ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A.
Monaghan 1-21, Donegal 3-14.
A point by top scorer and man of the match Donal Meegan saw a resilient Monaghan snatch the narrowest of victories over Donegal in this absorbing contest that built to an exhilarating finish in Castleblayney yesterday. Monaghan started brightly and led by 1-4 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, the goal by Brian McGuigan in the 9th minute, but by half-time Donegal were a point in front 1-7 to 1-6, their goal rifled home by Danny Cullen.
Monaghan started the second-half well to reel off 6 unanswered points between the 2nd and 9th minutes to open a 4 points lead but they then suffered a blow when Tadgh Campbell was dismissed on a 2nd yellow card. Donegal now grabbed the initiative to hit an unanswered 2-2, the goals by David Flynn and Richie Kee, to open a 4 points lead and holding the momentum. From there to the finish though it was helter-skelter stuff, with Donal Meegan repeatedly punishing defensive indiscretions from placed balls and Donegal then reduced numerically when Joe Boyle was sent off on a 2nd yellow card to make for a sizzling finish to a contest that could have gone either way and where share of the spoils would not have been an unfair result. Donegal fought back to parity 3 minutes into stoppage time but Monaghan struck for the winner a minute later to seal a memorable victory.
Teams and Scorers: Monaghan: H Byrne, J Guinan, P Finnegan, B Flanagan, B Connor, P Treanor, M Murphy 0-2, E Mac Suibhne 0-3 (1f,1’65), M Treanor 0-1, F Rafter, S Leonard 0-2, C Meegan, D Meegan 0-12 (10f), T Campbell, B McGuigan 1-0. Subs: C Boyle for B Connor (23), S Forde for C Meegan (27), PJ Boyle 0-1 for S Forde (57).
Donegal: P Burns, D Grant, A Stokes, P Doherty, J O’Loughlin, J Boyle 0-1, N Cleary 0-1, D Cullen 1-0, L Henderson 0-6 (4f), E McDermott 0-1, R Kee 1-1, D Flynn 1-2, C Doherty 0-1, K Campbell, D Coulter 0-1. Subs: C Rami for A Stokes (52), P Nelson for C Doherty (56).
Referee: K McGeeney (Roscommon).
By Mary McEneaney Sun 19th Feb
