21 MONAGHAN. Donegal started well and got five of the game’s opening six points. Shane O Donnell, Leo Dunphy , Nathan Byrne, Eric Carr and Dunphy again all scored from play , while the very impressive Jason Irwin replied for Monaghan. Irwin got his second in the 11th minute but Carr and Dunphy added further points for Gary Duffy’s young Donegal side to give them a five point lead at the end of the first quarter. That’s as good as it got for Donegal in this final as Monaghan began to find their feet and in doing so looked very dangerous going forward. Midfielder Andrew Moore had looked good with strong runs from deep and another of those produced the game’s opening goal. His attempt was blocked but the rebound fell kindly for Jason Irwin who tucked the ball confidently past keeper Corey Byrne. Two quick points by Jordan Mc Garrell and Irwin left it level in the 18th minute. Shane O Donnell restored Donegal’s lead from a free but points by Aaron Mulligan and his first of seven by Sean Jones had Monaghan ahead for the first time in the game in the 20th minute. Leo Dunphy replied for Donegal with his fourth point of the half but Monaghan’s tail was now up and they got the final three points of the half. The first of those could easily have been a goal, Corey Byrne produced a brillant save to deny Irwin before Mulligan tapped over and Karl Gallagher and Jones got the others to leave Monaghan ahead at the break by 1-09 to 0-09. CHARLIE COLLINS REPORTS FROM DRUMRAGH.
