Ulster MFL
Antrim 0-17 Donegal 0-17
Antrim minors got their Ulster League campaign up and running when they entertained Donegal on Saturday at Dunsilly with the Saffrons producing a solid performance but in the end they were forced to share the points with the Tir Connaill outfit in a game they should have won.
Despite playing into the breeze, Mark McFerran and Daire Thornbury fired Antrim into an early two point lead before the visitor’s replied through Mark Anthony McGuinness, Danny Og Cooney and Callum Dorrian to take the lead with 7 minutes gone.
Tom Convery converted a ‘45’ into the stiff breeze and a fine point from the impressive Sean McCormack had the boys in Saffron ahead once more but again Donegal responded through Tadhd McDaid, Darragh O’Hare (f) and Lewis Cunnea to move two ahead by the 17th minute.
Dara Campbell, who had a fine game at mid-field for the hosts, responded for Antrim with Danny Og Cooney and Darragh O’Hare 2pt on target for the visitors and Tom Convery punishing a breech at the other end to leave Donegal 0-10 to 0-6 ahead at the break but with the breeze to face in the second half.
Antrim looked in a bit of trouble when Tadhd McDaid from play and then from a free extended the visitors lead at the start of the second half but they replied through Joey Griffin 2 pointer and another from Thomas Douthert to get their second half up and running.
The Saffrons were then punished as the ball was moved forward after a disputed free which O’Hare converted but they responded in the best possible way with Mark McFerran, Daire Thornbury and Aodhan O’Hanlon on target at the other end.
Indiscipline began to creep into the Antrim play though it has to be said that a number of the frees against them were of the soft variety and ace free taker, Darragh O’Hare took advantage with four on the bounce with Dara Campbell hitting a 2 pointer and a single from play to keep the home side in touch.
A great point from Sean McCormack had the side’s level going into injury time but again they were punished for an indiscretion, much to the annoyance of the home support, which O’Hare converted.
It looked as good as over at this stage but the young Saffrons showed tremendous fighting spirit and Daire Thornbury became their hero as he split the posts in the 34th minute to give them a share of the spoils.
Antrim: 1 Niall Quinn, 2 Braden O’Donnell, 3 Shea McLarnon, 4 Conor McArt, 5 Sean McCormack, 6 Thomas Douthert, 7 Conal Wilson, 8 Dara Campbell, 9 Sean McMullan, 10 Tiernan Lee, 11 Mark McFerran, 12 Joey Griffin, 13 Aodhan O’Hanlon, 14 Tom Convery, 15 Daire Thornbury.
Subs: 17 Sean McPeake for Joey Griffin, 23 Nathan Burns for Conal Wilson
Donegal: 1 Ronan O’Donnell, 2 Niall McBrearty, 3 Mark Wilkinson, 4 Raynne Rowan, 5 Thomas McHugh, 6 Conor Griffin, 7 Fionan Coyle, 8 Tadhd McDaid, 9 Shay McNulty, 10 Aaron McGinley, 11 Mark Anthony McGuinness, 12 Lewis Cunnea, 13 Darragh O’Hare, 14 Danny Og Cooney, 15 Callum Dorrian
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