Comhghairdeas to the Donegal hurlers who won a historic first ever Conor McGurk cup at The Dub this evening. It was a fairly even contest early on but Donegal began to pull ahead towards the end of the third quarter and a goal in the eighteenth minute from Ronan McDermott put seen points between the sides 1-7 to 0-3 points and Donegal were comfortable thereafter. Ruari Campbell got Donegal’s second goal on the stroke of half time. Leath ama Donegal 2-12 Ulster University 0-8.
Donegal denied the students the strong start to the second half they needed if they were to come back into contention. The goal of the game by Richie Ryan finishing off a move that started in Donegal’s defence and at the end of a strong run from Gerry Gilmore effectively ended the game as a contest in the ninth minute of the second half. There were some exhibitions scores from both sides in the remaining 25 minutes as the Donegal defence ensure a clean sheet to run out 5-28 to 0-21 winners.
The fourth goal was struck by Ronan McDermott, scoring his second, and Donegal substitute Daire O’Maoileidigh hit the fifth, and 1-2 in total, in the last minute of normal time. Liam McKinney struck 12 points, Ruari Campbell 1-4, Richie Ryan 1-4, Ronan McDermott 2-1 and Gerry Gilmore and Conor Gartland 0-3 each. Fittingly, however, the man of the match award went to a defender, half back Bernard Lafferty in what was a great squad performance. Well done to all.
A word of thanks to Ulster GAA who streamed the game form free with great coverage and excellent commentary from Jerome Quinn and Simon Doherty and who provided all the images used above.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Thu 2nd Mar
