Leitrim suffered their first loss in the 2004 NFL campaign in Cloone on Sunday last, with neighbours Donegal leaving with the points. Donegal forwards Adrian Sweeney and Brendan Devenney wreaked havoc on Leitrim’s defence, Scóring 2-6 of Donegal’s tally between them. Leitrim were holding out well until two second half goals in as many minutes effectively ended the contest.

Early in the second half, Leitrim shocked the visitors with a bizarre Michael Foley goal after a mistake by Donegal goalkeeper Tony Blake to trail by only a point with 40 minutes played.

However, Donegal’s superior quality shone through in the end with goals coming after 53 and 55 minutes, followed by a hat-trick of points to kill off the weak Leitrim challenge.

Leitrim:
G. Phelan, M. McGuinness, J. McKeon, D. Reynolds, N. Gilbane, S. Quinn, B. Prior, S. Canning, C. Carroll, C. Regan, P. Farrell (0-1), M. Foley (1-4), J. McGuinness, F. McBrien, J. Guckian. Subs: J. Goldrick for F. McBrien, N. Doonan for J. McGuinness, M. Greene for N. Gilbane, D. Kennedy for P. Farrell.

Donegal: T. Blake, N. McCready, R. Sweeney, E. McGee, S. Carr, B. Monaghan, K. Cassidy, P. McGonÓgal (0-1), B. Boyle, B. McLoughlin, M. Hegarty (0-1), B. Roper, J. McCafferty, A. Sweeney (1-2), B. Devenney (1-4). Subs: C. Toye for B. McLoughlin, C. McFadden for J. McCafferty, J. Gildea for B. Boyle, J. Haran (0-1) for B. Roper, B. Dunnion for N. McCready.

 

 

09-Feb-04 by Paddy Reilly