Donegal Christy Ring hopes completely extinguished by London in Letterkenny

London had far too much for a game but ultimately outgunned Donegal side in O’Donnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

This defeat ends the home side’s ambitions of reaching the Christy Ring Cup final, while the visitors remain in with a real chance of making the decider, as they look set to beat point-less Tyrone in their final game.

Donegal though, are at least safe from dropping back down to Nickey Rackard, and their final game away to Meath is now purely a pride exercise.

Mickey McCann’s side had been first off the mark in Letterkenny with an early point from Peter Kelly, but this was swiftly cancelled out by a fine effort from London midfielder Adam Cunney.

The hosts then hit two bad wides before the impressive Jack Morrisey converted a penalty after a London forward was hauled down in the square.

The excellent Danny Cullen replied with a point for Donegal, only for Dylan Dawson to make it 1-2 to 0-2 for the visitors.

Gerard Gilmore and Dylan Dawson then swapped points, and ‘player of the match’ Jack Morrisey made it 1-4 to 0-3 as a nervous Donegal side hit three more wides.

Conor O’Grady narrowed the gap for Donegal who were already chasing the game as points from Owen Sheil and Dawson pushed London into a 1-7 to 0-7 lead.

Donegal rallied with points from Declan Coulter and Gilmore, but they had already racked up eight wides at this stage. Ronan McDermott did find himself through on goal but lost control at the crucial moment.

The decisive score came in the 34th minute, when London full-forward Conor O’Carroll found himself in acres of space and hit the net to leave London leading 2-7 to 0-7.

That proved to be the killer blow, giving London momentum they never lost. Cullen pointed for the home side before the break, with London leading 2-7 to 0-8.

Dawson and Liam McKinney swapped points, and another London sub, Rory Lodge, made it 2-10 to 0-11.

Donegal’s best player, Brian MacIntyre, brought it back to a six-point game, but Sean Glynn responded to ease London further in front.

London really pulled clear toward the end of the third quarter, with points from Morrisey and two fine efforts from Glynn pushing them into a 2-14 to 0-11 lead by the 45th minute.

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Morrisey converted another free, as McKinney got Donegal’s first score in ten minutes.

Both sides ran their benches, with sub Sean Ward and Gilmore exchanging points with London replacements David Devine and Donnachadha Leahy.

Donegal pressed hard for goals, but their only reward was a three-pointer from a Cullen free, as London ran out comfortable winners.

Gilmore had the last point, but there was never any doubt about the superiority of the visitors.

Donegal scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-6, 4f; Danny Cullen 1-2; Liam McKinney 0-2; Declan Coulter, Conor Gartland, Peter Kelly, Conor O’Grady and Sean Ward 0-1 each.

London scorers: Jack Morrisey 1-5, 1pen,2f; Dylan Dawson 0-5; Sean Glynn 0-4, 2f; Conor O’Carroll 1-0; Owen Sheil, Adam Cunney, Rory Lodge, Donnachadha Leahy and David Devine 0-1 each.

Donegal: Luke White; Oisin Kelly, Steven McBride, Gavin Browne; Conor O’Grady, Danny Cullen, Sean McVeigh; Declan Coulter, Ryan Hilferty; Brian MacIntyre, Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott; Gerard Gilmore, Conor Gartland, Peter Kelly.

Subs: Kevin Kealy for Declan Coulter (43), Donal Farrelly for Gavin Browne (46), Sean Ward for Peter Kelly (47), Donal Farrelly for Gavin Browne (49), John Kealy for Declan Coulter (52), Sean Kealy for Sean McVeigh (54).

London: Mark Kilgannon; Niall Fitzgerald, Conor Byrne, Stephen Whelan; Tom Millerick, Enda Egan, Padraig Muldoon; Adam Cunney, Paul Kennedy; Owen Sheil, Sean Glynn, Dylan Dawson; Conor McCormack, Conor O’Carroll, Jack Morrisey.

Subs: Rory Lodge for Adam Cunney (18), Barry Morrisey for Stephen Whelan (49), Niall Geoghegan for Niall Fitzgerald (53), David Devine for Paul Kennedy (57), Donnachadha Leahy for Conor O’Carroll (58).

Referee: C. McCluskey (Antrim)