Hi °C | Lo °C Donegal advanced to an Ulster semi-final meeting with Down by doing just enough to defeat Antrim in MacCumhaill Park.
Going into the game as strong favourites, Donegal were completely on top in the opening quarter, hitting the first six points. Michael McEniff, a grand nephew of Brian, was in flying form, hitting three of the scores.
However, Antrim came back strongly in the second quarter thanks to the dominance of full-forward, Hugh McAnulty and they were just three points adrift at the break, 0-9 to 0-6.
Indeed McAnulty almost had a goal on the stroke of half-time, getting a fist to a ball that went just over the crossbar.
A thunder shower at the interval meant it was a completely different game in the second half.
Antrim did get back within a point, but the introduction of 15-year-old Patrick McBrearty made the difference as he hit two points to ease the Donegal worries.
Dermot Molloy also came to the fore for the winners, hitting two great second half points to stretch the lead to four once more, but Antrim refused to give in and kept the contest alive until the final whistle.
Apart from McEniff and Molloy, Donegal had good performances from Fiachra McGinley and Cathal Ellis, while Hugh McAnulty, Thomas McGlone and James Laverty were best for Antrim.
DONEGAL: P Boyle; E Faulkner, P Devine, S O'Kennedy; T McKinley, CEllis, C Greaney; F McGinley, P McGonigle; M McEniff (0-4), D Molloy (0-5,2f), C Barrett; J Doherty (0-1), C Gallagher, O Ward (0-2).Subs: P McBrearty (0-2) for Doherty; L Keaney for Gallagher; O Grant for Barrett.
ANTRIM: A McKeown; S Tierney, R Johnston, F McGrenaghan; J Downey, T McGlone (0-1), J Laverty (0-1); D Quinn, R Maguire; C McGuinness(0-1), C Gallagher (0-1), S Tully; C McGrady (0-2,2f), H McAnulty (0-2,1f), E McNeill (0-2,1f). Subs: M Johnston for Maguire; D Lynch (0-1) for McGrady; J Carran for McNeill.
Referee: L Smyth (Down).
