Monaghan produced an outstanding second-half performance to book a place in the Ulster U20 final as they saw off Donegal 3-10 to 1-11. A remarkable second-half where Andy Callan’s men turned around a six point deficit scoring 2-9 to setup a final meeting with Down next weekend.
Donegal got off to a flying start leading three points to no score after six minutes with Jason Irwin receiving a ninth minute black card.
Donnacha Swinbourne got the Farney moving with a 13th minute penalty, with Darragh Dempsey adding a point a minute later, Monaghan’s only scores of the half.
Monaghan went down to 13 men as Joel Wilson received a black card, which allowed Keelan Dunleavy, Padraig McGettigan, Rory O’Donnell, Jack Gallagher and Padraig McGettigan send over points as Donegal led nine points to 1-1 at the break.
Callan rang the changes and they stood up big time. Michael Meehan and Johnny McGroddy exchanged scores by the second minute of the half, but that was Donegal’s final score for 18 long minutes.
Shane Slevin, Ronan Boyle, Darragh McElerney and three Sean Jones points along with Swinbourne’s second goal of the game on 43 minute swung the game as Monaghan led 2-8 (14) to 10 points. Rory O’Donnell’s 50th minute point was Donegal’s second of the half, with Monaghan replying with points from Ronan Grimes and Michael Hannon.
Ryan McFadden scored a fabulous goal in the second minute of injury time to make it a two point game only for Swimbourne to complete his hat-trick of goals and send Monaghan into the Ulster final.
