Donegal players celebrate following the Ulster SFC Final. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ulster Senior Football Championship Final
Donegal 0-20 Armagh 0-20 AET
Donegal win 6-5 on penalties
By Steve Malone at St Tiernach's Park
Shaun Patton ‘s save in sudden death from Shane McPartlan crowned Donegal as Ulster Champions and inflicted another penalty heart-break on Armagh.
Played in front of 28,896 in Clones, it was tense throughout, with little between the teams.
It was disciplined display by both teams with neither side going for broke too often and it worked out for Jim McGuinness’ Donegal.
As expected the first half was game of cat and mouse although both teams struck over some great points. It was a tactical battle and with neither side seeming to gain the upper hand so it was all to play for in the second half.
Aidan Forker opening the scoring with a trademark outside of the foot effort, but in was Donegal who took the lead after Oisin Gallan and Peadar Mogan were on target.
Rory Grugan hit back a minute later on 12 minutes and that score seemed to loosen up some of the team structures.
It was tit-for-tat, Gallen and Paddy Burns were having a great battle and one end while Conor Turbitt and Ciaran Moore went toe-to-toe at the other end.
Shane O’Donnell’s curling effort doubled Donegal’s lead, but Turbitt pulled away from his marker to hit back before Daire O’Baoill swung over to restore the gap, with only 18 minutes played.
Turbitt kicked over from distance and when Andrew Murnin levelled the score the vocal support could be heard.
Turbitt then struck over his third point after Armagh kept ball and forced their opponents to sit deep, but Gallen was on hand to level the scores again. Ciaran Mackin and O’Donnell traded points before Ben Crealey and Gallen did likewise.
But it was Crealey’s mark on 34 minutes which gave Armagh a 0-10 to 0-9 half-time lead.
Donegal introduced their ace card Patrick McBrearty at the second half, but it was the Orchard that stretched their lead with Stefan Campbell firing over twice, although not before a superb point from Oisin Conaty, who rolled his marker.
Armagh had a skip in their step with Rian O’Neill grabbing his first score from a mark but Donegal stayed in touch with fine scores from Niall O’Donnell and Michael Langan.
Campbell’s second point came in 53 minutes and to put Armagh four ahead and that was their last score as Donegal hit five unanswered points to send the game into extra-time as they kept Armagh scoreless for the last 20 minutes.
Niall O’Donnell bagged his second and a converted free from Gallen closed the gap to two points with 15 minutes remaining before Jason McGee was on target.
McBreaty levelled five minutes from time and Armagh’s Tiernan Kelly had the chance to win the game with his first touch, but his shot drifted wide, to send the game into extra-time.
The first half of extra-time was more open, but still disciplined although McBreaty’s free edged Donegal ahead. Armagh were starting to keep their opponents at bay and when Murnin got a sniff he squeezed his effort between the posts.
It was all square again until the final minute of extra-time when Jarly Og Burns was fouled to earn Aidan Nugent the chance to convert, which he did.
Mogan levelled within a minute of the restart and two minutes later Oisin O’Neill floated over a beauty and Nugent’s fine scores made it a two-point game.
But as they did in normal time, Donegal worked their way back with O’Baoill and the unmarked Odhran Doherty ultimately sending the game to penalties.
Ciaran Thompson made it 1-0 to Donegal, Shane McPartlan levelled, Aaron Doherty put Donegal ahead again and Oisin Conaty levelled.
All ten spot-kickers converted in the first round, Donegal’s Ciaran Thompson, Aaron Doherty, Jason McGee, Michael Langan and Daire O’Boyle, while Shane McPartlan, Oisin Conaty, Conor Turbitt and Tieran Kelly were on target to send the game into sudden death.
Aaron Doherty scored while McParlan’s effort was saved by Shaun Patton to crown McGuinness’ Donegal Ulster champions.
Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane, Joe McElroy, Ciaran Mackin (0-1), Aidan Forker (0-1), Rian O’Neill (0-1, m), Ben Crealey (0-2, 1m), Stefan Campbell (0-2), Rory Grugan (0-1), Greg McCabe, Oisin Conaty (0-2), Andrew Murnin (0-2), Conor Turbitt (0-4).
Subs: Jarly Og Burns for McCabe (60’), Oisin O’Neill (0-1) for Crealey (65’), Aidan Nugent (0-3, 1f) for Turbitt (67’), Tiernan Kelly for Forker (70’), Jason Duffy for McElroy (71’ in et), Jemar Hall for McGrane (79’ in et), Shane McPartlan for Mackin (80,), Turbitt for R O’Neill (85’)
Donegal: Shaun Patton, Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore, Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan (0-2), Jason McGee (0-1), Michael Langan (0-1), Shane O’Donnell (0-2), Ciaran Thompson, Daire O’Baoill (0-3), Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Oisin Gallan (0-6, 2fs), Niall O’Donnell (0-2).
Subs: Caolan McColgan for Murran (HT), Patrick McBreaty (0-2, 1f) for Moore (42’), Aaron Doherty for O’ Baoill (51’), Jamie Brennan for Gallagher (60’), Jeaic Mac Ceallbhui (0-1) for Thompson (67’), Odhran Doherty (0-1) for Gallen (72 in et), Daire O’Baoill for N O’Donnell (81 in et), Ciaran Thompson for McBreaty (88’).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
