Donegal prevail in Ulster U21 decider

Donegal 2-8 Cavan 0-7, Brewster Park, Enniskillen

Team captain Michael Murphy led by example as Donegal claimed their county's first Cadbury's Ulster Under-21 Football title since 1995, following a hard-earned 2-8 to 0-7 win over Cavan.

Murphy top-scored with 1-5, and picked up the man-of-the-match award; but it was far from a one-man show as Jimmy McGuinness' side put in a gutsy team effort and fought hard for victory.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-2 apiece at the end of the opening quarter at Brewster Park, with Cavan amassing four wides by the 17th minute.

Donegal suddenly sprung into life before the interval, with Murphy's goal coming late in the half as his side led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break.

Cavan bounced back on the restart and cut the deficit to two points in the 48th minute following a third score from free-taker Barry Reilly.

But Donegal staged a superb finish to hold Cavan scoreless in the closing 12 minutes.

Diarmuid Molloy grabbed Donegal's first point from play since the 20th minute of the first half, before a second goal paved the way for a Donegal win.

Mark McHugh's goal edged Donegal into a 2-6 to 0-6 lead, after he knocked the ball out of the hands of Cavan full-back Rory Dunne and finished to the net.

At the opposite end, Donegal Goalkeeper Peter Boyle making a string of superb saves early in the first half to deny Cavan their first U-21 provincial title since 1996.

After the game, Donegal skipper Murphy received the cup from Ulster Council Chairman Aogan Farrell.

The pairings for the All-Ireland semi-finals are now complete with Donegal facing Tipperary and Dublin taking on Roscommon on Saturday week (April 17).