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The 42
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'I knew I had to try and get on the ball' - Donegal matchwinner Niall O'Donnell
THE CLOCK HAD just ticked past the 17-minute mark of extra time of the Ulster final when Shane O'Donnell laid the ball off to his brother, Niall O'Donnell. The game going to extra-time gave Niall O'Donnell something to work with and he was sent on for Jamie Brennan to start the 'new game' of extra-time. He took the pass and his solo was high. It tempted Armagh's Jason Duffy in to tackle but O'Donnell's sharp turn goalwards beat him. Shane McPartlan also took a step the wrong way and opened up a space inside the two-point arc. O'Donnell then laid off to Michael Langan and then looped into space, took the return pass and threaded the ball over the bar with his left boot. And that was the kick that won the Ulster title for Donegal. Advertisement Afterwards, O'Donnell stated that his own mind was whirring as the five allotted subs were used in normal time. 'Not all games go to extra time but I knew as soon as it went to extra time that I had to get myself right,' said the St Eunan's man. 'I knew I was going to have a part, so straight away when I went to extra time, I knew I was going to play then. It was easier for me knowing I was going to be playing, so I just had to get my head right. Because you know in normal time you're thinking how are you going to get on? Are you not going to get on and they're going to call you? 'I'm just glad that I got a chance thankfully. I know I've been training well, so I'm just happy that I got to show that out on the pitch.' With Armagh getting the equaliser through Oisín Conaty in the closing moments of normal time, they looked as if they might have more in the tank for the two additional periods of ten minutes. And yet, Donegal found a way. 'When I came on to the pitch there was me and Shane and Ciaran Moore and Conor O'Donnell, and these boys could run all day. I was obviously that bit fresher maybe than someone else, so I knew I had to try and get on the ball,' said O'Donnell. 'But for me coming on there was more pockets than what there was in normal time to be honest. If you got past your man, it was very hard for them to catch you because they were cramping as well. But I'm just happy that I had a couple of good week's training behind me and I got to showcase it in extra time.' He added, 'I felt that was fresh so I probably felt that was the best man to hit them kicks to be honest, especially when you're so fresh if you know what I mean. Otherwise, I was swinging a lazy leg at it maybe, so I just felt that I wanted to take that on. 'I felt like I wanted to get on the ball, I wanted to make things work and I just happened to get in the right positions. My first shot in extra time was wide with my left foot.' In a match of a million moments, O'Donnell's last shot was the most decisive of the entire game. ** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I had to make it count' – Niall O'Donnell the unlikely hero as Donegal edged Armagh in Ulster SFC epic final
DONEGAL hero Niall O'Donnell seized the day when Saturday's Ulster final went to extra-time. The St. Eunan's hitman was resigned to staying on the bench when they surged into a seven-point lead in a Advertisement 2 Donegal claimed a second-straight Ulster SFC title after a win over Armagh 2 Niall O'Donnell scored the winning points in the game as penalties loomed large But an Orchard revival saw Kieran McGeeney's men win a gripping final 20 minutes 0-8 to 0-1 Oisín Conaty's sixth point from play squared the game at the death to force overtime - and O'Donnell was braced for action when he replaced Jamie Brennan. His first score levelled things at the interval to set up a frantic finish, as Ciaran Moore's goal was wiped out by Etan Rafferty's two-point free. Penalties loomed large for the third year in a row, but O'Donnell stepped up with an Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA He said: 'It's unbelievable because when you're not used in the five subs, you don't think you're going to get your chance. Typically, that's it. 'Not all games go to extra time but I knew as soon as it went to extra time that I had to get myself right. I knew I was going to have a part, so straight away when I went to extra time I knew I was going to play then. 'It was easier for me knowing I was going to be playing, so I just had to get my head right because you know in normal time you're thinking 'how are you going to get on? Are you not going to get on and are they going to call you?' 'Obviously they didn't, and then it went to extra time. But I'm just glad that I got a chance, thankfully. I know I've been training well, so I'm just happy that I got to show that out on the pitch. