Donegal turn on the style to clinch Conor McGurk Cup with emphatic victory

Silverware does not come too often to Donegal hurlers but Mickey McCann’s men grabbed the Conor McGurk cup in scintillating style in a shoot-out at the Dub in Belfast. 

Donegal 5-28 Ulster University 0-21 

It was a most emphatic display from a Donegal team that did not have Danny Cullen, Declan Coulter, Christopher McDermott or Stephen Gillespie. But there are young gladiators coming through-like Steven McBride, Liam McKinney, who was man of the match, Conor Gartland and the darting Dervish that is Ruairi Campbell. 

McKinney finished with a total of 0-12, eight came from frees while Campbell skill and speed tortured the students' defence and he finished with a total of 1-13 as well as creating several chances for his colleagues. Two well executed goals in the opening half from the foraging Ronan McDermott and Campbell pushed Donegal to a 2-12 to 0-8 lead. 

McKinney landed 0-6 of this total, with Gerard Gilmore, Campbell, Brian McIntyre also on target. Ulster University hit back with some fine points from Aaron Bradley, Dannan McKeogh, Aodán O’Brien and Aaron Bradley-but they were always struggling in the physical stakes. 

Midfielders Gartland and Jack O’Loughlin were dominant throughout and the Ulster University defence constantly struggled with the power of McDermott and Campbell’s darting runs. It did not get much better for them after the break as Donegal continued to clinically pick off the scores from Ritchie Ryan and Campbell-both of whom could have goaled but blazed over. 

And this match was well sealed when Ryan finished a glorious move with a flashing shot to the net in the 40th minute. That put Donegal into a pretty unassailable 3-17 to 0-9 lead. 

Ulster University, inspired by wing-forward Ciaran Magill, kept pressing and Burt and Donegal player Kevin Curran weighed in with a few well struck points while Fermanagh star Luca McCusker was also on target up front. And, even though victory was assured Mickey McCann kept urging on his charges as the students began to find their range as well. 

It was score for score as the game drew to a conclusion. But two more goals from McDermott and a real final cracker from sub Daire O’Maoileidigh was the real coup de grace. 

Ulster University never surrendered and finished with a tally of 0-21.  But Donegal’s final score of 5-28 was most convincing and impressive. 

There is no doubt but that heartbreakingly narrow defeat to Down when victory was snatched from their grasp in last year's McGurk cup final was a major motivator. 

A thoroughly deserved and impressive victory and one that sets them up nicely for a much bigger test on Sunday week. 

Donegal scorers: Liam McKinney 0-12,8f; Ronan McDermott 2-1; Ruairí Campbell and Ritchie Ryan 1-3; Gerry Gilmore 0-4; Daire O’Maoileidigh 1-0;  Conor Gartand 0-3; Brian McIntyre and Jack O’Loughlin 0-1; 

Ulster University scorers: Aaron Bradley 0-5, 3f; Declan McCloskey and Luca McCusker 0-3; Dannan McKeogh 0-2,1f; Kevin Curran 0-2 and John Kennedy 0-2; Caolan McKernan, Aodán O’Brien, Colla McDonnell and Finn Turpin 0-1.

Donegal: Luke White; Steven McBride, Michael Donaghue, Padraig Doherty; Gavin Browne, Bernard Lafferty, Ryan Hilferty; Conor Gartland, Jack O’Loughlin; Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott, Brian McIntyre; Ruairí Campbell, Ritchie Ryan, Gerry Gilmore. Subs; Daire O’Maoileidigh for Gerry Gilmore (57) Sean Ward for Ryan (60), Conor Griffin for Brian McIntyre, Ciaran Bradley for Padraig Doherty and Paul Nelson for Ryan Hilferty (67). 

Ulster University: Pearse Smyth; Mark McClean, Declan McClsokey, Kevin Curran; Caolan McKernan, Aodán O’Brien, Tom Scally; Eoghan Cassidy, Finn Turpin; Ciaran Magill, Deaghlan Mallon, John Kennedy; Dannan McKeogh, Luca McCusker, Aaron Bradley. Subs Colla McDonnell for Dannan McKeogh (54). 

Referee: Kevin Parke (Antrim)