Donegal take advantage

ULSTER UNDER-21 FC/Donegal 0-15 Monaghan 1-6: DONEGAL STAGED an increasingly effective second-half performance to progress to the quarter-final of the Ulster under-21 championship at the expense of Monaghan in Ballybay yesterday.

Donegal led by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time after Monaghan had missed several chances; for instance, the Donegal goalkeeper, Michael Boyle, had made an excellent save to deny Daniel McNally from close range on eight minutes.

Monaghan played the second half with 14 men following the arguably harsh dismissal, for a second yellow card, of Séamus Markey within a minute of the resumption.

They then took the lead with a goal by Owen Duffy but were soon pegged back. Donegal posted six points without reply in the last quarter and will play Armagh in the quarter-final in Ballybofey next Saturday at 3.30pm.

DONEGAL: M Boyle; D Walsh, M McPaul, M McGowan; D Gallagher, S McGowan, P Witherow; L McLoone, G McFadden (0-6); M McElhinney, C Murrin (0-1), P McGinley; B Faherty (0-3), S Griffin (0-5, frees), E Wade. Subs: E Hegarty for E Wade, F McNulty for M McElhinney, P McGowan for B Faherty.

MONAGHAN: C Boyce; N McRory, D Hughes, D Duffy; P Meegan, N McAdam, S Markey; M McKenna (0-1), O Duffy (1-0); G Doogan, C McManus (0-3, one free), P Donaghy (0-1); D Bishop (0-1, free), S Smith, D McNally. Subs: M McElroy for Smith, J Turley for Doogan, C Greenan for Bishop, D Fanning for McElroy.

Referee: C Branagan (Down).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times