Another impressive performance by Luke Barrett’s young team sees them through to the Buncrana Cup final.
Donegal U16 4 – 11 Cavan U16 4 – 04
Report by Charlie Collins
Photos by Evan Logan
In a high scoring game, they just had enough to outscore a talented Cavan team in Convoy.
The teams exchanged four points in opening 12 minutes, Caolan McClintock and Blake McGarvey for Donegal, Conor Casey and Evan Brady for Cavan.
The visitors suffered a big blow when star wing forward Emmanuel Shedu got a straight red card for what looked like a stamp on a defender on the ground.
Donegal’s Cian Rooney heads for goal during Saturday’s Buncrana Cup semi final. Photo Evan Loga
Caolan McClintock produced a super bit of play before hammering the ball to the Cavan net in the 15th minute.
Cian Rooney and McClintock added points and when Rooney pounced on a mistake by Cavan keeper Thomas Byrd to hammer a second Donegal goal followed by a Drew Mc Kinney point it was 2-05 to 0-02 in Donegal favour.
But Cavan hit back with a super goal by the impressive Evan Brady, James McBreen pointed and when midfielder Dean Carroll got forward to flick home a second Cavan goal there were just two points in it 2-05 to 2-03.
Donegal’s Christopher Mulligan during Saturday’s Buncrana Cup semi final. Photo Evan Logan
However, with virtually the last kick of the half Donegal added a third goal when Cian Rooney burst through to hammer the ball home to end an excellent first-Half with Donegal ahead by 3-05 to 2-03.
Caolan McClintock opened the scoring in the second-half as he had in the first with a point but Conor Casey who had done likewise for Cavan replied when he finished brilliantly to the net for a third Cavan goal to leave it 3-06 to 3-03 and game on again.
Donegal’s Caolan McClintock celebrates his goal during Saturday’s Buncrana Cup semi final. Photo Evan Logan
However, once again Donegal’s response was swift, Cian Rooney completely his hat-trick of goals with another excellent finish.
Blake McGarvey and Rooney added points and Donegal now led by 4-08 to 3-03 after 45 minutes. Sub David Boyle added three points for the HOE team and Cavan added a late goal to finish the scoring and Donegal safely through to the Final.
Donegal: Shea McBride; Cian Mulligan, Tiernan McBride, Oisin McDaid; Cian McEntee, Kyle Murray, Eoghan McLaughlin; Drew McKinney ( 0-01 ), Stephen McFadden; Oran Patterson, Christopher Mulligan, Blake McGarvey (0-02 ), Caolan McClintock ( 1-03), Cian Rooney (3-02), Oisin Crawford.
SUBS USED: Robbie McDonnell, Senan Quinn, Cian McMonagle, David Boyle (0-3), Conor O Neill, Dylan Murphy.
