By Charlie Collins at Croke Park
Donegal 3-17 v 0-22 Mayo
Two late goals by substitute Josh Cronnolly McGee gave Donegal a brilliant comeback victory in a dramatic final in Croke Park, after Mayo had led for most of the game and had the look of winners until the final ten minutes.
Donegal manager Mickey McCann during Sunday’s Nicky Rackard Cup final. Photo Evan Logan
When these teams met in the round-robin match in O Donnell Park back in April they were level at 0-08 apiece at halftime. Mayo could only manage five second-half points that day and three of those from long range frees from goalkeeper Bobby Douglas as Donegal ran out comfortable winners by 0-21 to 0-13.
Mickey McCann’s men were the only unbeaten team in that format and went into today’s final as favorites in the eyes of most people. However the manager made it clear earlier this week that Mayo would present a very tough challenge and to underestimate them would be a huge mistake. Last year’s defeat in the final by Wicklow was another factor in the Donegal mindset as they set out to try to make it a third Nicky Rackard Cup victory and earn a place in next season’s Christy Ring Cup.
The early minutes saw a flock of seagulls desend over Croke Park, an injury to Jack O Loughlin and two points for Mayo from Sean Kenny and Eoin Delaney. O Loughlin recovered to play on and Donegal replied with points from play by Brian McIntyre, Ruairi Campbell and Danny Cullen to lead by one.
Brian McIntyre watches as his shot sails over the bar to open the scoring for Donegal during Sunday’s Nicky Rackard Cup final. Photo Evan Logan
Shane Boland’s free had them level, and when Gerry Gilmore and Danny Cullen for Donegal exchanged points with Liam Lavin and Boland it was 0-05 apiece. Gilmore from a free and Adrian Phillips from play left it 0-06 each but Shane Boland’s and Bobby Douglas long range effort quickly put Mayo two in front 0-08 to 0-06 as Mayo got on top.
Cormac Phillips made it a three point game, 0-09 to 0-06. Gerry Gilmore reduced the lead to two but Mayo replied with three in a row from Delaney , Sean Kenny and Boland to take a five point lead and looking strong. Liam McKinney scored the final point of the half to leave it 0-12 to 0-08 at half-time and if Donegal were to get back into this game they would have to improve on a wide count of ten plus four shots dropping into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Donegal’s Conor Gartland wins possession during Sunday’s Nicky Rackard Cup final. Photo Evan Logan
They had it all to do against a Mayo team looking good and playing with confidence. Donegal made three half-time changes but it was Mayo who again started the better with three points from Lavin, Boland and Kenny, sub Peter Kelly and Liam McKinney replied for Donegal, 0-15 to 0-10.
Then a lifeline for Donegal when Gerry Gilmore burst forward and when his shot dropped short Ruairi Campbell flicked it to the net to leave just two in it , 0-15 to 1-10.
Donegal’s Gerry Gilmore in a race for possession with Mayo’s Oisin Greally during Sunday’s Nicky Rackard Cup final. Photo Evan Logan
Donegal’s Ruairi Campbell breaks for goal during Sunday’s Nicky Rackard Cup final. Photo Evan Logan
But Mayo responded brillantly with three in a row, Lavin and two from Boland to lead by five.
Sean McVeigh and Danny Cullen exchanged points with Kenny and Sean Regan. Gerry Gilmore added two, Sean McVeigh another to leave three in it and then sub Josh Cronolly McGee blasted in two goals in quick succession and Donegal somehow were ahead in a game that looked lost for so long, 3-15 to 0-21.
Stephen Gillespie came forward to make it a four point game, Boland pulled one back but Ruairi Campbell ended the scoring to complete a Brillant comeback as Donegal won by 3-17 to 0-22.
Donegal: Luke White, Ciaran Curran, Stephen Gillespie (0-01), Gavin Browne, Stephen McBride, Jack O Loughlin, Sean McVeigh (0-02), Gerard Gilmore (0-05), Conor O Grady, Conor Gartland, Liam McKinney (0-02), Brian MacIntyre (0-01), Sean Ward, Danny Cullen (0-02), Ruairi Campbell (1-03). Subs: Peter Kelly (0-01), Oisín Grant and Josh Cronolly McGee (2-00), for Ward, OLoughlin and McIntyre (all at H/T), Ronan McDermott for Gartland (47mins), Padraig Doherty for Browne (58mins).
Mayo: Bobby Douglas (0-01), Daniel Huane, Oisin Creally, Conor Murray, Conal Hession, David Kenny, Eoghan Collins, Sean Kenny (0-04) , John Heraty, Sean Regan (0-01), Adrian Phillips (0-01), Liam Lavin (0-03), Shane Boland (0-09), Cormac Phillips (0-01), Eoin Delaney (0-02). Subs: Kenny Feeney for Adrian Phillips (51mins), Micheal Farrell for Heraty (63mins), Joe Burke fog Cormac Phillips (65mins).
Referee: Peter Owens (Down).
