University of Ulster Jordanstown made an impressive start to the 2008 Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup by beating an experimental Donegal side at Ballybofey.
Two goals in the space of three minutes from Tyrone’s Colm Cavanagh inspired the Jordanstown students to a memorable win in freezing temperatures at MacCumhaill Park.
Four points from Ciaran Donnelly helped UUJ to a 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead, but he also pushed missed a penalty.
Donegal cut the gap to a point before Colm McFadden missed a gilt-edged goal chance. Cavanagh's brace followed and McFadden's late penalty was only a consolation score.
Donegal were without a number of their regulars but could still call on the likes of captain Neil Gallagher, Brian Roper, Kevin McMenamin and McFadden.
The reigning National League champions needed that experience against a team that their manager Brian McIver rates as “one of the top three university sides in the country.”
McIver’s men got off to a solid enough start and led 0-3 to 0-1 thanks to points from McFadden, who bagged an early brace, and Naomh Brid clubman David Walsh.
In between, John Boyle from Down registered UUJ’s opening and the students soon found their rhythm by grabbing five points in a row, including a fisted effort from Mayo’s Andy Moran, two from Donnelly and one each from Boyle and Brendan McKenna.
UUJ may have snuck through for a goal as their lively play continued to light up a wintry evening. A foul on McMenamin allowed Ryan Bradley to stop the rot with a well-taken free, while a Stephen McHugh effort soon levelled the sides at 0-6 apiece.
Despite Donnelly’s penalty miss, UUJ ended the half on the up with a succession of points from the on form Donnelly (0-2) and Moran.
Snow fell heavily for an eight-minute spell during the second half and Donegal seemed to adapt better with two points from Brian Roper and another from Owen Doherty helping the hosts cut the gap to a single point.
The game was on a knife-edge with UUJ just holding onto a 0-10 to 0-9 lead when McFadden latched onto a through ball and had only the goalkeeper to beat but the left corner forward blazed wide and the students breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Their captain, Derry’s Mark Lynch, thumped over an excellent point from wide out on the right to get them back on track and things then got even better for the UUJ youngsters, who are jointly managed by Adrian McGuckin, a member of McIver’s own backroom staff.
Two swift passing moves led to the clinching goals for Cavanagh, who fisted both efforts home from close range. With time running out, McFadden converted a penalty to reduce the arrears to 2-13 to 1-11 but there was no late surge from McIver’s charges who could only tag on a final point through Roper.
