One of the best Ulster championships in years didn’t quite get the game it deserved to finish it off, but a masterclass from Donegal saw them win back-to-back provincial titles and march on to the Super 8s.
Cavan, back in the Ulster final for the first time since 2001, were not able to bring the all-action style of their wins over Monaghan and Armagh which brought them to Clones today.
Instead took a backward step and tried to contain Donegal and even though they managed to keep Paddy McBrearty, Michael Murphy and Jamie Brennan quiet for the first 10, 15 minutes or so, Donegal had so much firepower that others simply came in the next wave of attack and finished the moves instead.
Ciaran Thompson, Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Hugh McFadden piled on early scores and once the key forwards did start to fire, Cavan were in all sorts of trouble.
Jamie Brennan’s 57th minute goal was a killer score and while Cavan fought on their two late goals put a false hue on the scoreboard – because Donegal should have won by a lot more.
Brennan and Paddy McGrath missed good goal chances in the first half and leading 0-13 to 0-5 at half time, with Jamie Brennan getting the upperhand on Jason McLoughlin scoring three points from play, Donegal already looked assured of a 10th Ulster title.
By then, the only question was by how much.
Cavan went with a more defensive formation but shook things up at half time bringing up Cian Mackey and Conor Madden who started to make in-roads into a Donegal defence which has still not been tested fully.
Stephen Murray also replaced Niall Murray, who was surprisingly hauled off before the break. He was not playing well, like a lot of his team-mates, but given the great championship he’s had he could have made a difference in the second half when Cavan came more into the game.
As it was Mackey, Madden and Stephen Murray, plus Caoimhin O’Reilly when he came on, definitely improved things for Cavan.
Gearoid McKiernan was drifting in and out of the game while his opposite number Hugh McFadden, one of the real unsung heroes of this Donegal team, got through a mountain of hard work.
Cavan got the deficit back to six points with Dara McVeety, who was well held by Paddy McGrath in the first half, finally starting to wield his influence with a superb point in the 55th minute.
Jamie Brennan’s goal completely snuffed out any small hopes of a famous Cavan comeback.
When he gathered the ball on the left flank there was no hint of danger, but he beat Moynagh for pace, cut inside past McLoughlin and although off balance, was still able to toe-poke the ball into the net after 57 minutes.
Cavan: R Galligan; J McLoughlin, P Faulkner, C Moynagh (0-1); M Reilly, K Clarke, C Rehill; C Brady (0-1), G McKiernan (0-6); O Kiernan, D McVeety (0-3), N Murray; C Brady, O Pierson, G Smith (0-1).
Subs: L Brady, B Fortune, J Brady (0-1), C O'Reilly (0-1), C Mackey (0-1), K Brady, T Galligan, S Murray (1-0), C Madden (1-1), J Galligan, C Conroy.
Donegal: S Patton; P McGrath, N McGee, S McMenamin; R McHugh (0-1), O McFadden Ferry, E Gallagher (0-1); H McFadden (0-1), J McGee (0-2); C Thompson (0-2), N O'Donnell (0-1), J Brennan (1-4); P McBrearty (0-5), M Murphy (0-4), M Langan (0-1).
Subs: P Durcan, F McGlynn, L McLoone, C McGonagle, E Doherty, P Brennan, D O Baoill (0-1), C Ward, B McCole, O Gallen (0-1), E McGettigan.
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
Att: 28,780
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