Donegal left cursing lack of Hawkeye as they lose Ulster Final nailbiter

They know how to beat Donegal already and thus, their long range shooters are absolutely vital if they’re to make it a second Ulster title in three years.

Monaghan are Ulster football champions after one-point victory over Donegal in Clones this afternoon.

Monaghan failed to score for the last 23 minutes and Donegal came from five points down to move within a point.

Owen Duffy, Kieran Duffy, McManus and Dessie Mone all kicked points from play as the Farney county put clear daylight between the teams.

Captain Conor McManus – who ended the game with six points – typified Monaghan’s hunger in the 32nd minute when he pressurised the Donegal backs high up the pitch, forcing a turnover and then kicking an inspirational score.

Gallagher’s side’s profligacy continued and they racked up their 14th wide of the contest on the hour mark, before Patrick McBrearty dinked over a simple free to drag Donegal within three points with 10 minutes to go.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half were very similar to that of the first with both sides exchanging scores and going into the final 15 minutes Donegal still trailing by 4 points 0-11 0-7.

The team now look forward to an All-Ireland quarter final on 8 August while Donegal play Galway in a fourth round qualifier in two weeks’ time.

Paddy McBrearty sprung to life in these final minutes getting three points in succession leaving Donegal with all the momentum going into injury time and looking that a replay may have to be played.

Michael Murphy switched briefly to full-forward and made one great catch, which led to a score, but a shocking tally of 11 second half wides finally caught up with Donegal.

Monaghan: R Beggan; D Mone (0-1), V Corey, R Wylie; C Walshe, F Kelly, K O’Connell (0-1); N McAdam, D Hughes; O Duffy (0-1), O Lennon (0-1), K Duffy (0-1); D Malone, K Hughes, C McManus (0-6, 4f).

Subs for Monaghan: R McAnespie for O Duffy (46); D Clerkin for O Lennon (70).

Subs: M O’Reilly for Toye (32), A Thompson for Lacey (39), D O’Connor for McFadden (52), L McLoone for Mac Niallais (69).

Donegal: P Durcan, P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee, R McHugh, K Lacey (0-01), F McGlynn (0-01), N Gallagher, M McElhinney, C Toye, O MacNiallais, M McHugh, P McBrearty (0-06, 4f), M Murphy (0-02, 2f), C McFadden.

Ref: D Coldrick (Meath).