Murphy shoots Donegal to glory

Donegal 2-08
Cavan 0-07



Young Footballer of the Year Michael Murphy was the star of the show as Donegal comfortably saw off Cavan tonight in Enniskillen to secure the Cadbury's Ulster Under 21 Football Championship title.

The full-forward was Donegal's trump card on the night and his vital goal just before the half-time interval put his side into a healthy 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

Cavan, to their credit, came back at their opponents after the restart and narrowed the deficit down to three-points. However, that was as good as it got for Terry Hyland's troops as they never looked like breaking down a packed and determined Donegal defence.

Donegal bagged a late goal through Dermot Molloy to all but kill off the Breffni challenge and get their hands on some provincial silverware for the first time in this grade since 1995.

From the throw-in, Donegal's whole game plan revolved around Murphy and he lashed over an early point and then won a free for Molloy to send over their second.

Cavan settled down after that and clawed level after Brendan Fitzpatrick's point after a mazy run was followed up by a super effort from corner-back Paddy Carroll.

Donegal took over for the rest of the half though, with Murphy to the forefront as he banged over a superb score from the right wing before gathering a ball in front of goal, shrugging off his marker and rounding Martin Smith to tuck the ball to the back of the Cavan net and his team in five up at the break.

Cavan were revitalized after the break and significantly improved their performance. Quick, direct ball into the full-forward line saw them outscore their opponents by 0-4 to 0-1, as Barry Reilly began to find some room to create inside.

Donegal held their nerve though and Murpy delivered a much needed point at a crucial point in the game and Molloy then slotted home a fortuitous goal to all but end Cavan's hopes of a comeback.

Donegal: P Boyle; E Doherty, C Boyle, P McGrath; D Walsh, T McKinley, C Classon; K Mulhern, D Curran; M McHugh, L McLoone, D Molloy (1-2, 1f); J Caroll, M Murphy (1-5, 2f), D McLaughlin.
Subs: A McFadden (0-1) for Caroll (43mins), P McNeillis for McLaughlin, S O'Kennedy for McKinley (both 48), D Murphy for Curran (58)

Cavan: M Smith; P Carroll (0-1), R Dunne, D Tighe; D Graham, J McEnroe, T Reilly; G McKiernan, D Givney; N Smith, N McDermott, B Reilly (0-4, 2f); B Fitzpatrick (0-2), D McKiernan, C McClarey

Subs: O Minagh for Reilly, R Maloney Derham for McClarey (both 40 mins), B Murray for Carroll (46).