Donegal 2-12
Armagh 0-10

Donegal have been crowned Ulster minor football champions for the first time since 2006 following a comfortable victory over Armagh at Clones.

Declan Bonner's impressive charges had the win all but wrapped up at half-time when they led by 1-9 to 0-2. The favourites had raced into a 1-7 to 0-0 lead after 19 minutes with full forward John Campbell accounting for the goal in the 14th minute.

Armagh, who had defender Cathal Boylan black-carded in the closing stage of the opening half, had to wait until the 21st minute for their opening score from Oisin O'Neill.

With Stephen McBrearty - younger brother of senior Paddy - in fine scoring form, it was one-way traffic for much of the first period.

Armagh goalkeeper Ryan Kearney was also dismissed on a black card five minutes after the restart for taking down Jamie Brennan, but his replacement, Colm Rafferty, saved Lorcan Connor's penalty.

The Orchard County came more into the game after that with Ryan Hughes and sub Conor Cullen scoring 0-7 between them, but they couldn't get any closer than five points as Brennan sealed an Ulster minor league and championship double with a late fisted goal.

Donegal: D Rodgers; D McMonagle, C Gillespie, C Kelly; C Mulligan, T McClenaghan, A McClean; N Harley, C McGonigle (0-1); E Ban Gallagher, L Connor (0-4), M Carroll (0-1); J Brennan (1-1), J Campbell (1-2), S McBrearty (0-3). Subs: N Friel for Mulligan, E O'Donnell for Campbell, C Doherty for Harley, C Bonner for McClean, C O'Boyle for O'Donnell, G McBride for Connor.

Armagh: R Kearney; F Quinn, A Rushe, C Donnelly; C Boylan, C McKinney, C McNicholl; J Og Burns, S Conlon; J Rafferty, O O'Neill (0-3), K Mallon; R Hughes (0-4), C Grimley, C McConville. Subs: C Cullen (0-3) for Boylan, C Rafferty for Kearney, R McKeown for Grimley, C Murphy for Conlon.

Ref: R Barry (Down). Tweet

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