Cavan 0-13
Donegal 1-6
CAVAN were crowned Ulster U21 football champions again tonight in Brewster Park in Enniskillen as they got the better of Donegal by four points.
Appearing in their fourth successive final in this grade, Cavan maintained the county’s remarkable recent record at this level as they lifted silverware for the third successive year.
The Peter O’Reilly managed side will now go forward to the All-Ireland series where they will meet Cork, who were crowned Munster champions tonight.
That match will take place on Saturday week April 20th in O’Connor Park in Tullamore at 3.45pm.
Despite senior attacking star Patrick McBrearty notching five points, Donegal were forced to give way to a superior Cavan side.
Cavan laid the foundations for this success with a sparkling first-half display as they forged ahead by 0-7 to 0-2 at the interval.
They were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 10th minute mark and five points clear by the halfway point as Chris Conroy, Enda O’Reilly and Gerry Smith all grabbed quality scores.
Donegal moved back into contention early in the second-half when Willie Gillespie fired to the net for the only goal of the game.
Jack Brady steadied Cavan’s challenge with some accurate free taking as they went 0-11 to 1-3 clear.
However McBrearty notched three points in succession to cut the gap to leave it at 0-11 to 1-6 with only seven minutes remaining.
But despite having seen their lead reduced to two points, Cavan held their nerve to close out the game with Brady and substitute Paul Graham popping up with the insurance late points.
Scorers for Cavan: Jack Brady 0-4 (0-4f), Chris Conroy 0-3, Enda O’Reilly (0-1f), Gerry Smith 0-2 each, Paul O’Connor, Paul Graham 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Patrick McBrearty 0-5 (0-1f), Willie Gillespie 1-0, Darach O’Connor 0-1
CAVAN: Conor Gilsenan (Bailieborough); Jason McLoughlin (Shannon Gaels), Killian Clarke (Shercock), Ciaran Brady (Arva); Daragh McVeety (Crosserlough), Daragh Sexton (Cavan Gaels), Feargal Flanagan (Butlersbridge); Brian Sankey (Shercock), Michael Argue (Bailieborough); Gerry Smith (Lavey), Chris Conroy (Lavey), Turloc Mooney (Redhills); Enda O’Reilly (Mullahoran), Paul O’Connor (Cavan Gaels), Jack Brady (Ramor Utd).
Subs: Chris Madden for Conroy, Paul Graham for Mooney.
DONEGAL: Peter Boyle (Aodh Rua); Kevin McFadden (Cloughaneely), Caolan Ward (St Eunan’s), Gavin Gallagher (Sean MacCumhaill’s); Pauric Carr (Kilcar), Martin O’Reilly (Sean MacCumhaill’s), Luke Keeney (Four Masters); Darach O’Connor (Buncrana), Leon Kelly (Glenswilly); Ryan McHugh (Kilcar), Odhran MacNiallais (Gweedore), Conor Gibbons (St Eunan’s); William Gillespie (Naomh Colmcille), Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar), Eoin McHugh (Kilcar).
Referee: Ciaran Brannagan (Down)
9 things to know about tonight’s provincial U21 football finals
Not really fair when you remember that Sligo were kicked out of the championship last year for the same reasons
@Tom McBride: totally agree.
@Tom McBride: nobody cares about lesser teams. It’s all about the big few.
@Homes: Absolutely, no way would any teams outside of Div 1 or 2 have a game rescheduled for the same. Nonsense.
@Homes: Tyrone hardly in the “big few” these days are they??
Can you imagine the sledging that will go on. The Tyrone backs sneezing on top of the kerry forwards etc
@James Beattie: lol. Didn’t think of that. Hilarious haha
Up Kerry!
Would the Tyrone team not be vaccinated yet?
@Gerard Browne: can still have covid
@John O Reilly: I know that but if everybody is vaccinated there’s no need to quarantine?
@Gerard Browne: still have to isolate even if fully vaccinated!
@Darren Mullins: if positive yes but not if a close contact as you become a casual contact if vaccinated or is it different in the UK?
@Darren Mullins: Makes the point of getting the vaccine pretty pointless so
@Gerard Browne: with the vaccine you only get a milder dose of covid
@Gerard Browne: If you call significantly reducing your chances of death or serious illness then ya, pointless
Tyrone should have been thrown out
Good call. Even though I have to do a week of late shifts to get Sunday off!
Sligo couldn’t field a team and were punished , Tyrone should be out of the all Ireland series . Broke covid rules kick them out
@Greg: they didnt break any covid rules. Cork u20s were given a similar postponent this season for the same reason.
@Kieran Lynch: where did they celebrate after Ulster Final?
Rte just announced it being postponed for a week. Final moves to September 4th.
@Kieran Campbell: Saturday???
@John McCabe: Yeah Sat 4th Sept. Most likely a 6:30-7pm kick off too, so they can accommodate for the Ireland vs Azerbaijan game in Lansdowne which kicks off at 5 bells on Saturday as well.
@Ultan Corcoran: I believe the All Ireland Final will have a ‘throw in’, and the other match at the Aviva will have a’kick off’
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
This bl00dy virus has stopped being a joke when it interferes with GAA all ireland.