Eirgrid Ulster Under-21 Football Championship Semi-Final

Donegal 4-9 Monaghan 1-5                                      1/4/15

Monaghan fell to a heavy defeat in their Ulster U-21 FC semi-final against Donegal in dreadful conditions in Omagh on Wednesday night. After a delayed start on a very wet pitch, the teams could only manage a point each in the opening 20 minutes, but Monaghan were hit by a series of hammer blows between then and the end of the first half. Conor Lavelle was sent off after receiving yellow and black cards and Donegal tuck full advantage by hitting an unanswered 2-4, including goals from Jack O’Brien and Lorcan Connor. Monaghan improved in the third quarter and when a high ball from Kevin Loughran ended up in the net, an unlikely challenge seemed possible, but Donegal put them away down the home straight, with goals by Ciarán Thompson and Connor. An already miserable night for Monaghan finished on a low note when substitute Dónal Meegan was stretchered off. Donegal take on Tyrone in the final next Wednesday night.

Donegal: D Rodgers; C Parke, C Morrison, J O’Brien (1-0); O Crawford, R McHugh (Capt.), E B Gallagher; T McClenaghan, C Thompson (1-2); D Mulgrew, E McHugh (0-1), H McFadden (0-2, 1f); L Connor (2-0), D McDaid (0-1f), D O’Connor (0-1).

Subs: É McGrath (0-1) for Mulgrew (black card, 15 mins), W Gillespie (0-1) for Crawford (21), S McBrearty for McGrath (H-T), McGrath for McDaid (46), J Brennan for O’Connor (52), C O’Donnell for McClenaghan (56).

Monaghan: D Kirk; R Wylie, M Murnaghan, K Loughran (1-0); D Ward (0-1), F Malone, S Conlon; C Lavelle, B Greenan (Capt.); R McAnespie (0-1), F McGeough, P Keenan; F McMahon (0-1f), D McAlister, C McCarthy (0-2f).

Subs: D Meegan for McMahon (H-T), A Treanor for Conlon (50), M McCarville for Keenan (51), S Buckley for McAlister (55), A Kieran for Ward (black card, 58)

Referee: K Trainor (Down).