Donegal impress to overcome Dublin in Buncrana Shield final

Donegal made sure of victory in the Buncrana Shield with a dominant performance over Dublin at the Scarvey in Buncrana. 

The opening five minutes were a real template for how the match was going to play out. Dublin began the game strongly dominating possession but the Donegal defence stood tall and made great blocks and forced turnovers.

An early goal from Conor Gallagher set Donegal on their way to a nine-point half-time lead and Dungloe's Kyle Bonner added a second late on. 

Quick thinking from a line ball from Donegal got Conor Gallagher in and he fired low into the bottom left corner to give the home side an early lead.

Donegal began to dominate the Dublin kick-out and from the next two kick outs they turned the ball over and scored another two points from Cathal McGee and Callum McGilloway to take an early five-point lead.

Co-Captains Cathal McGee and Tomas Carr with the Shield

After this Donegal had a game plan and worked it to perfection with nearly a score every time they came forward. Donegal had a 1-7 lead after 25 minutes, with two points from Shane Sweeney, as well as scores from Cathal Doherty and Conor Gallagher.

Dublin finally got on the scoreboard in the last minute of the half when Dan Quigley put the ball over the bar.

Donegal were 1-7 to 0-1 in front at the break. Dublin came out for the second half and took control of the opening minutes where they scored another three points to close the gap, with Jack Heffernan and Aaron Graham on the mark. 

However, their supporters were adamant the team should’ve had a penalty when Jordan Collins went down in the square. Dublin came close to a goal when Gareth Hayes got in behind and his shot looked destined for the bottom corner but somehow Corey Sheridan got down and parried the ball out for a 45.

Donegal steadied the ship and in the final quarter of the game they took the game away completely from Dublin by scoring four unanswered points through another two from Shane Sweeney and scores from Peter McLaughlin and Cathal Doherty. 

With 10 minutes to go Bonner got the second goal of the game as a well worked Donegal move got him in behind the Dublin defence and he slotted the ball into the net.

Minutes later Shane Sweeney put the icing on the cake as he scored his fifth point of the game from a free kick. 

Dublin never gave up and scored the last point of the game when Jack Heffernan put a free kick over the bar but in the end it was a comfortable win for Donegal. 

Donegal scorers: Conor Gallagher 1-1;  Shane Sweeney 0-5, 2f; Kyle Bonner 1-0; Cathal Doherty, Cathal McGee 0-2 each; Peter McLaughlin, Callum McGilloway 0-1 each.

Dublin scorers: Dan Quigley 0-2; Jack Heffernan 0-2, 1f; Aaron Graham 0-1,45.

Donegal: Corey Sheridan (Aodh Ruadh); Odhran McBearty (Sean MacCumhaills), Adam Byrne (Sean MacCumhaills), Gareth Brennan (Aodh Ruadh); Cathal Doherty (Letterkenny Gaels), Cathal McGee (Gaoth Dobhair), Peter McLaughlin (Naomh Padraig Úisce Chaoin); Kalvin McLaughlin (Carndonagh), Callum McGilloway (Letterkenny Gaels); JP Gallagher (Gaoth Dobhair), Tomas Carr (Four Masters), Conor Farrell (Naomh Conaill); Conor Gallagher (Red Hughs), Shane Sweeney (Ardara), Kyle Bonner (Dungloe). Subs: Danny McCready (Dungloe) for Carr (40); Jack Gallagher (Cloughaneely) for Farrell (43); Joseph Gibbions (Aodh Ruadh) for Gallagher (54); Fionn McGrenra (Termon) for  P McLaughlin (55) Barry Lafferty (Robert Emmets) for Sheridan (56); Sean Gallagher (Naomh Muire) for K McLaughlin (56); Shay Cannon (Milford) for K Bonner (56), Patrick Doherty (Urris) for C Doherty (58).

Dublin: Aaron Graham (Whitehall Colmcille); Andrew Blanker (Kilmacud Crokes), Ciaran Clifford( St. Sylvesters), Cillian McCabe (Castleknock); Conor McKenna (St Margarets), Dan Quigley (Kilmacud Crokes), David Coakley (Lucan Sarsfield); Eric Boland (Ballymun Kickhams), Finn McGinnis (Skerries Harps); Gareth Hayes (Thomas Davis), Jack Heffernan (Erins Isle), Jack O’Keefe (St. Sylvesters); Rory Duffy (Oliver Plunketts, Eoghan Ruadh), Jordan Collins  (Skerries Harps), Leon Robinson (St Annes). Subs: Shane Prendercast (St Judes) for O’Keefee (half-time); Luca Manicle (St Olafs) for Duffy (38); Zach Donegan (Raheny) for Hayes (46); Ryan Ennis (St Peters, Clann Mhuire)  for Boland (51), 

Referee: Alan Nash (Derry)