Donegal Ends 19-Year Title Drought

A Roundup Of The GAA Championship Action From Jackie Cahill

Ulster SFC Final
Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-8

Donegal captured a first Ulster senior football championship crown since 1992 with a comfortable six-point victory over Derry at St Tiernach's Park in Clones last Sunday.

Managed by Jim McGuinness, the north-westerners booked a place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals by ending a 19-year provincial drought.

In the process, McGuinness followed in the footsteps of former mentor Brian McEniff by becoming only the second man in history to mastermind Ulster SFC glory for Donegal.

Ultimately, it was captain Michael Murphy's early second half penalty that provided the platform for Donegal's win.

The sides were level at 0-5 apiece at half-time before Donegal turned up the heat after the break against a Derry side badly missing the attacking class of the Bradley brothers Eoin and Paddy, both ruled out with cruciate knee ligament injuries.

Donegal suffered a blow before half-time when midfielder Rory Kavanagh, cleared to play despite an ankle injury, was forced off with the problem.

Derry recovered from being 0-2 to 0-5 behind to restore parity by half-time.

But the game turned when Derry's Danny Devlin was penalised for a tangle with Murphy under a high ball.

The award appeared harsh and Derry's understandable anger increased when Murphy buried the penalty.

From there, Donegal never looked back and they cruised into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead. Derry hit back to trail by just a goal but Donegal had little difficultly in closing the game out.

Connacht SFC Final
Mayo 0-13 Roscommon 0-11

Mayo produced a strong second half performance against Roscommon at a rain and wind-swept Dr. Hyde Park last Sunday to collect a 43rd Connacht senior football championship crown.

Managed by former playing star James Horan, Mayo overturned a 0-5 to 0-9 interval deficit to land the Nestor Cup for the first time since 2009.

Inspired by talisman Donie Shine, and with the aid of the breeze, 2010 provincial winners Roscommon enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges.

But Mayo were inspired by an eight-point haul from Cillian O'Connor, who collected the man of the match award, and clawed their way back after half-time.

Roscommon, playing into the teeth of the wind after the break, could only managed two points in the second half.

And with Mayo in the ascendancy, they were level by the 59th minute, with O'Connor fittingly levelling the scores.

And when O'Connor kicked another of his eight frees, Mayo hit the front for the first time.

Peadar Gardiner moved Mayo two points clear heading into stoppage time and while Shine cut the gap back to the bare minimum, Enda Varley landed the insurance score before the finish. 

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier
Armagh 2-9 Wicklow 0-10

Mick O'Dwyer's reign as Wicklow senior football manager was ended by Armagh in last Saturday's All-Ireland SFC round 2 qualifier replay at Aughrim.

The veteran boss has stepped down in the Garden County but hasn't ruled out a return to intercounty management next year with another county.

Jamie Clarke hit two goals for Armagh as they set up a mouthwatering round 3 showdown with arch-rivals Tyrone next Saturday.

Clarke, who scored 2-2, netted in each half as Armagh outclassed hosts Wicklow in front of a packed house.

At half-time, Armagh led by 1-5 to 0-6 but Wicklow refused to wilt and in the second half, they drew level at 0-8 to 1-5.

Crossmaglen ace Clarke bagged his second goal to reassert Armagh's superiority and that strike proved crucial as the Orchard County went on to claim a five-point win.

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier
Limerick 0-14 Waterford 0-9

Resugent Limerick booked their place in the fourth round of All-Ireland SFC qualifiers with a five-point victory over Munster rivals Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds last Saturday.

Limerick, walloped by Kerry in the Munster championship, have bounced back with qualifier victories over Offaly and Waterford and will now face Wexford next weekend.

Waterford lost the services of Gary Hurney to a red card in the 59th minute and Limerick took advantage to score the last five points of the game.

In the first half, Waterford felt aggrieved when they were awarded a penalty, which was reversed by the referee upon consultation with his umpires.

Limerick took advantage to move 0-9 to 0-4 clear but Waterford hit back and were just two points behind, 0-7 to 0-9, at half-time.

Waterford levelled the tie at 0-9 each but the free-taking of Stephen Kelly proved crucial for Limerick and when Hurney was sent off, the Waterford challenge faltered.

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Down 3-13 Antrim 0-10

Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Down are back within touching distance of Croke Park.

The Mourne men finished strongly to claim a 12-point victory against Ulster rivals Antrim at Casement Park in last Saturday's All-Ireland SFC round 3 qualifier.

Antrim were just a point down at half-time, 0-5 to 0-6, and moved a point clear early in the second half.

But Down regrouped and Conor Laverty's 43rd minute goal turned the tie firmly in favour of James McCartan's charges.

Martin Clarke and Caolan Mooney added further goals before the finish and set up a repeat meeting of the 2010 All-Ireland final with champions Cork.

Marty Clarke top-scored for Down with 1-4 while Mark Poland added four frees for the winners.

All-Ireland SFC Round 3 Qualifier
Kildare 2-11 Meath 0-14

Kildare have established a reputation for strong second half performances and Kieran McGeeney's men were at it again last Saturday night to send Leinster rivals Meath crashing out of the All-Ireland senior football championship.

Extra-time loomed large at a packed Pairc Tailteann in Navan, with the sides level at 1-9 to 0-12, but the Lilywhites finished a flourish and bagged an unanswered 1-2 in the closing minutes to clinch the win.

Wing-back Emmett Bolton bombed forward for 1-1 and his goal killed the game as a contest.

Bolton's fisted effort finished a flowing move and set Kildare up for a fourth round date with beaten Ulster finalists Derry.

Meath finished with late frees from Stephen Bray and sub Brian Farrell but the clock ran down on the Royal County.

This was Kildare's second championship victory over Meath this season and at half-time, they led by 1-6 to 0-7, with Johnny Doyle netting the first half goal from an early penalty.