Antrim 2-9 Donegal 1-7:ANTRIM proved much too strong for Donegal in Ballybofey yesterday. Thanks to a man-of-the-match display from Ryan Murray, they were in control for much of the game, leading by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Murray blazed an early penalty over the bar, but then set up Kevin Quinn for the opening goal on 12 minutes and from there on Antrim were never threatened.
Donegal relied on the boot of Patrick McBrearty, who later came on as a substitute for the seniors against Antrim, to stay in touch as they played second fiddle at midfield. Donegal’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when Quinn and Murray combined 10 minutes from the end for Quinn to fire home the second goal.
Donegal got a goal back when McBrearty bundled home with five minutes left, but Antrim hit back with Murray fisting over a reply.
McBrearty hit a post 10 minutes into the second half but apart from that, they never threatened to spoil the Antrim party.
ANTRIM: T Hughes; P McBride, C Hamill, L Peden; M McGarry, C McIlvenny, F O’Neill; B Leonard, M Cummings; M Jordan (0-1), R Murray (0-5, pen, two frees), M Hynds (0-1); K Quinn (2-1, one free), R Lynch, D McAleese. Subs; P McReynolds for McAleese (37 mins), D McCann (0-1) for McBride (45 mins); J Scullion for F ONeill (52 mins), S O’Neill for Quinn (59 mins).
DONEGAL: L McBrearty; A Blair, C Cannon, C Parke; O Redmond, C Patton, A Coyne; D White, R McNamee (0-1); J OMalley (0-2, one free), M O’Reilly (0-1), R McHugh; D Brogan, P McBrearty (1-3, two frees), L Carr. Subs:, D Mulgrew for Coyne (28 mins), A Brown for White (half-time), D Spratt for Carr (56 mins), R Dunleavy for McHugh (60 ).
Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).
Antrim will now meet Cavan in the provincial quarter-final on Sunday, May 29th.
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