GAA Round-up:It wasn't quite men against boys but the experience of Donegal was telling in the end as they ran out comfortable winners over a youthful Cavan line-up in their Ulster SFC quarter-final at Breffni Park.
It was far from vintage stuff in difficult conditions but Donegal had enough savvy to get the job done and ran out 2-14 to 1-08 winners and will now take on the might of Tyrone in the Ulster semi-final on Sunday, June 26th.
Paddy McBrearty found the opening Donegal goal after 21 minutes which gave them a 1-06 to 0-03 lead at the break. Both sides were depleted at the halfway stage after Donegal captain Michael Murphy and Cavan’s Ray Cullivan were both shown red cards inside the opening 15 minutes.
Rory Kavanagh was on target for Donegal’s second goal by which time Cavan were all but spent. However, Cavan secured a consolation goal through Michael Brennan in the dying seconds of the game.
Elsewhere the upset of the day surely took place in Portlaoise where Carlow were 0-14 to 0-13 winners over Louth, last year’s beaten Leinster finalists.
Due to the conditions, the quality was again in question but it will matter little to Carlow after their dramatic one-point win.
The hero of the hour was Brendan Murphy who converted the all-important score with the last kick of the game.
Louth’s Dessie Finnegan was sent-off for his second bookable offence. Shane Lennon attempted to rally the troops but Murphy’s late strike was enouth to seal the famous win.
Carlow now progress to the June 26th Leinster semi-final where they will take on Wexford.
Earlier Roscommon were convincing 2-12 to 0-06 winners over Leitrim to book their place in the Connacht SFC final.
Conditions were wet, windy and miserable but that didn’t matter to Rossies who battled the elements and eased past their opponents.
On a day when hardy supporters would have been forgiven for turning their back on the game at Carrick on Shannon, you sense the Leitrim camp were thinking something similar.
In a totally one-sided encounter, Roscommon won 2-12 to 0-06. By the break a Donal Shine goal helped the winners to a healthy 1-07 to 0-02 lead and the writing was long since on the wall.
Even when Leitrim had the strong wind on their backs in the second period, they struggled to make any impact. Too many unforced errors were the main problem for Leitrim despite Emelyn Mulligan putting in a good shift.
Conor Devaney scored a late goal for Roscommon but the contest was long over at that stage.
Roscommon will take on Mayo or Galway in the provincial final on July 17th.
Sunday's Results
Connacht SFC semi-final
Leitrim 0-06 Roscommon 2-13
Leinster SFC quarter-final
Carlow 0-14 Louth 0-13
Ulster SFC quarter-final
Cavan 1-08 Donegal 2-14
Munster SHC semi-final
Waterford 3-15 Limerick 3-14
Ulster SHC semi-final
Down 1-10 Armagh 0-14