A brace of goals from substitute Josh Cronolly Magee in the final quarter proved pivotal as Donegal completed a battling comeback to defeat Mayo by four points in their Nicky Rackard Cup decider at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
The victory completed a fourth ever Nicky Rackard Cup success for Donegal and the manner in which they ended the contest spoke volumes for the character inherent in the panel, given they played second fiddle for the large part.
It was a brace of goals in the final quarter from substitute Josh Cronolly McGee that helped turn the tide in their favour with the likes of Seán McVeigh and Gerard Gilmore showing huge leadership throughout for the winners.
Despite Mayo taking the early initiative through points from John Heraty and Eoin Delaney, Donegal were quick to respond as they restored parity by the 8th minute thanks to Brian McIntyre and Ruairí Campbell.
A Danny Cullen score edged Donegal in front soon after but that lead didn't last too long as they was a reply for Mayo in a tense and tight opening quarter.
With neither side able to place concerted pressure on their opponents, the nip and tuck on the scoreboard continued as Gerard Gilmore and Liam Lavin exchanged points to leave the teams deadlocked by the 14th minute.
Gilmore looked lively for Donegal as he added two points from placed balls, but crucially, Mayo were coming by their scores far more easily, as Heraty and Adrian Philips added to their tally.
A string of three successive points handed Mayo a valuable platform with Shane Boland, goalkeeper Bobby Douglas and Cormac Philips all on target as the contest threatened to run away from Donegal.
However, they still managed to create the solitary goal chance of the first-half in the 28th minute as Liam McKinney raced through down the right flank but his low shot was well repelled by Douglas at his near post.
With Donegal racking up a series of frustrating wides, Mayo availed of that profligacy towards the end of the half with scores from Delaney, Seán Kenny and Boland pushing them four points clear by the interval.
Mayo continued to impress upon the resumption as they notched early points through Lavin and Boland and a superb effort from distance by Kenny helped ensure they remained on the front foot.
Donegal were in dire need of some inspiration at this juncture and it duly arrived in the 45th minute as Gilmore’s shot dropped short but Campbell showcased his predatory instincts as he flicked home past the motionless Douglas.
Mayo responded well to this body blow through points from Lavin and the influential Boland but they had no answer to Cronolly McGee’s superb, rising shot in the 61st minute.
His second goal, three minutes later, may have lacked the aesthetic qualities of his earlier effort but proved no less significant, handing his team a grip on proceedings that they never looked like loosening in the closing stages.
Donegal: Luke White; Ciarán Curran; Stephen Gillespie; Gavin Browne; Steven McBride; Jack O’Loughlin; Seán McVeigh (0-02); Gerard Gilmore (0-06, 2f, 1’65); Conor O’Grady; Conor Gartland; Liam McKinney (0-02); Brian McIntyre (0-01); Seán Ward; Danny Cullen (0-02); Ruairí Campbell (1-03).
Subs: Josh Cronolly McGee (2-00) for O’Loughlin (HT); Peter Kelly (0-01) for McIntyre (HT); Oisín Grant for Ward (HT); Ronan McDermott for Gartland (48'); Pádraig Doherty for Browne (59').
Mayo: Bobby Douglas (0-01, f); Seán Kenny (0-03); Oisín Greally; Conor Murray; Conal Hessio; David Kenny; Eoghan Collins; Daniel Huane; John Heraty (0-01); Seán Regan (0-01); Adrian Philips (0-01); Liam Lavin (0-03); Shane Boland (0-09, 4f); Cormac Philips (0-01); Eoin Delaney (0-02).
Subs: Kenny Feeney for A Philips (52'), Michael Farrell for Heraty (64'), Joseph Burke for C Philips (65').
Referee: Peter Owens (Down).
