Liam McDonald registered a hat-trick of goals as an impressive Monaghan outfit defeated Donegal by 5-10 to 2-11 in this evening’s Ulster minor football championship semi-final in Enniskillen.

Donegal looked to have the upper hand early on in what was a splendid contest after a goal from Carlos O’Reilly in the opening minutes but the Farney County hit back and, despite conceding another O’Reilly goal, they’d go in level (3-5 to 2-8) at the break.

Team captain Jason Irwin and McDonald (2) supplied the winners' first-half goals and when more majors went in from Tiarnan Kierans and McDonald in the second-half it ensured the Tir Chonaill lads' goose was cooked.

Monaghan now face Tyrone in the final after the Red Hands secured a 1-14 to 0-10 win against Derry at Armagh’s Athletic Grounds.

The victors had led by 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval before Luke Donnelly’s 46th minute penalty ensured them their place in the northern province’s decider next month. 

Monaghan - J Kirk; S Slevin, R Boyle (0-1), S Hanratty; K Connolly (0-1), E Duffy, D Treanor; C McKernan (0-1), D Kerley; D Marron, K Gallaher (0-1), M Hamill; D Dempsey (0-3, 1f), J Irwin (1-2, 0-2f), L McDonald (3-1, 0-1f). Subs: C Maguire for S Slevin (BC), T Kearns (1-0) for D Kerley, A Brennan for E Duffy (BC), C Eccles for D Marron, D Courtney for R Boyle.

Donegal - R Graham; C Roarty, K Tobin, D Dorrian; C Coyle, J Gallagher, R MacShane; K Dunleavy (0-1), E Dowling; C O’Reilly (2-4, 0-1f), P O’Hare, E de Burca (0-1); J McGroddy (0-5, 3f), E Carr, C Moore. Subs: J Grant for C Roarty, S Rooney for P O’Hare, S Monaghan for E Carr, S Meehan for J Grant, E Martin for S Rooney, R O’Rourke for C Coyle.

Referee - J Lewis.

**

Tyrone - F Coney; C Cuddy, M McCann, S Sweeney; A McGrath, N Devlin, J Donaghy (0-1); S Donaghy, M McGleenan; S O'Donnell (0-2), M Devlin (0-2), R Campbell; D Fullerton, S Daly (0-1), L Donnelly (1-6, 1-0pen, 0-2f). Subs: C Daly (0-1) for A McGrath, S Gallagher for S Donaghy, R Canavan for D Fullerton, E Neill (0-1) for S O'Donnell, R McHugh for C Cuddy (BC), SP McKernan for M Devlin.

Derry - C Lagan; O McLarnon, R McFaul, S McGuckin; J Dougan (0-1), A McCluskey, L Brady; T Higgins, O McMenamin; C Downey (0-1), PJ McAleese, J McGurk; M Downey (0-5, 4f), E Downey (0-1), M Dixon (0-1). Subs: A McGonigle for S McGuckin, J McDermott for O McMenamin, D Gilmore for C Downey, C Diamond for J Dougan, L Downey (0-1) for J McGurk, J Moore for M Dixon.

Referee - S Laverty.

Tweet

Most Read Stories