Donegal too strong for Sligo ladies in Tourlestrane battle
ONE could be forgiven for calling Sunday’s Lidl National League Division 2 fixture between Sligo and Donegal “The Geraldine McLaughlin Show” as she was responsible for an incredible 3 - 9 of her side’s final score of 4- 17. Sligo finished up with 2- 4. The game began brightly with Sarah Reynolds pointing 13 seconds after the throw- in. A minute later Donegal’s Yvonne McMonagle equalised with a further point from play. Laura Ann Laffey was then on the receiving end of a Katie Walsh pass and struck for a well taken goal. The aforementioned Katie then took her own point from play. This was Sligo’s only time to hold the lead in the game as Donegal piled on the pressure and scored six points without reply before being awarded a penalty which McLaughlin duly struck home. Against the run of play Stephanie O’Reilly was on the end of a Katie Walsh free which dropped short and blasted to the net to leave only two points between the teams with seven minutes to the break. McMonagle added two further points from play to leave the halftime score Sligo 2- 2 to Donegal 1- 9.
Sligo’s only score of the second half, a point from Sarah Reynolds in the opening minute took the gap to three points but the Donegal steamroller was all set to roll. The Northerners moved up a few gears and over the course of the remainder of the game, they notched on a further 4- 8, courtesy of McLaughlin ( 3- 4 one from a penalty), McMona- gle ( 1- 1) and points from Karen Guthrie, Deirdre Foley and Kate Keeney. Sligo dug deep during the second half but multiple turnovers and a penetrating Donegal forward line punished any indiscretion. The next outing is away to Westmeath on February 28th thereby indicating a well deserved break for the team next weekend.