Donegal bounce back to edge past 14-man Kildare
DONEGAL came through something of a must-win to give themselves a fighting chance of Division 1 survival at Kildare’s expense at Ballyshannon. The side managed by Declan Bonner conceded a sixth minute goal to Daniel Flynn and the same player was adjudged to have been in the square three minutes later with Kildare dominating early on with the breeze. However, Eoin Doyle, the Kildare captain, was dismissed on 16 minutes for not having a gumshield — his second yellow — having gone to the substitutes’ bench to request one but then instinctively fielding a kick-out from his goalkeeper Mark Donnellan. Donegal got two late points from Patrick McBrearty to go in 1-3 to 0-5 down. And with the wind the home team managed to push ahead. Michael Murphy, Jamie Brennan and Eoin Ban Gallagher all scored by Niall Kelly’s goal at the other end meant the Leinster side were level at 0-11 to 2-5. Again Donegal tapped over a succession of points, only for a third Kilcare goal on the hour from David Slatterty to level it at 3-4 to 0-15. But Donegal, thanks to a fortunate goal from Ryan McHugh on 65 minutes, went onto win. McHugh swung a ball into the Kildare square aiming at the likes of Murphy and McBrearty, only for it to dip into Mark Donnellan’s top corner. Donegal take on Tyrone in Omagh on Saturday night with everything to play for and Kildare walk on the thinnest of ice against Mayo.
DONEGAL: S Patton; E Gallagher, C Ward (N McGee 50), S McMenamin; R McHugh, P Brennan, T McClenaghan (N O’Donnell HT, N Mullins 69); H McFadden, O Mac Niallais (C Thompson 64); E Doherty, L McLoone, M McHugh (C McGonagle 60); P McBrearty, M Murphy, J Brennan (S McBrearty 55).
Scorers: R McHugh 1-2, P McBrearty 0-4 (1f), M Murphy 0-3 (1f), H McFadden 0-2, J Brennan, O Mac Niallais, E Gallagher, N O’Donnell 0-1 each
KILDARE: M Donnellan; P Kelly, D Hyland, M O’Grady; C O’Donoghue (K Flynn HT), E Doyle, J Byrne; K Feely, T Moolick (M Sherry 69); F Conway (F Dowling 63), N Kelly (C Healy 60), P Cribbin (D Slattery 55); B McCormack, D Flynn, P Brophy.
Scorers: D Flynn 1-1, K Feely 0-3 (3fs), N Kelly, D Slatterty 1-0 each, K Flynn, F Conway, J Byrne 0-1 each
Referee: D Gough (Meath).