This 2022 Electric Ireland HE Senior Football Division One clash at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy provided excellent entertainment for a good size attendance.
ATU Donegal 0-09 v 0-15 Ulster University
By Charlie Collins
Both teams were already assured of quarter-final spot having won their opening two games so the reward here for a victory was a home game in the last eight.
Ulster University produced an impressive first-half display and led 0-08 to 0-02 at the break. They did have the wind at their backs but still kicked a number of excellent points from play.
They raced into a six point lead with two frees from Dominic McEnhill and points from play by Ryan McGill , Conor Devlin, Paul McKervey , and Aiden Donaghy.
ATU Donegal finally got on the scoresheet late in the half with good scores from Kealan Dunleavy and Rory O Donnell but Tom Close and Ryan McGill replied with two super long range efforts to leave six in it and the Letterkenny lads with work to do in the second- half.
ATU introduced Jason McGee at half-time and started very well with four points in a row from Mark McAteer , Blake McGarvey , Conor O Donnell, and Jack McSharry to leave just two in it. Ryan McGill replied for UU and then Conor O Donnell burst through from fifty meters out but his shot for goal flew just wide of the goal frame.
The teams then exchanged six points to leave it 0-09 to 0–12 with ten minutes left.
Ulster University lost Aiden Donaghy to a red card for serious foul play that left Jason McGee injured and needing to be replaced.
Despite that the visitors still scored the final three points at the game to run out winners by 0-09 to 0-15. ATU Donegal will now travel to meet DCU , who have a strong Donegal representation in their ranks in the Quarter-Final in two weeks time.
ATU Donegal: Johnny Toye ,Aaron Gilhooley, Kieran Tobin, Dylan Dorrian , Jack Gallagher, Beanan Corrigan , Keelan McGroddy , Ryan McFadden , Conor O Donnell (0-03), Kealan Dunleavy (0-01), Jack McSharry (0-02),
Mark McAteer ( 0-01), Liam Gaughan , Rory O Donnell ( 0-01), Blake McGarvey (0-01).
Subs: Jason McGee for McFadden (h/t), Eoin Dowling for Gilhooley , Ferdia Doherty for Dorrian, Bobby McGettigan for McAteer, Darragh McMenamin for McGee.