Junior A Football Semi-Final: Donegal v Aidan McAnespies

Donegal 1-12 Aidan McAnespies 1-3

Donegal junior A team followed up the success of their B’s from the night before with a very comfortable win to advance to the final next week.  A controlled and dominant performance saw the northerners to a nine point win, and another step in the race for the Boston championship and a place at the North American Finals in two weeks.

Brian Kelly and Paddy McCusker battle for possession.

Donegal went in the break with a comfortable six point lead.  Having enjoyed the majority of possession  and with the back line having dealt with most of the opponents forays forward, Donegal led from the get go.  The first four scores came from Donegal boots.  Darren Doherty, Ciaran McDevitt, and Pauric McLaughlin were the scorers.  Steven Magill and Enda Hamill cut the lead in half with a point each, but from then on it was mostly Donegal.  Christy McLaughlin at corner forward got going in the latter part of the opening period and added another three, while Aaron McKenna pointed for McAnespies before the break.

Aaron McKenna sets up a McAnespies attack.

McAnespies tried to rally after the restart, however, came away with nothing from their first two attacks.  Donegal on the other hand netted from Christy McLaughlin to add to their cushion.  The Malin man took a pass from Brian Kelly and his low shot from the edge of the small square billowed the net.  McLaughlin followed with a point and the Donegal lead hit double digits.  Aaron McKenna had moved to corner forward and gave his side some hope with a well taken goal after gathering a high ball.  Donegal looked in little danger of relinquishing their lead however, and maintained control for the remainder of the game.  Barry Smith getting black carded did not help matters for McAnespies and the reserves were called up from the bench.  As a light rain fell the game reached its inevitable conclusion, and a second final for Donegal next week.

Donegal:  J. Byrne, F. Donnelly, D. McBride, D. Doherty, D. Green, H. Devine, T. Caldwell, M. Dunphy, C. McDevitt, O. Grant, P. McLaughlin, B. Kelly, C. McLaughlin.  Sub:  P. Wanish.  Macs:  N. Duffy, B. Smith, A. Kellet, R. McCrystal, P. McCusker, P. Daly, S. Lynn, A. McKenna, O. McNulty, S. Magill, E. Hamill, G. McAlinden, N. Regan.  Subs:  E. McKenna, S. McGettigan,

By Rory O'Donnell