Donegal, Tyrone and Monaghan make last four in Ulster

ULSTER UNDER-21 FOOTBALL QUARTER-FINAL ROUND-UP

Cavan’s four year grip on the Ulster Under-21 championship was relinquished after a late, late goal by Ryan McHugh for Donegal saw them through on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-9.

Donegal dominated the opening half, but should have been much further in front that one point at the break, 0-5 to 0-4.

Donegal hit six wides, one of them a great goal chance from Darach O’Connor on 17 minutes. They were made pay as Caoimhin O‘Reilly scored the last three points of the half, two from frees.

When Cavan came out and kicked the first three points of the second half, a shock was on the cards and they rode their luck with Ryan McHugh missing a penalty for Donegal, but McHugh redeemed himself with the winner.

Tyrone breezed into the semi-finals with a runaway 0-17 to 0-7 win over Fermanagh at Healy Park last night.

Fermanagh’s Eoin McCaffrey missed a penalty, striking a post in the sixth minute before Mark Kavanagh fired over four superb long-range points from play to put the home side in control.

Tyrone stretched their advantage in the second half with scores from midfielder Cathal McShane and three from sub Lee Brennan.

Monaghan win

Playing with 14 men for the final eight minutes of the first half and finishing with 13 players proved a bridge too far for

Derry

as

Monaghan

booked their place in the last four 0-15 to 1-8 in chilly conditions in Inniskeen.

The sides were level at 0-3 each after the first quarter but Derry forged ahead, helped by a goal from Niall Loughlin, but only after they had been reduced to 14 men after 23 minutes when Neil McNicholl was red carded.

Monaghan laid the foundations for victory with a strong 20 minutes when they registered six unanswered points to take a five points lead and Derry could find no way back. Their disappointment was compounded when they finished with 13 players following the dismissal of Ciarán McFaul in stoppage time.

Floodlight failure in the Athletic Grounds forced the quarter-final between Armagh and Antrim to be called off. The game has been refixed for Sunday at 2pm in the Athletic Grounds.