EOIN MCHUGH was the Donegal match winner with a point 30 seconds from the end following a dramatic encounter against Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park this afternoon.
Roscommon 2-9 Donegal 0-16
Having trailed by three points at the break, Donegal were three up with just over five minutes to go only for Conor Devaney to level with a rocket of a goal for Roscommon.
It was all hands to the pump in an excitable conclusion and in injury time Roscommon wing-back Ronan Stack got in on goal but instead of popping over, went for goal and Mark Anthony McGinley made a superb save. Then, McHugh did the rest at the other end.
Donegal opened brightly with a Michael Murphy free and Ciaran Thompson registering. Roscommon were aided with the breeze in the first half and continually pumped balls in on top of McGinley in the Donegal goal.
The St Michael’s goalkeeper didn’t do badly in the circumstances under the aerial assault although there were some nervy moments.
Playing against the elements did suit Donegal’s running game although Roscommon did manage to level art 0-3 to 0-3 when Enda Smith punched over.
McGinley made a fine save in a one-on-one having stayed on his feet for as long as possible to deny Donie Smith.
However, Roscommon goaled on 23 minutes to go ahead for the first time at 1-4 to 0-4, through Murtagh. Goalkeeper McGinley tried to play a short kick-out to Mark McHugh, who had just replaced the yellow-carded Paul Brennan.
However it wasn’t really on and Murtagh nipped possession and squared to Smith, whose return pass was misplaced but fortunately for Roscommon struck the post before rebounding back off Murtagh and into the Donegal net
From then until the end of the half, they managed to maintain that advantage, with Kevin Higgins, twice, and Murtagh tagging over points, while Eoin McHugh, Thompson and Murphy were on the mark for Donegal. St the break Roscommon were 1-7 to 0-7 in front.
On the face of it, the three-point deficit wasn’t a disaster for Donegal into the wind, although manager Rory Gallagher would’ve certainly not be best pleased with the manner of the concession of the goal.
Murtagh opened the second half scoring but Donegal’s response was commendable, with Thompson kicking his third point of the day before Eoghan Ban Gallagher belted over and Patrick McBrearty registered.
Roscommon’s lead was cut to one point, 1-8 to 0-10, by the 44th minute. Donegal should’ve went in front then only for Niall McInerney to somehow get in a block to prevent a certain Jamie Brennan goal.
The Bundoran forward did manage to level moments later but Roscommon, through Murtagh, went ahead 1-9 to 0-11 on 47 minutes. The Connacht side came within a whisker of goal when Conor Devaney’s shot flew inches wide.
O’Reilly levelled for Donegal and they continued their forward momentum when Eoin McHugh pointed as well to establish a 0-13 to 1-9 lead on 53 minutes. O’Reilly added two more scores late on as his influence continued to grow.
But Roscommon, though Devaney’s cracker, got back on terms six minutes from time to set up a frenetic finish. Donegal had a chance to win it in injury time but Michael Carroll’s effort was off target before McGinley’s dramatic late save from Stack. But there was still one more act tom play and McHugh did the necessary.
Roscommon: Colm Lavin; Sean McDermott, Thomas Featherston, Niall McInerney; Ronan Stack, Sean Mullooly, John McManus; Kevin Higgins (0-2), Tadgh O’Rourke; Shane Killaran, Ciaran Murtagh (1-4, 2f), Enda Smith (0-2); Donie Smith, Fintan Cregg (0-1), Conor Devaney (1-0). Subs: Tom Corcoran for Higgins (46), Niall Kilroy for Cregg (48), Cian Connolly for D Smith (58), Gary Patterson for Murtagh (65)
Donegal: Mark Anthony McGinley; Caolan Ward, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher (0-1), Paul Brennan; Jason McGee, Michael Carroll (0-1); Ciaran Thompson (0-3), Martin O’Reilly (0-3), Eoin McHugh (0-3); Patrick McBrearty (0-2, 1f), Michael Murphy (0-2, 2f), Jamie Brennan (0-1). Subs: Mark McHugh for P Brennan (17), Frank McGlynn for M McHugh (half-time), Darach O’Connor for McBrearty (48), Conor Gibbons for J Brennan (62), Eamonn Doherty for McGee (69), Darach O’Connor (black carded 73)
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).
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