Remembering Donegal's second Ulster title - 50 years ago this weekend

Sunday, July 27th was the date of Donegal's Ulster final in 1974 - 50 years ago this weekend. Their contest with Down ended all square thanks to a last second free from Neilly Gallagher and a week later they went back and collected their second Anglo Celt Cup in dramatic circumstances.

They were nine points behind early in the second half but then staged the most dramatic comeback to snatch the win thanks to two  penalty goals from Seamus Bonar and a Kieran Keeney goal. Championship games from 1970 to 1975 were played over 80 minutes.

The Ulster final programme with teams for the drawn game

The 1974 campaign started with a revenge win over Tyrone in Healy Park, Omagh. The previous year in Ballybofey, Tyrone had dethroned the then Ulster champions, Donegal, in a match that went down in history for its controversial circumstances. Neilly Gallagher ended up in Letterkenny Hospital after one incident and even after the game the Donegal players, despite losing, had to make their way back to their base at Jackson's Hotel along the river bank, such was the hostility shown by Tyrone supporters.

For their trip to Omagh in 1974, the Donegal team togged out in Ballybofey and got on the bus and went from the bus to the field in Omagh. It was a close enough encounter with Donegal leading 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time but they needed a Kieran Keeney goal to finally decide the issue on a 1-9 to 0-8 scoreline.

The Donegal team on duty in Omagh in 1974 was: Alan Kane; Donal Monaghan, Pauric McShea, Andy Curran; Brian McEniff, Anthony Gallagher, Finian Ward; Martin Carney (0-2), Michael Lafferty; Seamie Granaghan (0-3), Hugh McClafferty, Neilly Gallagher (0-3); Kieran Keeney (0-1), Seamus Bonar, Joe Winston (0-1). Subs: Damien Judge, Michael Carr.

It was then on to the semi-final and a meeting with Antrim in Clones where Seamus Bonar was on fire notching 4-1. It was a day that saw Paul McGettigan make his own little bit of history playing for the minors and seniors on the same day. Donegal ran out easy 5-9 to 1-7 winners. Michael Carr started in place of Kieran Keeney with the Ardara man used as a sub along with Paul McGettigan and Gerard McElwee.

That took Donegal to the Ulster final where  Down led at half-time by 1-7 to 1-5. The two goals came within 20  seconds of each other in the opening three minutes. Firstly a shot from Seamus Bonar was misjudged by the Down 'keeper Joe O'Hare and it fell to Hugh  McClafferty to tap  home.

But from the kick-out from Dan McCartan, Colm McAlarney hit the upright and the ball fell to the waiting Cecil Ward to find the net.

When Down scored a second goal through Peter Rooney early in the second half and led 2-7 to 1-6, it looked bleak. But Donegal kept plugging away, despite having a lot of wides, and late points from Seamus Bonar and Michael Carr got them a replay the following Sunday on a scoreline of Donegal 1-14, Down 2-11.

The replay was even more remarkable. Donegal had a new goalkeeper with Noel McCole drafted in for his debut after Alan Kane got injured in training. Donegal led early on but were a point down at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5. Nine minutes into the second half a goal from Sean O'Neill was followed by two more points to leave Donegal nine points in arrears.

But they finally found their groove and thanks to two penalties. Gerard McElwee was not long on the field when he was hauled down and Seamus Bonar made no mistake from the spot. Neilly Gallagher added a point before Bonar himself was fouled and he again goaled from the penalty spot. Paul McGettigan and Seamie Granaghan got Donegal level before Kieran Keeney, on for Michael Carr, got his fist to a Joe Winston centre and finished the winning goal with two minutes remaining. The final scoreline was  Donegal 3-9, Down 1-12.

The Donegal team for the Ulster final had Kieran Keeney starting instead of Michael Carr, while Paul McGettigan, Michael Carr and PJ McGowan were subs used.

For the replay Noel McCole started instead of Alan Kane; Michael Carr also started with Paul McGettigan, Gerard McElwee and Kieran Keeney the used substitutes.

The rest of the panel in 1974 were: John Boyce, Martin Griffin, John Quinn,  Danny Gillespie, Damien Judge.

The management team was: Brian McEniff, Jimmy Nappy O'Donnell (Dungloe); Connie Maguire  (St  Eunan's); Joe Diver (Gaoth Dobhair) and Austin Coughlan (St Naul's).

One of the stars of the win was Seamie Granaghan, a player who scored in every game in Donegal’s run to the win in 1972 and 1974. The Bundoran man turned 80 just over a week ago and looks fit enough to still tog out, although he reckons that there is a huge difference between the fitness levels of the winning side of 1974 and the players of today.

“Many of those boys didn’t train much at all,” said Granaghan.

Memories of those games are vague enough now but Granaghan quickly pointed out that the final went to a replay. “It was a draw the first day and Mr O’Neill (Sean O’Neill) was on form that day. He was a dangerman in all of those games,” said Granaghan.

“It was a big year for Donegal, especially after the 1973 incident in Ballybofey against Tyrone.”

Seamus Bonar was the hero for Donegal in the semi-final over Antrim, scoring 4-1 and Granaghan remarked that “he wasn’t known for his accuracy for taking points but had a fair boot on him for low balls and taking penalties.”

“When we were nine points down in the replay, not many people would have given us much hope, especially against a Down team that were going well.

The Bundoran man said winning the second Ulster title was a big deal. “Getting back to play in Croke Park again was the big reward and soaking up that atmosphere. Donegal players and people wouldn’t have had that many days in Croke Park, especially championship games.

“I know in them two games we were unfortunate. In the 1974 semi-final McEniff got injured and Bonar got injured, that was against Galway.”

The championship games back in 1974 were 80 minutes in duration  but Granaghan it was tough. “If we had been half as fit as the boys are now, the way they run the ball now up and down and over and across the field, we wouldn’t have half as fit as that.

“There were boys on that team that didn’t  train much. I don’t want to mention them; and from ‘72 as well.”

There was a good influx of younger players in the 1974 team that weren’t part of the panel in 1972 including Michael Lafferty, Kieran Keeney, Finian Ward, Martin Griffin, PJ McGowan, Michael Carr and Paul McGettigan.

A number of those were just 20 years of age and are celebrating their 70th birthday this year including Michael Lafferty, Michael Carr and Finian Ward. Paul McGettigan was just 18 in 1974 and played minor and senior on the same day.

The programme covers from first and second games