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football 'Every team in Ulster is mad for an Ulster medal. Obviously Armagh got their All-Irelland and I'm sure they wanted an Ulster medal. "But obviously we're delighted that we got our second two, in a row. They had their reasons to win it, we had our reasons to win it and thankfully we won it.' Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop But O'Donnell had some old ghosts to banish too. He was thrown into the fray during extra-time in the 2022 Ulster final against Derry, but had no impact in a 1-16 to 1-14 loss. He missed his first shot at goal in Saturday's epic, but backed himself to produce the goods as his slick exchange with Michael Langan won the game. Advertisement He said: 'I played in extra-time against Derry in 2022 and I had little to no impact in the game. "That was my first time playing extra time and I saw how quick it goes by, that 10 minutes, do you know what I mean? A point or two can swing it. 'So I felt that I was fresh, I had a lot of momentum in me. I wanted to get that out in the field and I didn't want to have any regrets when I came in. 'It was a very similar scenario, it was a very hot day back then as well, so I suppose my mindset was it's extra time and I felt I wanted to get the best out of myself. Advertisement 'So in that extra time I had no shots or nothing. so I felt this time 'I need to get on the ball, I need to make things work,' and thankfully it helped. 'I felt that I was fresh so I probably felt that was the best man to hit those kicks to be honest. Otherwise I was swinging a lazy leg at it maybe, so I just felt that I wanted to take that on. 'I felt like I wanted to get on the ball, I wanted to make things work and I just happened to get in the right positions. 'As a team we always have confidence, but when you can back that up in the biggest days in Ulster it's amazing, so we'll see what lies ahead.' Advertisement
Irish Examiner
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Michael Murphy makes his mark on wild Ulster ride
Ulster SFC final: Donegal: 2-23 Armagh: 0-28 This hectic rivalry keeps on giving. Until the final hooter, Donegal and Armagh gave it their absolute all. After a thrilling contest and extra-time, green and gold flooded the field and let loose. A wild ride was briefly derailed by a post-match scuffle between both teams. Players had to be separated. An investigation is inevitably coming down the tracks. The fixture didn't need that sort of unpleasantness because the glorious Gaelic football gave enough. Niall O'Donnell had already delivered the winner in front of an enthralled 27,788 crowd. All-Ireland champions Armagh had given an admirable showing but ended the evening sitting on a wall behind the Gerry Arthurs Stand, munching down much-deserved fuel and licking their wounds. They refused to yield despite blow after blow. Ryan McHugh man-marked Rory Grugan, successfully disrupting their primary creator. The margin was seven points at one point in the first half and three at the turnaround. Hugh McFadden's swing at a dropped ball resulted in a devastating goal yet they managed to craft two chances of their own back-to-back. Darragh McMullan and Ben Crealey both flashed wide. Meanwhile, Michael Murphy was making his mark. His return is now officially an undeniable success. The 35-year-old was targeted with three long balls early on. He was fouled for a scorable free for the first. He slotted the second. He broke the third for an Oisin Gallen point. Murphy added a second point after the break and finished with two assists. Afterwards, young fans from across the country waited outside the dressing room in search of their hero. Down the hall, Jim McGuinness was hailing the influence of his target man. 'Just a great ball by Finbar in the diagonal,' he said of Murphy's first catch. 'There's not many of them in the game at the minute, which is weird because of the mark. But yeah, great ball, mighty catch. But just everything with Michael that he brings to the table and in the meetings and in the prep. And obviously a cool head at half-time and just his quality on the ball as well.' With deep inhales of the peculiar fumes that swirl around Clones on Ulster final day, both outfits emptied themselves. Gallen was a wonder in the first half until Paddy Burns moved across to take him on. Ciaran Thompson kicked two crucial two-pointers. Ciaran Moore came off and back on to land a vital goal in injury time. And Armagh matched so much of it. They never led in normal time but kept chasing and hit the front through Jarly Óg Burns at the start of the additional period. Oisín Conaty was sensational throughout. Stefan Campbell managed to maintain his streak of awesome impacts from the bench with a three-point contribution. 'We had some outstanding players,' said McGeeney. 