Ulster Minor Hurling Shield Final

Donegal 2-7 Monaghan 0-5                          26/4/13

Monaghan’s reign as Ulster Minor Hurling Shield champions when they lost out to Donegal in tough conditions at a cold and windswept Garvaghey on Friday evening. A brace of goals in the early stages of the second half from Jamie Brennan won it for Donegal, whose games in Division One of the Ulster league had them sharper, with Donal McLaughlin, John O’Loughlin, Colm Kelly and Gavin McGrath to the fore. Monaghan competed well, but were unable to get the scores on the board, despite the best efforts of players likes Meegan, Conor Boyle, Aodh Curran, Noel Flood and Ryan O’Neill.

Monaghan were first off the mark with a point from play by Dónal Meegan and although Donegal drew level through Jamie Brennan, Meegan restored Monaghan’s lead from a 25-metre free. Meegan then added a fine point, but scores from Gavin McGrath and Colm Kelly brought Donegal level. Meegan hit his and Monaghan’s fourth point from a 30-metre free after a Donegal player had been penalised for over-carrying, but that proved to be their last score of the half. John O’Loughlin brought Donegal back on terms and he got on the end of a Donal McLaughlin sideline to put them a point up, before Monaghan saw a goal chance go a-begging when Tony Forde and Meegan were crowded out by Donegal defenders. A foul on Forde gave Arthur Hughes’s side another opportunity in added time, but Meegan’s 20-metre free was saved, leaving Donegal ahead by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

The game’s turning point arrived three minutes into the second half when Jamie Brennan scored the opening goal and they soon put daylight between the teams when Brennan again broke through and sent in a shot which found its way into the Monaghan net, via a deflection. Monaghan did make a few chances to get back into the game, but Aodh Curran hit the post at the end of a strong run, while Donegal keeper Dylan Laverty denied a close-range shot from Forde and Ronan Curran drove a 20-metre free wide. The game was put on hold for around 15 minutes, however, after Meegan went down. When it resumed (on an adjacent pitch, as an ambulance arrived to assist Meegan), Donegal moved further clear with a point from substitute Oisín Rooney and even though Monaghan replied through a Conor Boyle free, a point from Kelly ended the scoring.

It was subsequently confirmed that Dónal Meegan had suffered a punctured lung, although he has thankfully been released from hospital. Monaghan GAA wishes Dónal a speedy recovery to full health.

Donegal: D Laverty; F Lennon, D Wilson, T Gillespie; C Kelly (0-2), D McLaughlin, S Curran; G McGrath (0-1), C Grant; E Lynch, J O’Loughlin (0-2), S Nelson; A Stokes, Jack Brennan, Jamie Brennan (2-1).

Subs: T Clare for Jack Brennan (H-T), P Nelson for S Nelson (36), O Rooney (0-1) for Stokes (42).

Monaghan: M P O’Dowd; R O’Neill, N Flood, N Mac Suibhne; A Kerr, C Boyle (0-1f), T Bramley; A Curran, C McAnespie; R Curran, C McQuaid, C Lavelle; T Forde, D Meegan (0-4, 2f), M Mac Suibhne.

Subs: J Walshe for Meegan (inj., 51), J Dooley for M Mac Suibhne, C Todd for Lavelle (54).

Referee: A Ferguson (Fermanagh).