CHAMPIONS….Donegal were far too strong for Fermanagh

By Alan Rodgers

FIRST half goals from Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Ryan McHugh earned Donegal another Ulster title as they swept aside Fermanagh’s dreams of a first ever Anglo Celt triumph.

On a day when the attendance of DUP leader and Fermanagh native, Arlene Foster, dominated the headlines from St Tiernach’s Park, the Donegal men achieved their provincial success with efficiency and style.

The 2-18 to 0-12 victory earned them a ninth title overall, their first since 2014, and there was never any doubt that they weren’t going to bridge that gap.

Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher and Ryan McHugh raced through the Fermanagh defence to grab crucial goals in the opening period. As a result, Donegal were full value for their half-time lead of 2-7 to 0-5 and they showed few signs of easing off on the resumption either.

Sean and Seamus Quigley dominated the scoring for Fermanagh, but they never really looked like achieving their dream of Ulster glory. However, they worked hard to try and stem the tide of Donegal dominance and achieved some limited success in avoiding a more comprehensive loss.

But this was always going to be Donegal’s day and there were memorable scenes of celebration when Michael Murphy held aloft the Anglo Celt Cup to the adoring fans, and the political figures in the Gerry Arthurs Stand.

The DUP leader didn’t show delight or disappointment for the fortunes of her native county after the final whistle as she instead departed St Tiernach’s Park as the men in green licked their rounds ahead of an attempt to save their season via the All-Ireland Qualifiers.