NFL – Round 1 – Donegal v Leitrim

Leitrim opened their National League campaign with a draw after a tough away assignment in Ballyshannon.

Leitrim started well registering the first score as Ciaran Duignan placed the ball firmly between the posts. More were to follow from Ciaran as he clocked up a total of 4 points in the first half. Donegal responded to the Leitrim attacks and they levelled matters with 5 points of which Michael Doherty was the main contributor. Leitrims other point was from full forward Declan Maxwell leaving the half time score 0-5 points each.

The second half has been Leitrims downfall in recent games but this time the attitude was different. Leitrim applied pressure from the start and following several attacks a high ball from Michael Foley lead to Declan Maxwell punching the ball across the goal mouth. Had there been another forward there thenÓgoal may have ensued.

Barry McWeeney was taken off injured and replaced by Francis Holohan who played in the corner with Dermot Reynolds taking the number 6 position.

Ciaran Duignan scored twice again for Leitrim and finished the game with a personal tally of 7 points.

Over the half the half forward line was eventually replaced as Colin Regan was the first to go as his nÓggling injury caught up with him. He was replaced by Emilyn Mulligan. Leitrims Johnny Goldrick was replaced by Daniel Beck with 8 minutes to go and Michael Foley was replaced by Darren Duignan with 5 minutes to go.

Within 1 minute of Darrens entrance the two Duignans clicked together and a pass from Ciaran was caught by Darren who kicked a fine goal. Leitrim were now leading by the goal 1-08 to Donegals 0-08

Donegal replied with 2 points with the second scored by Frank McGlynn who brought down Leitrims advantage to 1 point.

Cathal McCrann caught 3 Donegal balls that are dropped short as the clock moved into injury time. The Leitrim backs were under considerable pressure and with 2 minutes to go Donegals Adrian Sweeney leveled the scores with a point from play.

In the last kick of the game Donegals Michael Doherty had an injury time free about 50m out but hit it out.

Great work by Leitrim in putting it up to a much fancied Donegal and holding on to share the spoils.

Final score: Donegal 0-11 Leitirm 1-08

ScórERS –
Donegal:
M Doherty 0-5 (5f)
A Sweeney0-2
C Toye 0-2 each
S McDermott 0-1
F McGlynn 0-1

Leitrim:
Ciaran Duignan 0-7 (5f),
Darren Duignan 1-0
Declan Maxwell 0-1

Donegal – M Boyle; N McGee, R Sweeney, K Lacey; E McGee, B Monaghan, S McHugh; B Boyle, S McDermott; C Toye, C Bonner, M Caulfield; L Thompson, A Sweeney, M Doherty.

Subs: P Durcan for Boyle, C Dunne for Caulfield, F McGlynn for McHugh, R KavanÓgh for Thompson, P McNulty for Bonner.

LEITRIM – C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; D McHugh, B McWeeney, S Foley; G McCloskey, C Carroll; J Goldrick, C Regan, M Foley; B Prior, D Maxwell, C Duignan.

Subs: F Holohan for McWeeney, E Mulligan for Regan; D Beck for Goldrick; D Duignan for Foley.

Leitrim are home to Clare next Sunday while Donegal must travel to Carlow.

 

 

05-Feb-06 by Brendan Doyle