May 11
15
Donegal defeat Antrim in Ballybofey
Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011 – Preliminary Round
Donegal 1-10
Antrim 0-07
Donegal advanced to the first round proper of the Ulster Football championship this afternoon in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey in a game that was far from pretty, but for Donegal it was the result that counted as they now go forward to meet Cavan.
Mark McHugh, son of 1992 hero Martin McHugh, scored the only goal of the game in added time to make the score look more impressive that it was in reality and this after Antrim had been reduced to 14 men after the sending off of substitute Mark Dougan.
Donegal’s star forwards Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden were well marshaled by the Antrim defence and held scoreless from play, but Adrian Hanlon, Bradley and Dermot Molloy saw the home side lead 0-6 to 0-3 at half time, and stretched the advantage with points from McFadden, Murphy and mark McHugh.
Rory Kavanagh began to impress i lar na pairce and he was assisted by minor Patrick McBrearty, also having featured in the minor side earlier in the afternoon.
Antrim went 28 minutes without scoring, before substitute Mark Dougan slotted a point, but his good work was then punished as he seemed to elbow Karl Lacey and got a straight red for his efforts.
In added time Mark McHugh took Kevin Rafferty’s return pass to beat the Antrim goalkeeper to the bottom corner of the net. Donegal advance and Antrim lick their wounds for the qualifiers and May just half gone.
Donegal: P Durcan, K Lacey, N McGee, P McGrath, F McGlynn, K Cassidy, A Thompson, R Kavanagh, M McElhinney, M McHugh (1-1), D Molloy (0-1), R Bradley (0-2), A Hanlon (0-1), M Murphy (0-3, 3f), C McFadden (0-2, 1f).
Subs: M Boyle for Thompson (20), P McBrearty for Molloy (52), M Hegarty for Hanlon (52), K Rafferty for McElhinney (57), D McLoughlin for Bradley (65)
Antrim: S O’Neill, K O’Boyle, R Johnston, C Brady, T Scullion, J Crozier, A Healy, C Murray, A Gallagher, B Herron, T McCann (0-2), M Sweeney, P Cunningham (0-2, 1f), M McCann, K Niblock (0-2, 2f).
Subs: K Brady for M McCann (41), T O’Neill for Sweeney (46), S Burke for Herron (48), M Dougan (0-1) for Cunningham (57)
Referee: M Deegan (Laois)
