BALLY BORE FEY

Donegal procession in a drab Ulster Championship quarter-final does very little to raise pulses as struggling Saffrons fall at first hurdle

DONEGAL did what was expected, dismissing Antrim with the minimum of fuss to coast into the Ulster semi-finals after a snooze fest in Ballybofey. At a time when the very future of the provincial Championships is a constant source of debate, this tie did nothing to prove the current format remains a winner – if ever a 16-point margin of victory could be described as dull this was it. It was competitive for half an hour but once Jamie Brennan (inset) hit Donegal’s opening goal the game pretty much ground to a halt. Paddy Mcbrearty was a surprise non-starter but came off the bench to kick 1-2, with the subs hitting a total of 1-6 on a satisfactory outing for Donegal boss Rory Gallagher. He blooded six Championship debutants – with a total of seven players making their first starts – and it proved to be an ideal opportunity to give youth its fling. Antrim had a strong wind in the first half and made a bright start but their confidence faded after missing two goal chances. CJ Mcgourty top scored for them with 0-6 from frees with sub Conor Small scoring an injury-time goal for the struggling Saffrons. Donegal made a tentative start – understandable given the number of rookies. Michael Murphy was the commanding figure, playing with authority and rock solid on the ball, he won a lot of frees which himself and Ciaran Thompson converted. Thompson hit four points into the wind in the first half including one from play which put Donegal ahead for the first time at 0-5 to 0-4. Antrim had their two great goal chances before Donegal hit the first major of the game. Mcgourty’s deft snapshot on the turn, from Paddy Mcbride’s ball in, flashed across goal. There was still only a point in it when Matthew Fitzpatrick missed an even better chance. He ghosted unmarked to the far post but his shot fizzed just wide of the far post. Within seconds the ball was in the back of the other net. From a quick kickout Murphy fed Brennan and the Bundoran speed merchant cut inside, burying the ball at the near post after 32 minutes. He then stroked over a nice point after the goal to leave it 1-8 to 0-6 at the break. Antrim’s hopes suffered a further blow just before the interval when Fitzpatrick – who was only cleared to play when a 48-week ban was quashed by the Central Appeals Committee on Wednesday, was stretchered off with a suspected shoulder injury. With 50 minutes on the clock, Donegal led by 1-12 to 0-7. Five of their first six points of the second half came from frees through Murphy and sub Paddy Mcbrearty as the game fizzled out. Paddy Mcgrath kicked home his first ever Donegal goal in the 62nd minute after an unselfish pass from Ryan Mchugh. Mcbrearty nailed a third goal, cutting inside and blasting the ball to the net with his trusty left boot in stoppage time.