Donegal and Monaghan set for McKenna Cup final showdown

January 15, 2026

Derry's Ethan Doherty tackles Caolan McGonagle of Donegal ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Donegal will play Monaghan in Saturday Dr McKenna Cup final after both sides recorded victories in their respective semi-finals last night (Wednesday).

Jim McGuinness’s side edged out by 1-18 to 1-16 at Celtic Park, where the visitors registered 1-7 without reply in the second-half to assume control of the contest.

Niall Loughlin and Lachlan Murray each hit three points in the first-half to send Derry towards a 0-10 to 0-7 half-time lead, but the Ulster champions rallied after the change of ends with Daire Ó Baoill’s goal helping them take a foothold.

Kevin Muldoon, Ryan McHugh and Conor McCahill raised Donegal’s tally to 1-18 down the home stretch ahead of Ryan Mullholland grabbing a consolation goal for the hosts.

In Inniskeen, Monaghan won out by the same margin against Tyrone a (1-15 to 2-10) to advance to the Ulster pre-season competition’s decider.

After having fallen five points behind early on, the Farney men went on to dominant large portions of the first-half with a goal from Mícheál Bannigan (1-6) turning the tie in their favour.

The Red Hands had goaled themselves eight minutes in through Aidan Donaghy, but the hosts were inspired by Bannigan’s goal and more points from their skipper, Andrew Woods and Fionan Carolan would move them towards a 1-10 to 1-6 advantage at half.

Monaghan would have to wait 13 minutes to get their first point of the second-half through Woods and, from there, the scores of Shane Hanratty, Bannigan (two-pointer) and Matthew Carolan were enough to see them advance to Saturday’s decider.


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