'Like Oisín was exceptional, six points from play. He was probably the best player on the pitch by a mile there.' Even after Moore's late green flag, Armagh drew level with a two-point free from the excellent Ethan Rafferty. Several Donegal substitutes had tried to impact the match. Several had failed. It fell to Niall O'Donnell to deliver. With his first shot on his left, he missed. The St Eunan's man was thinking about the extra time defeat he suffered against Derry in 2022. It took place in the same ground. Derry won by two. He came on and was stunned at how quickly time slipped away. He wasn't going to let it happen again. Just before the end of the first ten-minute period, he curled over a right-footed beauty and let out a guttural roar. With two minutes left, he had a chance on his left. Two steps, no play, clutch. Scorers for Donegal: O. Gallen, C. Thompson (2 tp) 0-4 each; C. Moore 1-1; H. McFadden 1-0; M. Murphy, P. McBrearty (frees) 0-3 each; M. Langan, N. O'Donnell 0-2 each; P. Mogan, D. Ó Baoill, J. McGee, C. O'Donnell 0-1 each. Scorers for Armagh: O. O'Neill 0-7 (1 tp, 1 tpf); O. Conaty 0-6; R. McQuillan, S. Campbell E. Rafferty (45, tpf) 0-3 each; J. Duffy 0-2; C. O'Neill, A. Murnin, B. Crealey, J. Og Burns 0-1 each. DONEGAL: S. Patton; F. Roarty, B. McCole, P. Mogan; R. McHugh, C. McGonagle, C. Moore; M. Langan, H. McFadden; D. Ó Baoill, C. Thompson, S. O'Donnell; P. McBrearty, M. Murphy, O. Gallen. Subs: C. O'Donnell for McBrearty (43), J. McGee for McFadden (50), J. Brennan for Ó Baoill (52), E. McHugh for Moore (55), A. Doherty for Gallen (64). O. McFadden Ferry for McGee, N. O'Donnell for Brennan, C. Moore for Doherty (all 70), P. McBrearty for Murphy (76), D. Ó Baoill for McHugh (79), S. McMenamin for McCole (84) ARMAGH: E. Rafferty; P. Burns, A. Forker, B. McCambridge; R. McQuillan, G. McCabe, J. Óg Burns; C. O'Neill, B. Crealey; D. McMullan, R. Grugan, T. Kelly; O. Conaty, A. Murnin, O. O'Neill. Subs: C. Turbitt for Kelly (41), S. Campbell for O'Neill (49), P. McGrane for McCabe (55), J. Duffy for O'Neill (60), N. Grimley for Forker (60-Inj); C. Mackin for Murnin (70), J. Hall for McQuillan (77-79, Temp), C. McConville for Conaty (79), S. McPartlan for Grugan (83), T. McCormack for McQuillan (88). Referee: B. Cawley (Kildare).
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donegal v Armagh brawl slammed as Gardaí forced to intervene
Gardaí were forced to intervene as a brawl broke out following Donegal's Ulster final win over Armagh on Saturday. There were ugly scenes at the final whistle after Donegal edged out Armagh by a single point after extra-time. Niall O'Donnell was the hero for Jim McGuinness' men as he kicked what the winning point with two minutes to go in extra-time, with Donegal closing out the game to become the 100th winner of the Anglo Celt Cup as they won by 2-23 to 0-28. A brawl broke out following the final whistle in Clones as members of both sides were involved and Gardaí were forced to step in. Speaking after the game, McGuinness said on the unsavoury scenes: 'I don't have a perspective on that. It's not nice to see. It shouldn't happen. I was giving my daughter a hug at the time. I didn't see what happened, but it shouldn't be in the game.' GAA disciplinary officials are now expected to review footage of the incident, with suspensions possible. The row broke out as fans made their way on to the pitch after the game. Meanwhile, Michael Murphy told how days like Saturday are why he decided to come out of inter-county retirement. "Ulster is always our bread and butter, it's always our thing, for so many years we could never win them," he told RTE after being named the Man of the Match. "It's just brilliant to get back in again and just the heart and the desire of them lads out there today, the people in Donegal in general. "There were times when we were in (the game), we were out and we were back in and back out, but it's just great that we got out on the right side of it there today." He added on Armagh: "Listen, Armagh are an absolute incredible side, they're an absolute credit. They're All-Ireland champions, they've been in Ulster finals the last number of years. "They're a brilliant side. It's not the last we're going to see of them this year."
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Niall O'Donnell lands dramatic winner as Donegal edge Armagh after extra-time in epic Ulster final
JIM MCGUINNESS hailed his players for finding the answers in another epic Ulster championship. 2 Donegal bagged the Anglo-Celt Cup after a Ulster thriller against Armagh 2 Niall O'Donnell was the hero for Donegal as they bagged yet another Ulster SFC title A final for the ages went to extra time for the FOURTH year in a row, as goals from Hugh McFadden and Ciarán Moore proved vital before Niall O'Donnell's extra-time winner. Every time And their manager knows they did things the hard way after seeing off Derry, Monaghan and Down before conquering the northern province once more. He said: 'I know it was epic, but listen, in football it's funny. Some of the greatest moments are just very simple moments. READ MORE ON GAA 'They're not always the bright lights like today. So it's a tricky one to answer that. But I suppose without repeating myself, the Ulster Championship asks questions of you. 