Sport

Donegal end barren spell

Ulster MFC Final/ Donegal 2-12 Antrim 1-5: Sometimes the best laid plans disintegrate

Gavin Cummiskey at Croke Park
Mon Jul 10 2006 - 01:00

Ulster MFC Final/ Donegal 2-12 Antrim 1-5: Sometimes the best laid plans disintegrate. It becomes cruel viewing when it happens to minors in Croke Park.That was Antrim's lot yesterday, but Donegal must be credited for tactically out-smarting their opponents in ending a 10-year spell without an Ulster title.

So much of Antrim's aspirations rested on the wellbeing of CJ McGourty. The St Gall's dual talent took the field with a chest infection. He played for 19 minutes, in which time he planted two quality points and was the catalyst for a goal. McGourty's free rebounded off the post and then Mark Sweeney's shoulder before goalkeeper Lee McFadden carried the ball over his own line. 1-2 to 0-1 after 10 minutes.

The scene was set for Belfast to see a first minor title since 1982. Such a notion went up in smoke, however, when a wheezing McGourty was pulled ashore.

Donegal upped the intensity and a Martin McElhinney goal levelled the contest - after an initial save from Damien Lynch, he buried the rebound.

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McGourty's team-mates made sure the contest was still alive when he returned on 46 minutes - Donegal were just a point clear. But boss Seán Clerkin had a plan to stymie the Peter Canavan-like return. Declan Walsh marked McGourty and Mark McGowan cut off the supply line by standing five yards in front of the pair.

McGourty never touched the ball in open play and got a yellow card to confirm his frustration. A slow death for Antrim followed.

DONEGAL: L McFadden; D Walsh, S Boyle, M McGowan; P McGinley (0-1), L McLoone, P Thornton (0-1); R Wherity (0-1), M Murphy (0-2); M McElhinney (2-0), D Molloy (0-3, two frees), E Wade (capt, 0-3); B Faherty, G Ward, D Gallagher (0-1). Subs: D McGarvey for Ward (54 mins), B Shovlin for Wherity (56 mins), J Carroll for Faherty (61 mins).

ANTRIM: D Lynch; P Lowe, G Crossey, D Harbinson; D Hanna, J Crozier (capt), A Gribbon; G McCann, S Burke; M Sweeney (1-0), C Murray (0-1), T Aldwell; CJ McGourty (0-2, one free), S O'Neill, A Thompson (0-2, one free). Subs: B Neeson for McGourty (19 mins), D Cummings for Sweeney (40 mins), K McBride for Gribbon (52 mins), D McCann for Thompson (55 mins).

Referee: B Toland (Derry).