DONEGAL SUFFERED THEIR first defeat of the Division 2 league campaign this afternoon as they slumped to a 1-9 to 0-10 loss against Down in Newry this afternoon.
The only goal of the game proved to be a crucial score when Niall Madine found the net for James McCartan’s side in the 13th minute.
Mark Poland and Kevin McKernan pointed to help Down lead by 1-3 to 0-2 after 22 minutes with Michael Murphy keeping Donegal in touch.
Dermot Molloy also showed up well for Donegal in the first-half scoring stakes yet Down were ahead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval with Poland and Madine tacking on important points.
The teams swapped points early in the second-half – Martin McElhinney and Leo McLoone for Donegal, Donal O’Hare and Conor Garvey for Down – with the Mourne County moving 1-8 to 0-7 ahead.
The scoring rates then dried up but Down were still in control as they led by 1-9 to 0-8 with just three minutes remaining. Donegal struck late points from Neil Gallagher and Colm McFadden but Down held on to take the spoils.
Meanwhile a Sean Armstrong point rescued a draw for Galway against Louth in Drogheda as the teams finished tied at 0-15 to 2-9.
Both sides were in desperate need for points as they battled relegation and Louth looked like they had claimed a dramatic win when Paddy Keenan netted in injury-time but Armstrong then rescued Galway.
Louth were in front by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time with Derek Crilly grabbing their goal. But Louth had raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead and Galway hit back significantly before the break with Paul Conroy (2), Gareth Bradshaw and Michael Martin all notching points.
Galway continued to dominate early in the second-half as they hit a series of points and were ahead by 0-10 to 1-6 by the 53rd minute. Bradshaw, Conroy and Eddie Hoare stretched their lead with points to create a four-point lead with eight minutes remaining.
Louth hit back to cut the gap to the minimum before a Conroy free looked to be the insurance score as it sent Galway into a 0-14 to 1-9 lead. Then came the late drama with Keenan looking like he had snatched the win for Louth before Armstrong saved Galway.
Division 2 Results
Down 1-9 Donegal 0-10
Galway 0-15 Louth 2-9