Tyrone U-20s secure back-to-back Ulster titles with superb win

Tyrone 1-19  Donegal 2-14 (after extra-time)

TYRONE retained their Ulster Under-20 Championship title after an epic extra-time tussle with Donegal at Owenbeg this evening. A flurry of spectacular two pointers in that additional period made all the difference for the Red Hands and provided them with sufficient breathing space to stave off their stubborn opponents.

On an idyllic evening at the foot of the Sperrins there was a fairly soporific start to proceedings with both sides pushing and probing for openings, but no real intensity or fire to the exchanges.

It took five minutes for Ruairi McCullagh to land the first score for Tyrone courtesy of a ’45’, before Noah Grimes doubled their advantage when cutting in to fist over.

Donegal, who hammered Tyrone by eight points in the group stage of the competition a month earlier, suffered an early blow when the influential Cian McMenamin limped off, but they soon registered on the scoreboard as the lively Conor McGinty split the posts.

Matthew Quinn, one of the Red Hands bright sparks throughout this campaign, produced a tidy finish on his right peg to stretch their lead, but by the twenty minute mark it was three points apiece, with McGinty again and midfielder Kevin Muldoon on target for Donegal.

Goal opportunities were thin on the ground, but it required a superb intercept from Tyrone captain Joey Clarke to dislodge possession from David Monaghan before he could pull the trigger.

Tyrone started to assert a degree of control as the half unfolded, Conor O’Neill lording it around the middle, but a spate of poor wides (eight in total before the break) stymied their ambitions.

Instead it was Muldoon who hoisted over a quality score to put Donegal ahead, but in injury time the Red Hands leapfrogged ahead.

The excellent Caolan Donnelly fisted over the black spot and McCullagh swivelled sharply to convert and hand his side a narrow 0-5 to 0-4 half-time advantage.

Donegal flew out of the blocks on the retart, with half-time sub Shane Callaghan blasting over a two pointer with his first touch and Conor McCahill following suit from outside the 40m arc a minute later.

Three points in arrears Tyrone responded in the most emphatic fashion in the 35^th minute, captain Joey Clarke steering home a goal on the rebound after Liam Og Mossey’s initial attempt cannoned down off the post into his path.

McCullagh then screwed another goal chance off target under pressure, but he did add a point soon after, while Conall Sheehy also raced through to convert, from a deft McElholm lay off.

Midfielder Sean Martin notched up a much needed Donegal score, but their challenge received a real fillip in the 50 minute, defender Cathal ‘Rua’ O Gallchoir blasting home a goal, after a terrific Muldoon burst.

Two close range McCullagh frees drew Tyrone level, but despite their best efforts to chisel out a late opportunity, extra-time was required.

A series of excellent two pointers from McElholm, McCullagh and sub Shea McDermott appeared to have Tyrone home and hosed but a weaving run and fine finish to the net by Seanan Carr kept Donegal very much in contention as they turned around 1-16 to 2-11 in arrears.

McElholm widened the gap but a battling Donegal refused to yield and Seanan Carr and Callaghan (twice) gave them renewed hope.

McCullagh’s close range free then put Tyrone two in front but it required a fine reaction save from keeper Conan McGarvey at the death to keep out Carr’s low goalbound strike and ensure Tyrone held onto their provincial crown.

Scorers

Tyrone: Ruairi McCullagh ((0-9, 1tp, 4f,1 ’45’), Eoin McElholm (0-3,1tp) Joey Clarke (1-0), Conall Sheehy (0-2), Shea McDermott (0-2,tp), Noah Grimes (0-2), Caolan Donnelly, Matthew Quinn (0-1 each)

Donegal: Shane Callaghan (0-5,1tp,2f), Seanan Carr (1-1), Cathal ‘Rua’ O Gallchoir (1-0), Conor McCahill (0-3,1tp), Conor McGinty (0-2), Kevin Muldoon (0-2), Sean Martin (0-1)

The Teams

Tyrone: Conan McGarvey, Fiachra Nelis, Ben Hughes, Conor Devlin, Callum Daly, Joey Clarke, Caolan Donnelly, Conan Devlin, Conor O’Neill, Conall Sheehy, Eoin McElholm, Matthew Quinn, Noah Grimes, Ruairi McCullagh, Liam Og Mossey. Subs used: Michael McElhatton for N Grimes (52mins), Sean McCann for L Mossey (75),

Donegal: Padraig McBride, Aaron Neely, Niall Prendiville, Cathal ‘Rua’ O Gallchoir, Finbarr Roarty, Callum McCrea, Conor MCGinty, Sean Martin, Kevin Muldoon, Max Campbell, Cian McMenamin, Mark McDevitt, Conor McCahill, Daithi Gildea, Seanan Carr.  Subs used: David Monaghan for C McMenamin (10mins), Shane Callaghan for D Gildea (h-time), Dylan Mulholland for M McDevitt (45), Donal Gallagher for A Neely (55), Turlough Carr for D Monaghan (55), Max Campbell for K Muldoon (75)

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)