'And if you can stand up and answer those questions, you learn a lot more about yourself and about your players. And we've managed to do that again today. 'Had we lost from the position we were in, you know, with 69 minutes on the clock. So there's huge learnings there for us. "And listen, Armagh, unbelievable team, you know, unbelievable spirit, mentality and ask so many questions of you. But again, our lads were able to respond in key moments. Most read in GAA Football 'And we have to now take the learnings, and there is going to be a significant amount, take the learnings from the game and see can we apply those now to the group stage and to the All-Ireland Series.' Donegal fizzed and went seven up twice in normal time - but nearly bottled it as the Orchard refused to wilt, but suffered their third provincial final loss on the bounce. Owen Mulligan teases Lee Keegan over hilarious contrast in how their inter-county GAA careers ended Armagh never led in the regular 70 minutes, but outscored their opponents 0-8 to 0-1 in a crucial final 20 to force overtime. But Donegal refused to let it slip as Moore's 83rd minute goal set up a grandstand finish. Clones heaved as Ethan Rafferty's two-point free squared it again, before Niall O'Donnell kicked the winner and Donegal ground it out. Oisin Conaty and Oisín O'Neill starred with 0-6 and 0-7 each, as Ben Crealey dominated the middle and Stefan Campbell fired 0-3 in a super cameo. Rían O'Neill is back in the Armagh squad in a timely boost, but was not named in the matchday 26 and looked on from the stands. In a sensational spell at the end of the opening half, Oisín Gallen scored 0-4 and Michael Murphy chipped in to make it 0-14 to 0-7 - as he marked his fairytale return with a SIXTH Ulster crown. Jim McGuinness' men were cruising, and had already missed goal chances through Michael Langan and Peadar Mogan. But reigning Young Footballer of the Year Conaty led the drive for the All-Ireland champs to keep them in it. His 0-3 in the first half kept them in the game and they got back within three in a flash when Shaun Patton lost three-kickouts and Armagh made hay. Ross McQuillan, Conaty and Oisín O'Neill's two-pointer hauled them back into the game out of nowhere and suddenly it was 0-14 to 0-11. But McFadden's second half strike was a huge moment. The Killybegs man was in the right place at the right time when Shane O'Donnell fed Conor O'Donnell, and pounced on the loose ball to fire into the roof of the net. Seconds later, Darragh McMullan somehow fired wide when Armagh broke, and Crealey then hit the post when he was sure he'd scored. Then the game descended into a brilliant, chaotic spectacle as Ulster finals tend to do. Ryan McHugh and Rory Grugan continued to tussle and cancel each other out, as all hell broke loose around them. But Armagh ruthlessly reeled Donegal in when Moore sent them seven ahead again. Conaty, Campbell, Oisín O'Neill and Jason Duffy delivered the goods. Peadar Mogan lost it as Donegal tried to wind down the clock in possession and Conaty held his nerve to force overtime. Duffy and Jarly Óg Burns steered Armagh ahead for the first time in overtime, and Niall O'Donnell kept Donegal in it before himself and St. Eunan's clubmate Moore won the match. Ciaran Thompson broke in a sweeping Donegal move and played in Michael Langan, and Moore was there to smash into the top corner. But with five minutes to go, there was one more twist when Ethan Rafferty converted a two-point free. Penalties loomed all over again, but O'Donnell had other ideas - and sailed between the posts to keep the Anglo-Celt Cup. It condemned Kieran McGeeney's men to an All-Ireland series group of death alongside Dublin, Galway and Derry as tempers flared at the whistle before Clones heaved in a sea of green and gold. ARMAGH 0-28 DONEGAL 2-23 ARMAGH: E Rafferty 0-3, 1tpf, 1 45; P Burns, B McCambridge, A Forker; R McQuillan 0-3, G McCabe, J Óg Burns 0-1; C O'Neill 0-1, B Crealey; D McMullan, R Grugan, O Conaty 0-6; T Kelly, A Murnin 0-1, O O'Neill 0-7, 1tp, 1tpf Subs: C Turbitt for Kelly 42mins; S Campbell 0-3 for C O'Neill 50, P McGrane for McCabe 55, J Duffy 0-2 for O O'Neill 60, N Grimley for Forker 61, C Mackin for Murnin 71, J Hall for McQuillan (blood) 77, C McConville for Conaty 80, S McPartlan for Grugan 83, T McCormack for McQuillan 88 DONEGAL: S Patton, F Roarty, B McCole, P Mogan 0-1; R McHugh, C McGonagle, C Moore 1-1; H McFadden 1-0, M Langan 0-2, D Ó Baoill 0-1, C Thompson 0-4, 2 tp, S O'Donnell; P McBrearty 0-3f, M Murphy 0-3, O Gallen 0-4. Subs: C O'Donnell 0-1 for McBrearty 43mins; J McGee 0-1 for McFadden 50, J Brennan for Ó Baoill 52, E McHugh for Moore 55, A Doherty for Gallen 65, O McFadden-Ferry for McGee 71, N O'Donnell 0-2 for Brennan 71, Moore for Doherty 71, McBrearty for Murphy 77, Ó Baoill for R McHugh 79, S McMenamin for McCole 83 REFEREE: B Cawley (Kildare)
