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Lorcan Connor celebrates his late equaliser. James Crombie/INPHO

Donegal beat Dublin by narrowest of margins to secure All-Ireland MFC final spot

Ethan O’Donnell was the hero for Donegal with his late winning point.

Donegal 1-12

Dublin 1-11

DONEGAL ARE THROUGH to their first ever All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final after a narrow one-point win over Dublin in Croke Park today.

Ethan O’Donnell scored the winning point in a nervy finale that saw the Leinster champions fail to score for the last 12 minutes, despite numerous chances.

It all looked so good in the early stages for Dublin as Jack Burke opened the scoring after two minutes but chances were at a premium in the first half; the score standing at just 0-2 to 0-1 in favour of Dublin after 15 minutes.

However, the 2012 winners kicked on from there and had increased their lead to four by 21 minutes as the game looked to be passing Donegal by.

That changed though when John Campbell jumped highest to fist Tony McCleneghan’s speculative effort past Eiven Whelan in the Dublin goal to jump-start his team’s efforts.

Campbell followed his maximum up with two quick-fire points to give Donegal their first lead of the game and, after Con O’Callaghan’s missed 45 on the stroke of half-time, the Ulster side took at 1-6 to 0-6 lead into the break.

Dublin started the second half as well as the first but couldn’t close the gap to less than a point despite fine scores from Chris Sallier and O’Callaghan.

However, they retook the lead on 46 minutes when Burke was first to react to a quick free before rounding Danny Rodgers and tapping home a put Dublin one point ahead; 1-10 to 1-9.

Colm Basquel really should have added a second goal for the Blues but his 48th minute point to put them two up would prove to be Dublin’s last score as Lorcan Connor, Stephen McBrearty and O’Donnell scored into the Hill to set up a final date with Kerry.

Scorers for Donegal: John Campbell 1-2, Stephen McBrearty 0-4, Lorcan Connor 0-3 (2f), Cian Mulligan 0-2, Ethan O’Donnell 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: Jack Burke 1-2,  Con O’Callaghan (2f), Chris Sallier 0-3 each, Aaron Byrne, Eoghan McHugh and Colm Basquel 0-1 each.

DONEGAL
1. Danny Rodgers (An Clochan Liath)

2. Danny Monagle (Carn Domhnach)
3. Ciaran Gillespie (Gaoth Dobhair)
4. Colm Kelly (Aodh Rua B/S)

5. Stephen McMenamin (Aodh Rua K/G)
6. Tony McCleneghan (Bun an Phobail)
7. Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair)

8. Niall Harley (Aodh Rua B/S, capt)
9. Caolan McGonigle (Bun Crannacha)

10. Stephen McBrearty (Cill Chartha)
11. Lorcan Connor (Na Dunaibh)
12. Micheal Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair)

13. Jamie Brennan (Bun Dobhrain)
14. John Campbell (Bun Crannacha)
15. Niall Friel (Gaoth Dobhair)

Subs: Conor Morrison for Friel (black card, 35), Ethan O’Donnell for Harley (39), Gavin McBride for Brennan (48), Conor Doherty for Campbell (53), Christian Bonner for Kelly (58).

DUBLIN
1. Eiven Whelan (Trinity Gaels)

2. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
3. Jack Mullins (St Brigid’s)
4. Declan Monahan (Clontarf)

5. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes)
6. Shane Clayton (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
7. Glenn O’Reilly (Na Fianna)

8. Andrew Foley (Clontarf)
9. Eoghan McHugh (Na Fianna)

10. Conor Kavanagh (Ballymun Kickhams)
11. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
12. Jack Burke (St Maur’s)

13. Aaron Byrne (Na Fianna)
14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala, capt)
15. Chris Sallier (Thomas Davis)

Subs: Brian Howard for Kavanagh (49), Donal McIlgorm for Foley (55), Warren Egan for Byrne (56), Aodhan Fee for McGowan (59).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).

VIDEO: Here’s what it’s like to parachute into Croke Park

LIVE: Dublin v Donegal, All-Ireland SFC semi-final

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4 Comments
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 8:47 AM

    Really going to miss Isa, always gave 110% and was such a lovely guy, going to be big shoes to fill.

