Donegal retained the Ulster Football title by edging out All-Ireland champions Armagh in 2-23 to 0-28 after extra-time following another titanic struggle at Clones.
Unlike last year, this final meeting didn’t require penalties but it was another epic encounter between two well-matched teams.
Following the final whistle as the holders had been able to retain possession for the last minute of action before the hooter sounded, there was unsavoury scenes as a melee broke out after a track-suited member of the Armagh squad appeared to strike a Donegal player.
It took a minute or so for order to be restored before Donegal celebrations could begin following their 12th Anglo-Celt Cup triumph.
For Armagh, their wait for a first Ulster title since 2008 goes on although they showed last year that they were more than capable of regrouping from provincial final heartbreak for the All-Ireland series.
With Oisin Gallen hitting four first-half points from play, Donegal led 0-14 to 0-11 at half-time after having been seven ahead three minutes before the interval.
Armagh continued to claw into Donegal’s lead after the restart as they trimmed the margin to 0-16 to 0-15.
The defending champions appeared to have regained control as Hugh McFadden’s bundled goal was followed by three points which put them seven up once more.
However, Donegal only managed a solitary Jason McGee point in the closing 21 minutes of normal time as Oisin Conaty’s continuing brilliance and the introduction of Stefan Campbell helped reeled in their advantage.
Conaty’s sixth point from play in the closing 10 seconds of normal time meant extra-time after Donegal’s attempts to run down the clock had unravelled.
A Jarly Og Burns point put Armagh ahead for the first time after the action had resumed but the sides were still locked together at 0-25 to 1-22 after the first 10-minute period.
A Stefan Campbell score nudged Armagh ahead once more at the start of the second period of extra-time but after Rory Grugan missed a chance to extend their lead, Ciaran Moore then hammered Donegal’s second goal after being set up by Michael Langan.
A two-point free by Armagh keeper Ethan Rafferty levelled the contest once more but Niall O’Donnell’s 88th-minute point proved the winner before tempers flared after the final whistle.
The was intrigue before the throw-in as Rian O’Neill’s absence from Armagh duty seemed set to end as he walked out on to the pitch with the other squad members at half-time during the Ulster Ladies Final between the two same counties.
However in the event, O’Neill wasn’t drafted into the 26-man matchday squad which included his brother Oisin, who started at left full-forward.
When the game did get underway, Michael Langan created an immediate goal chance for himself but Ethan Rafferty spread himself to make a fine save.
The first of two first-half two-pointers from Ciaran Thompson helped Donegal lead 0-4 to 0-2 and Armagh needed Conaty’s brilliance to stay in touch in the opening 20 minutes as his two initial scores restricted the holders’ advantage to 0-6 to 0-5.
But Oisin Gallen was proving equally effective in Donegal’s attack as he tormented Barry McCambridge and his three points from play in as many minutes during a period when Michael Murphy also tagged on a score from play left Jim McGuinness’ side 0-10 to 0-5 up.
It got even better for Donegal as Thompson’s second two-point helped extend their lead to 0-13 to 0-6 as Armagh were being run ragged.
However, Paddy Burns’ switch to shadow Gallen helped steady Armagh as two Ross McQuillan points also stopped the bleeding.
And Armagh finished the opening half strong as Conaty’s third point and a two-pointer from Oisin O’Neill, followed by another score from the Crossmaglen man, left only three between the sides at the interval.
More to follow.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker (capt); Ross McQuillan, Greg McCabe, Jarly Og Burns; Callum O’Neill, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullan, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Tiernan Kelly, Andrew Murnin, Oisin O’Neill.
Subs: Blaine Hughes, Peter McGrane, Tomas McCormack, Connaire Mackin, Jason Duffy, Niall Grimley, Shane McPartlan, Cian McConville, Conor Turbitt, Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Moore; Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan; Daire O Baoill, Hugh McFadden, Shane O’Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.
Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Odhran Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Jamie Brennan, Conor O’Donnell, Niall O’Donnell, Stephen McMenamin.
Referee: Brendan Crawley (Kildare)
