In an exciting Junior Final one point in 39 separated Urris and Letterkenny Gaels. The lead changed hands frequently and each side had a couple of purple patches. The first such patch went the way of Urris who found themselves a point down within 30 seconds but ten minutes in were 1-2 to 0-1 ahead, helped by a Peter Devlin goal. Then it was Gaels turn to shine and lead by 1-3 to 1-2 at end of the first quarter, courtesy of Eoghan Harkin’s goal. Five minutes before the break Mark Hunter added another Gael’s goal and the Letterkenny side went in at the break with a 2-4 to 1-5 lead.
Within seven minutes of the second half Urris had levelled the scores. They were looking the stronger side but a Conor Cullen goal put the Gaels back in the ascendancy and they raced into a five point lead 3-7 to 1-8 as the game entered its final quarter. Urris refused to lie down and helped by another Peter Devlin flick to the net were level again with eight minutes to play. Mark Hunter, who was trojan throughout for Gaels, opened up the Urris defence with an incisive run and two heroic blocks were for naught as Hunter picked up the second rebound, made space and fired the ball to the net. Urris closed the gap with a Brian Doherty point that was to prove vital. An inspired substitution saw Paul McConnell enter the fray in the last minute of normal time and pounce for the goal that gave Urris an added time lead, 3-11 to 4-7. And so it stayed.
It was a very entertaining game played in good spirit and lit up by the enterprising football of both sides. It was dis-appointing for Letterkenny Gaels to have lost the game so late having led for most of it.
The referee – Connie Doherty and his two officials Lee Jordan and James Connors – were hardly noticed during the game a sign both of the spirit the game was played in and the standard of the officiating.
Urris are celebrating their 50th birthday with a Banquet in the Ballyliffen Hotel on October the 27th and captain Brian Grant will be bringing a very special two handled guest to help the celebrations – well done and congratulations to CLG Iorras.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Sat 12th Oct
