Donegal 0-20 v 0-20 Armagh (AET)
Donegal win 6-5 on penalties
By Charlie Collins reporting from St Tiernach’s Park, Clones
5 years after their final title victory and following defeats of their final two last appearances and ten years after Jim McGuinness final led them to a 3rd title in 4 years, Donegal have been again in one other Ulster Senior Championship Ultimate.
Donegal supervisor Jim McGuinness throughout Sunday’s last. Photograph Evan Logan
Their opponents Armagh have been again once more after shedding on penalties to Derry final 12 months, and not using a title since 2008 and hungry to bridge that lengthy hole this time round. So secure to say that there was a lot at stake at St.Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
An unprecedented demand for tickets was no shock given the help these two counties take pleasure in each time they compete and a full home created a implausible environment on an ideal day for soccer. Each groups made a late change to their beginning lineup, with Greg McCabe coming in for Jarlath Og Burns on the Armagh staff and to the shock of many, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, who hadn’t featured since selecting up an damage in opposition to Cavan again on February 4th changed Patrick McBrearty.
Armagh captain Aidan Forkan opened the scoring within the second minute, two minutes later Oisín Gallen replied for Donegal. Donegal had the sting on possession however poor passing noticed them turned over a number of occasions in good positions. Peadar Mogan and Rory Grugan then exchanged fast factors As did Oisín Gallen with a cracker and Oisín Conaty, 0-03 factors apiece in a energetic opening fifteen minutes.
Donegal’s Mark Curran breaks out of defence throughout Sunday’s last. Photograph Evan Logan
Gallen from a free and a very good Shane O Donnell level from play put Donegal two in entrance however Armagh kicked 4 of the following 5 factors, three from Conor Turbitt and one from Andrew Murnin to a lone Daire O Baoill for Donegal, Oisín Gallen levelled it up along with his fourth level, 0-07 apiece in a cracking sport.
Donegal’s Ryan McHugh units up a primary half assault throughout Sunday’s last. Photograph Evan Logan
Ciaran Mackin put Armagh forward once more, Shane O Donnell equalized, Ben Crealey put Armagh in entrance once more however Oisín Gallen kicked his fifth level to depart it 0-09 apiece. Nevertheless Armagh had the ultimate say of the first-half when Ben Crealey transformed from a mark to depart his staff one level forward at half-time, 0-10 to 0-09 and all to play for on this last.
Armagh flew out of the blocks at the beginning of the second-half with three fast factors from Turbitt, Conaty and Stefan Campbell to guide by 4 as Donegal struggled to place their sport collectively. Niall O Donnell and Michael Langan exchanged factors with Rian O Neill and Stefan Campbell, 0-15 to 0-011 for Armagh.
Donegal’s Niall O’Donnell turns for purpose throughout Sunday’s last. Photograph Evan Logan
Donegal made adjustments off the bench and clicked into the next gear with 4 factors in a fow from Niall O Donnell, Oisín Gallen, Jason McGee and Patrick McBrearty, stage at 0-15 apiece.
That’s the way it stayed till the top and we have been off to extra-time but once more in a Ulster Senior Championship Ultimate.
Patrick McBrearty’s free put Donegal forward, Andrew Murnin replied and Aidan Nugent put Armagh forward. Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui equalised however Nugent transformed a free and Armagh have been forward 0-18 to 0-17 at half-time off additional time.
Peadar Mogan introduced them stage once more however Oisín O Neill replied with an excellent rating as Armagh stored going forward and when Nugent acquired his third they have been two forward, 0-20 to 0-18.
Daire O Baoill diminished it to 1 and Odhran Doherty kicked a cracker to stage this thriller and regardless of each groups having an opportunity to win it neither might and for the second 12 months in a row the ultimate was going to penalties.
Donegal’s penalty takers have been an ideal 6-for-6, with Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan, Jason McGee, Daire O Baoill, and Aaron Doherty all slotting house – Doherty changing two efforts, the primary penalty of the shootout after which Donegal’s sixth.
Shaun Patton got here inside millimetres of saving Armagh’s fifth penalty, earlier than hanging on with a implausible cease 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). Further-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), Further-time Subs: Jason Duffy, Aidan Forker.
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
Match Report: Good Donegal are Ulster Champions as soon as once more was final modified: Could twelfth, 2024 by