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    May 14th 2018, 10:47 AM

    @Sam Harms: Always enjoyed watching him during those Magners League/Pro 12 games during the international break. Nacewa would regularly find himseld at 15 with 2 young wingers either side of him. He’d guide them though the game, defensively. Where to stand, how far from the centre, when to push in, when to push up etc That’s why I was really hoping he’d stay around and do some coaching. He looks like a coach already.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 8:57 AM

    Leo didn’t exactly give a vote of confidence to Carbery on Saturday, Sexton was goosed, couldn’t kick and could barely run, Nacewa had taken over kicking duties and yet he still kept him on the bench. A move away is badly needed for him. I wouldn’t expect Sexton to be fit for this weekend so it’ll be telling to see who Cullen goes for.
    On another note I really enjoyed the game on Saturday. Real tough game and Leinster ground out the result. I was delighted for them.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 8:59 AM

    @Jim Demps: there was no way anyone was coming on to replace Sexton, unless he literally couldnt walk, when it was that close

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    May 14th 2018, 9:23 AM

    @Sam Harms: yeh good point Sam,I’m sure he kept him on for a potential drop goal! he was limping and still made the one against France.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 9:44 AM

    @Sam Harms: yeah you’re prob right but he should have come off. He was obviously struggling. It worked out though thankfully.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 10:09 AM

    @Sam Harms: without getting too tribal and with my Irish hat on, Carbery can’t afford to have another season like he has just had if he has any aspirations on playing in the ten jersey for Ireland. I take your point on learning from Sexton but he also needs game time at club level, be it with Ulster or munster.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 10:14 AM

    @Jim Demps: look at it this way, would Munster take Murray off in that situation unless they 100% had to?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 10:25 AM

    @Jim Demps: Or Leinster.

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    May 14th 2018, 10:43 AM

    @Sam Harms: Ireland wouldn’t take off Murray either. He’s absolutely vital, like Sexton.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Sam Harms: I’m not criticizing the decision. I’m saying that Carbery needs to get game time in meaningful games, at ten , before the World Cup.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Jim Demps: which he can, at Leinster. Munster have 3 flyhalfs already so if he does have to go anywhere it should be Ulster.

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    Mute baw baw
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    May 14th 2018, 12:30 PM

    @Sam Harms: I get your point of view but neither Duncan Williams or James hart aren’t the back up 9 in the Irish squad so it’s not like for like –
    If carbery is back up ten for his country he needs minutes or to be trusted as deputy for the club when the first choice is struggling , although I take no part in the debate as it’s a tricky situation , the Murrays value to Munster comparison just doesnt work

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 12:56 PM

    @Sam Harms: I think it’s all been decided anyway Sam. Once the season is over we will find out what the story with Carbery is. If I had to bet I’d say a season long loan to Ulster. If I had to decide myself I’d say a permanent switch to munster with Keatley going to Ulster.

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    EK
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    Mute EK
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    May 14th 2018, 11:09 AM

    While the game wasn’t the prettiest, it was an important win for Leinster in the grand scheme of things.

    Something that popped into my head after the game was the 2011 World Cup final that New Zealand won 8-7 against France. New Zealand were obviously a quality team but hadn’t won in so long, much like Leinster. Much like Leinster, there was an argument for the French team outperforming their counterparts despite the odds.

    For sure, this game was not a classic for the purists but in the grand scheme of things with an eye to future finals, I think Leinster will be happy to get the pressure of winning it again off their backs and play better as a result in the future.

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    May 14th 2018, 12:17 PM

    @EK: totally agree. It should also be boted that while the highlights reel of their campaign won’t feature much more from Saturday’s match than the relief of a missed drop goal, it will still be a pretty glorious highlights reel featuring great attacking play against exclusively top class teams. The final itself was ground out, but it was raining and there were two teams with incredible defensive systems and a pernickety ref. We don’t have to worry about the quality of rugby Leinster are able to play.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 14th 2018, 2:24 PM

    @Conor Paddington: that’s very true Conor the official highlights vid is a joke , just the place kicks , not even how they happened . Nothing about possible yellows etc . I was at the game and Barnes was very frustrating , slow at blowing the whistle , lenient for card situations .. but he at least didn’t have any game changing errors . I’ll have to watch the game in full a couple of times on YouTube now . Overall Leinster looked quite comfortable and I was always confident they’d get the chances near the end . Let not forget Tales was dropping for a draw, I think Leinster would have had too much for Racing if it had gone into extra time

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