DONEGAL stunned red-hot favourites Roscommon to lift the Nicky Rackard Cup at Croke Park today with a superb performance in wonderful advert for hurling.
The county’s hurlers’ fighting spirit shone through as they came from behind over and over again to eventually win the showpiece final at GAA headquarters.
Playing most of the second half with 14-men, Donegal eventually won 3-20 to 3-16.
Donegal had gone into an early lead with some great points, Lee Henderson having a superb game.
Roscommon however raced into the lead, until Sean McVeigh netted to put Donegal back in the lead.
A second Roscommon goal had them ahead by three points at half-time 2-10 to 1-10.
But Donegal had a dream start to the second half when Paddy Hannigan scored in the opening seconds to level the match.
Roscommon netted again, but Donegal’s never-say-die attitude shone through as a Danny Cullen long range effort ended up in the net.
Lee Henderson was the undoubted man of the match, hitting a number of great points for Donegal as they led 3-18 to 3-13 with just minutes left on the clock.
And that was despite having Ronan McDermott sent off just into the second half.
Gerry Fallon and Niall Kilroy pointed to reduce the deficit to just three points, before another score reduced the margin to just two points with ten minutes left.
Donegal’s defenders played out of their skins.
Roscommon had a last minute free in front of the goals – went for goal – and missed.
And Donegal went up the other end to add another point through Danny Cullen to extend the lead to three…before adding another through Stephen Boyle.
Scorers for Roscommon: Gerry Fallon 2-9 (2-7f), Cathal Kelly 1-1, Gary Fallon 0-1, R Fallon 0-2, J Lawlor 0-1, N Kilroy 0-1, E Kenny 0-1
Scorers for Donegal: L Henderson 0-10 (7f), P Hannigan 2-1, S McVeigh 1-1, D Cullen 0-3, C Matthewson 0-2, S Boyle 0-2, J Boyle 0-1
Roscommon: P Dolan (Capt.); S Curley, R O’Meara, I Delaney; S Melia, M Kelly, N Keenan; A Murphy, J Lawlor; Cormac Kelly, Gerry Fallon, Cathal Kelly; R Fallon, Gary Fallon, C Egan.
Subs: N Kilroy for C Egan (28), D Nolan for A Murphy (41), C Dolan for N Keenan (48), E Kenny for Cormac Kelly (53)
Donegal: P Burns; M McGrath, J McGee, B Harrigan; C McDermott, J Donnelly, J Boyle; R McDermott, D Cullen; L Henderson, S McVeigh, E McDermott; C Matthewson, P Hannigan, S Boyle.
Subs: P Sheridan for C Matthewson (42), J Browne for J McGee (60), K Campbell for E McDermott (63).
Referee: P Murphy (Carlow).