Donegal defeated Connemara Gaels 1-17 to 1-16 win the Boston GAA senior football final in Canton on Sunday.
Connemara, who had led by a point at half-time, were leading 0-15 to 0-14 with five minutes of normal time to play when James Darcy calmy side-footed the ball to the net past Donegal goalkeeper Hugh Boyle to give his side a commanding advantage. The goal was set up by Galway captain Sean Kelly, a first half substitute, who had burst through the middle of the Donegal defence before laying the ball off to Darcy.
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However, Donegal hit back quickly through Jason McGee. The Cloughaneely midfielder's shot found the net just 52 seconds after Darcy's goal.
Shane Carthy - who earlier this year was lining out for New York in the Connacht Championship and the Tailteann Cup - scored a superb equaliser for Donegal with a minute left. Kerryman Darragh Roche gave Donegal the lead shortly after the clock had ticked into injury time. That advantage was then doubled by Cian O'Grady.
23 April 2023; Jason McGee of Donegal scores his side's first goal past Down goalkeeper Niall Kane during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Down and Donegal at Pairc Esler in Newry, Down. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Darcy cut his side's deficit to the minimum from a free before a chaotic ending saw Connemara's Eoighain Murray shown a black card and McGee sent off.
There were several inter-county footballers on show for both sides including Thomas Galligan (Cavan), Shane O'Donnell (Donegal), David Garland (Monaghan), McGee (Donegal), Carthy (Dublin/New York) and Roche (Kerry) for Donegal.
Connemara had Paul Keaney (Leitrim), Emmet McMahon (Clare) and Kelly (Galway) and on their side.
Donegal vs Connemara Gaels 2023 Boston GAA senior final
Donegal Boston starting team
1. Hugh Boyle
2. Jason Noctor
3. Seanie Moloney
4. Sean Winston
5. Conor O'Donnell Snr
6. Cory Gallagher
7. Thomas Galligan
15. Jason McGee
9. Ciaran McDevitt
10. Shane O'Donnell
11. Shane Carthy
12. David Garland
13. Darragh Roche
8 April 2023; Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy celebrates with Shane Carthy of New York after the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between New York and Leitrim at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Connemara Gaels starting team
1. James Keoghan
3. Eoighain Murray
2. Ronan Lanigan
6. Mikey Kerr
6. Jack Lynch
4. Colman Mulkerrin
7. Paul Keaney
8. Nathan Donnelly
11. Daniel Lyman
10. Emmet McMahon
9. James Darcy
13. Simon Garrity
12. Daniel Kerr
The game between Donegal and Connemara Gaels was broadcast by the Eastern Sports Network.
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