Ulster U20 Football Championship-Ballybofey
Donegal 0-15 Antrim 0-15 AET
(Donegal won 5-4 on penalties)
There was penalty heartache for Antrim Under 20s in MacCumhaill Park Ballybofey on Wednesday night as they lost out to Donegal in the quarter final of the Ulster Under 20 Championship.
Niall Jackman’s Antrim were underdogs but they battled well and should have won the game in normal time.
They went three ahead in extra-time and looked to be on their way to the next round but Donegal wouldn’t go away.
It was left to penalties to decide it and Leo McLoone’s side scored all theirs while Antrim missed one of their five and that sees their season end in Ballybofey.
Donegal started well and David Boyle kicked an early score but Ronan McKillop quickly cancelled that out.
The home side went nine minutes without a score before Boyle curled over and then the pacey Blake McGarvey helped himself to a point.
Antrim weathered the early storm and began to take the game to Donegal and slowly started to get to grips with the opposition
The visitors created a good goal chance when McKillop slipped through but he fired wide off his left foot.
Conor Hand did reduce the deficit to a point as the Saffrons started to get on top in midfield.
Boyle fired over a nice free for Donegal but Antrim finished the first half strongly and a free from Ryan McQuillan and a point from Niall Fallon had the side’s level at the break.
It was all to play for heading into the second half but the visitors were dealt a blow when Eoin Gough was harshly black-carded when it looked like a free out should have been given.
Conor O’Neill converted the resulting free but that was quickly cancelled out by a placed ball from the impressive McQuillan.
Antrim defied their numerical disadvantage and they added points to their tally from Eunan Quinn and McQuillan and looked to be taking control.
Donegal replied through a brace of frees from David Boyle to draw them level again and the home side were fortunate to be on terms at this stage.
Antrim looked to be on their way to victory however when McQuillan tagged on two more scores and then Boyle saw a goal chance superbly saved by Laverty but the St Eunan’s man did land a free in the 61st minute.
Christy Mulligan followed up with a leveller before Antrim missed two late chances to seal the contest in normal time.
Extra-time was needed and it was Donegal who started brightly with O’Neill and McGarvey on target.
Antrim steadied up again and they scored four points in the space of five minutes with Conhuir Johnston and McQuillan both scoring two apiece and for the second time in the game they looked to be heading for victory.
It looked all over when Callum Higgins pushed Antrim three ahead and it seemed a matter of seeing out the game but Donegal rallied into the town end.
Boyle registered a free before Ward hit two important scores but McQuillan nudged Antrim back in front but a pressure free from Ward sent the match to penalties.
Nine of the ten spot-kicks were scored while Aaron Cullen made a great save and that sent Donegal through to the last four against Derry.
Donegal: Aaron Cullen; Sean Doherty, Ferdia Doherty, Donal Gallagher; Cian McMenamin, Kyle Murray, Karl Magee; Christy Mulligan (0-1), Liam McGrenaghan; David Boyle (0-7, 5fs), Shaun Ward (0-3, 2fs, 1 ’45’), Oisin Caulfield; Cian Rooney, Kevin Lynch, Blake McGarvey (0-2). Subs: Conor O’Neill (0-2, 1f) for Rooney (Half-time), Daniel Marley for McGrenaghan (42 mins), Daniel Gildea for Lynch (52 mins), Conor Reid for McMenamin (69 mins), Oisin Crawford for Milligan (71 mins).
Antrim: Shea Laverty; Eoin Gough, Dan McNicholl, Cahir Donnelly; Tiernan McCormick, Conan Johnston, Patrick Ferris; Eunan Quinn (0-1), Conor Hand (0-1); Callum Higgins (0-1), Tom Shivers, Ronan McKillop (0-1); Niall Fallon (0-1), Ryan McQuillan (0-8, 4fs), Benen Kelly. Subs: Conhuir Johnson (0-2, 1f) for Shivers (Half-time), Conail McGirr for Hand (39 mins), Ciaran McAleese for Kelly (45 mins), Niall Duffy for McKillop (59 mins), Conor Hand for Ferris (69 mins), Benen Kelly for McAleese (71 mins), Ronan McKillip for Higgins (81 mins).
Referee: Enda Mallon (Armagh).
