Allianz Football League Division Two Final

DONEGAL 1-17 MEATH 1-15

By Cian O’Connell at Croke Park

Ultimately this proved to be a particularly satisfying success for Donegal.

The blend of established and emerging Donegal footballers, who were eight points down early on, came storming back at GAA headquarters to secure silverware.

Having performed with such ambition initially Meath were left reflecting on what might have been as Donegal dictated the agenda in the dying embers.

Meath were highly impressive throughout the first half as Andy McEntee’s improving team accumulated a 1-10 to 0-8 interval lead.

There was so much to admire about how the Royals thundered into the contest with Mickey Newman causing Donegal significant bother.

Newman wasn’t the only Meath forward to shine with Thomas O’Reilly plundering a goal, while the dash of Cillian O’Sullivan and Bryan McMahon was evident too.

It meant that Donegal were in plenty of bother initially when Meath raced into a 1-6 to 0-1 advantage by the 13th minute.

The goal arrived in the 10th minute with Newman and Barry Dardis combining to release O’Reilly, who summoned a cool and composed finish.

That major put Meath six clear with further points from Ben Brennan and Newman guiding Meath into a commanding position.

Donegal did respond reeling off four points without reply from Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan (2), and Niall O’Donnell.

From then until the break it remained very interesting with Donegal trimming the deficit to three before sweet scores from O’Sullivan and O’Reilly ensured Meath departed five in the ascendancy.

McEntee must have been satisfied with Meath’s conversion rate of 1-10 from 16 shots illustrating how primed the Royals were for this contest.

After the restart, though, Donegal really started to pose questions with Michael Murphy carrying a potent threat.

Murphy was prominent in the Donegal comeback mission, while the promising Gallen also contributed handsomely for Declan Bonner’s charges.

By the 56th minute Donegal had the gap cut down to a point 1-14 to 0-16 following a smart burst which included splendid scores from Murphy, O’Donnell, and Gallen.

Inevitably Gallen and Murphy were instrumental in the creation of Brennan’s delightful 58th minute goal which made the Meath net dance.

Suddenly Meath were trailing by two as Donegal blasted a reminder of their considerable ability. In injury time Meath’s Shane Gallagher was sent off for a second bookable offence and Murphy expertly slotted the resultant free.

Valuable lessons were learned by Meath, but Donegal had the guile to survive and subsequently thrive on the grand Croke Park stage.

Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-7 (5fs, 2ms), Jamie Brennan 1-2, Oisin Gallen 0-4, Niall O’Donnell and Jason McGee 0-2 each.

Scorers for Meath: Mickey Newman 0-5 (2fs, 1m), Thomas O’Reilly 1-1, Bryan McMahon and Cillian O’Sullivan (1f) 0-2 each, Ben Brennan, Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee, Graham Reilly, and Barry Dardis (45) 0-1 each.

DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Stephen McMenamin, Brendan McCole, Paddy McGrath; Daire O’Baoill, Leo McLoone, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Hugh McFadden, Jason McGee; Niall O’Donnell, Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle; Oisin Gallen, Michael Murphy, Jamie Brennan.

Subs: Neil McGee for McCole (14), Eamonn Doherty for McLoone (HT), Michael Langan for McGonagle (44), Eoin McHugh for O’Baoill (54), Frank McGlynn for R McHugh (70).

MEATH: Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Shane Gallagher; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Ronan Ryan; Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee; Cillian O’Sullivan, Ben Brennan, Bryan McMahon; Barry Dardis, Mickey Newman, Thomas O’Reilly.

Subs: Graham Reilly for McMahon (35), Darragh Campion for Brennan (43), James Conlon for O’Reilly (65), Gavin McCoy for S McEntee (67).

REFEREE: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).