Donegal 3-18
Mayo 0-21
DONEGAL HAVE WON the Nicky Rackard Cup for the third time after a late scoring burst in today’s final at Croke Park saw them overcome Mayo.
Goals made the difference for the Ulster side, who were also champions in 2013 and ’18.
With four minutes of normal time remaining, Mayo were a point to the good. A goal from Tipperary native Davin Flynn then fired Donegal into the lead, before the man from Roscrea – who finished with 1-3 – teed up Ritchie Ryan to raise another green flag. A ninth point of the game from Declan Coulter capped the victory for Mickey McCann’s side.
A poor start from Donegal allowed Mayo to take a commanding lead. The Connacht outfit were 0-11 to 0-3 ahead midway through the first half, with Shane Boland – who ended the game with a personal tally of 0-11 – deadly accurate from placed balls.
However, Donegal rallied by registering 1-5 in the final 10 minutes of the opening period, the goal coming via Joe Boyle, which cut Mayo’s lead to three points by the interval.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair after Donegal drew level on 46 minutes, but thanks to their crucial scores in the closing stages they pipped Mayo to the win.
Scorers for Donegal: Declan Coulter 0-9 (7fs), Davin Flynn 1-3, Joe Boyle 1-1, Ritchie Ryan 1-0, Danny Cullen 0-3, Ronan McDermott and Gerard Gilmore 0-1 each.
Scorers for Mayo: Shane Boland 0-11 (10fs), Brian Morley and Cathal Freeman 0-2 each, Sean Kenny (65), Eoin Delaney, Jason Coyne, Adrian Phillips, Sean Regan and Corey Scahill 0-1 each.
Donegal
Luke White
Mark Callaghan
Stephen Gillespie
Gavin Browne
Michael Donaghue
Sean McVeigh
Joe Boyle
Ciaran Mathewson
Danny Cullen
Ronan McDermott
Jack O’Loughlin
Kevin Kealy
Davin Flynn
Declan Coulter
Gerard Gilmore
Subs
Ritchie Ryan for Kealy (29)
Bernard Lafferty for Mathewson (62)
Conor O’Grady for Cullen (74)
Mayo
Gerald Kelly
Gary Nolan
Stephen Coyne
John Cassidy
Brian Hunt
David Kenny
Cathal Freeman
Sean Regan
Sean Kenny
Adrian Philips
Shane Boland
Corey Scahill
Jason Coyne
Brian Morley
Eoin Delaney
Subs
Liam Lavin for J Coyne (51)
Cormac Phillips for Delaney (54)
Daniel Huane for Hunt (64)
Sean Mulroy for Morley (66)
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)
Absolutely baffled how half a season Howe is ahead of Moyes or Arteta.
The English at it again.
@Seàn Pòl O’Maolain: def moyes should be ahead of Howe. Mane instead of Saka or if not mane then Ronaldo ahead of Saka
@Cormac Flanagan: u can’t disrespect Artetas achievement either. Youngest squad in PL and about to get 4th with his level of experience is an excellent achievement.
@Seàn Pòl O’Maolain: that’s true I suppose. You’d wonder the criteria for been nominated.
Son for me..terrific player..he has great stats for a team that can be hit or miss.
Saka! Seriously??
Man you actually forget how good Son is. Seems to just play his football in the long grass almost anonymous and is only one goal behind Salah in the charts. Happy to say 2 of the 3 most likely to win it (you’d imagine Salah, Son, KDB) came from Bundesliga beginnings. Prem is obviously superior for a number of reasons, but it’s crazy how the German league is regarded as a ‘farmers league’ by so many, yet it probably produces the best talent for the BPL.
I’d go Son and Vierra. Salah over Mane?? Not sure about that.
@John Quinn: is that the Salah with the most goals and most assists in the league?
@Gareth Keenan: I’m a Liverpool fan and he’s been cat since Egypt missed out on the World Cup. I hope it’s just the new contract on his mind. Mane has got the more important goals and given a full shift in every game. Just my opinion mind.
Here’s hoping either bang in a few in the Cup Finals.
Has to be KDB his playing brilliant stuff in Premier ship.
KDB and Frank
Son for me. Good attitude, work ethic, and unbelievable skill. Constantly surprised the big big clubs aren’t throwing money at him and spurs to get him. He’d fit into any team.
Saka in there is a bit of a farce. He’s been good but tell me he’s had a better season than DeGea. United would be in 14th without him
@Ray Taff: Saka is 19 years old. He has 11 goals and 6 assists. Pulling the string for an exceptionally young team. Can u name another 19 year old in the premier league that’s better? I can’t! Wonder how good he might be with more exp and a better team supplying him?
@Seàn Pòl O’Maolain: You’ve mentioned 19 years old twice. He’s in there ahead of Mane too who’s been better than Salah in my opinion. Young player of the year I couldn’t argue but this is beyond a joke