Jim’s men go up but Lilies drop
Kildare 1-8 Donegal 0-17 Allianz NFL Division 2
THESE were two teams heading in very different directions at the final whistle at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday evening.
Donegal confirmed an immediate return to Division 1 under the management of Jim Mcguinness.
Kildare will play Division 3 football next year as they slumped to their sixth successive defeat.
Peadar Mogan was at the heart of the Donegal display and contributed five points from play in an outstanding performance.
Kildare could have been well ahead early on had the otherwise excellent Kevin Feely not dragged his shot wide of the post.
Donegal finished with nine different scorers – Michael Langan and Ciaran Thompson ended the first half with two points apiece as Donegal led by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.
Daire O’baoill put the visitors five clear but Kildare hauled themselves right back into the game when Daniel Flynn cut through the Donegal defence and set Alex Beirne for a goal.
However, Donegal quickly regained control and Kildare failed to score in the last 20 minutes plus. KILDARE: M Donnellan; R Houlihan, M O’grady, R Burke; P Mcdermott, E Doyle, J Sargent; A Masterson, K O’callaghan; A Beirne (1-3), B Kelly, S Farrell (0-1); K Feely (0-4, two frees, two marks), D Flynn, N Kelly. Subs: L Killian for O’callaghan (52), P Woodgate for Kelly (55), S O’sullivan for Kelly (58), B Byrne for Houlihan (59), T Archbold for Sergant (69) DONEGAL: S Patton; M Curran, C Moore, A Doherty (0-1); R Mchugh, C Mcgonagle (0-1), P Mogan (0-5); H Mcfaddan, M Langan (0-3); S O’donnell, C Thompson (0-2), O Doherty (0-1); P Mcbrearty (0-1), O Gallen (0-1), D O’baoill (0-2). Subs: J Brennan for Mcfadden (ht), J Mckelvey for O Doherty (53), N O’donnell for A Doherty (56), L Mcglynn for O’baoill, R Gallagher for Thompson (both 66). REFEREE: Paul Faloon (Down)