Donegal 0-20 v 0-20 Armagh (AET)
Donegal win 6-5 on penalties
By Charlie Collins reporting from St Tiernach’s Park, Clones
Five years after their last title victory and following defeats in their last two final appearances and ten years after Jim McGuinness last led them to a third title in four years, Donegal were back in another Ulster Senior Championship Final.
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness during Sunday’s final. Photo Evan Logan
Their opponents Armagh were back again after losing on penalties to Derry last year, without a title since 2008 and hungry to bridge that long gap this time around. So safe to say that there was much at stake at St.Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
An unprecedented demand for tickets was no surprise given the support these two counties enjoy every time they compete and a full house created a fantastic atmosphere on a perfect day for football. Both teams made a late change to their starting lineup, with Greg McCabe coming in for Jarlath Og Burns on the Armagh team and to the surprise of many, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, who hadn’t featured since picking up an injury against Cavan back on February 4th replaced Patrick McBrearty.
Armagh captain Aidan Forkan opened the scoring in the second minute, two minutes later Oisín Gallen replied for Donegal. Donegal had the edge on possession but poor passing saw them turned over several times in good positions. Peadar Mogan and Rory Grugan then exchanged quick points As did Oisín Gallen with a cracker and Oisín Conaty, 0-03 points apiece in a lively opening fifteen minutes.
Donegal’s Mark Curran breaks out of defence during Sunday’s final. Photo Evan Logan
Gallen from a free and an excellent Shane O Donnell point from play put Donegal two in front but Armagh kicked four of the next five points, three from Conor Turbitt and one from Andrew Murnin to a lone Daire O Baoill for Donegal, Oisín Gallen levelled it up with his fourth point, 0-07 apiece in a cracking game.
Donegal’s Ryan McHugh sets up a first half attack during Sunday’s final. Photo Evan Logan
Ciaran Mackin put Armagh ahead again, Shane O Donnell equalized, Ben Crealey put Armagh in front again but Oisín Gallen kicked his fifth point to leave it 0-09 apiece. However Armagh had the final say of the first-half when Ben Crealey converted from a mark to leave his team one point ahead at half-time, 0-10 to 0-09 and all to play for in this final.
Armagh flew out of the blocks at the start of the second-half with three quick points from Turbitt, Conaty and Stefan Campbell to lead by four as Donegal struggled to put their game together. Niall O Donnell and Michael Langan exchanged points with Rian O Neill and Stefan Campbell, 0-15 to 0-011 for Armagh.
Donegal’s Niall O’Donnell turns for goal during Sunday’s final. Photo Evan Logan
Donegal made changes off the bench and clicked into a higher gear with four points in a fow from Niall O Donnell, Oisín Gallen, Jason McGee and Patrick McBrearty, level at 0-15 apiece.
That’s how it stayed until the end and we were off to extra-time yet again in a Ulster Senior Championship Final.
Patrick McBrearty’s free put Donegal ahead, Andrew Murnin replied and Aidan Nugent put Armagh ahead. Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui equalised but Nugent converted a free and Armagh were ahead 0-18 to 0-17 at half-time off extra time.
Peadar Mogan brought them level again but Oisín O Neill replied with a super score as Armagh kept going ahead and when Nugent got his third they were two ahead, 0-20 to 0-18.
Daire O Baoill reduced it to one and Odhran Doherty kicked a cracker to level this thriller and despite both teams having a chance to win it neither could and for the second year in a row the final was going to penalties.
Donegal’s penalty takers were a perfect 6-for-6, with Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan, Jason McGee, Daire O Baoill, and Aaron Doherty all slotting home – Doherty converting two efforts, the first penalty of the shootout and then Donegal’s sixth.
Shaun Patton came within millimetres of saving Armagh’s fifth penalty, before hanging on with a fantastic stop to win Donegal the shootout and their first Ulster Championship since 2019.
Donegal: Shaun Patton, Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore , Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan (0-02), Jason McGee (0-01), Michael Langan (0-01), Shane O Donnell (0-02), Ciaran Thompson, Daire O Baoill (0-02), Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Oisin Gallen (0-06), Niall O Donnell (0-02). Subs: Caolan McColgan for Curran (h/t), Patrick McBrearty (0-02), for Moore (40mins), Aaron Doherty for O Boaill (46mins), Jamie Brennan for Gallagher (55mins), Jeaic Mac Ceallbhui (0-01) for Thompson (65mins). Extra-Time Subs: Odhran Doherty (0-01), Daire O Baoill, Ciaran Thompson.
Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane, Joe McElroy, Ciaran Mackin (0-01), Aidan Forker (0-01), Rian O Neill (0-01) , Ben Crealey (0-02), Stefan Campbell (0-02), Rory Grugan (0-01), Oisin Conaty (0-02), Andrew Murnin (0-2), Conor Turbitt (0-04). Subs: Jarlath Og Burns for McCabe (60mins), Oisín O Neill and Aidan Nugent (0-03) for Crealey and Turbitt (65mins), Tiernan Kelly for Forkan (68mins), Extra-time Subs: Jason Duffy, Aidan Forker.
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).