Wallace savours Donegal cup win

Donegal manager Andrew Wallace was a relieved figure after an injury-time goal from Ciaran Matthewson earned his side their first Lory Meagher Cup title yesterday.

The Tir Chonaill men were staring at their third successive final defeat having trailed by two points late on, but the 19-year-old's second goal of the game steered them to victory at Croke Park.

"After years of hard work we have eventually won an All-Ireland," admitted Wallace afterwards.

"That is how hard it is to win one. We only won it by a point - we nicked it in the end. That is how hard it is. It doesn't matter if we won by an inch or won by a mile, a win is a win."

The 2-12 to 0-17 triumph over Tyrone was revenge for losing to the Red Hands in the 2009 decider, and it also banished memories of an eight-point defeat to Longford in the final 12 months ago.

Emphasising the importance of the title win in a county context, Wallace said: "This win will be a massive boost for hurling throughout Donegal - not for the senior clubs, but for the underage as it will give the youngsters something to look up to.

"We have lost two clubs this year. The Ballyshannon guys are down playing with Four Masters. If four of the Ballyshannon guys hadn't gone to Four Masters they wouldn't have had a team, because they are struggling as well.

"Buncrana have pulled out also. We had seven teams last year, now we only have five. It's something for the youngsters to look up to. It will take 15 or 20 years to build up another team."

Singling out full-back and captain Colm Breathnach for a special mention, he added: "That team, a lot of old heads and old legs out there today. I'm really delighted for them all especially Colm.

"Colm retired last year and it took a lot of phonecalls to get him back so it did, but he came back and he deserved to lift that cup today."