Late heartbreak for Donegal as Wicklow win late on in Division 3 final

Heartbreaking - there is no other way to describe Donegal’s devastating NHL Division 3 final defeat at the hands of a great Wicklow ‘smash and grab’ act in Aughrim.

Wicklow marksman Seanie Germaine hit the winning goal with 15 seconds left, to snatch a one-point win and leave Mickey McCann’s outfit floored.

Donegal were leading by 2-18 to 1-16 when a controversial free for Wicklow was lamped into the Donegal square.

There was a terrific scrimmage as the ball broke to Germaine, who sent the home fans into savage elation.

It looked like Donegal were going to see it out when Liam McKinney hit 1-2 in the space of four minutes to put Donegal into a 2-18 to 1-16 lead.

But, as full-time beckoned, Germaine found the net in the 60th minute.

And he repeated the dose a few minutes later to carve out a dramatic win for Wicklow, for whom John Henderson was also superb throughout.

Wicklow played with the strong wind early on, and Padraig Doyle put them into an early lead.

And the promising Fionn D’Arcy speared through the Donegal defence to put the home side two points up.

But this was a vastly different Donegal who capitulated tamely to Wicklow a fortnight ago in the regulation round in Letterkenny as McKinney and Ronan McDermott, who hit a great point from 70 metres, helped to level matters.

Brandon Ryan put the hosts back into the lead as Donegal veteran Declan Coulter made it all square again.

McKinney and Peter Kelly then eased Donegal into a 0-5 to 0-3 as McCann’s men were winning all the dirty ball.

The inevitable Doyle responded for Wicklow, and Sam O’Dowd made it all square again.

Doyle then put Wicklow back in front, but Donegal had a strong final ten minutes.

Josh McGee Cronolly pointed for Donegal, but Doyle replied with a superbly converted sideline cut.

It was Gavin Browne who found himself in space deep in Wicklow territory, and he crashed the sliotar to the net before he then made it 1-7 to 0-7 a minute later.

Donegal were now on top as McKinney made it 1-8 to 0-7, and he added another point to put the Ulster men into a five-point lead.

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Wicklow goalkeeper Conor McNally brilliantly denied McGee Cronolly a certain goal as McKinney and Richie Ryan swapped points with Geramine and Doyle as Donegal led by 1-11 to 0-9 at the break.

Donegal had the wind on the restart, and McKinney increased their lead with a point, but Germaine hit back with another scrambled goal.

Wicklow upped their game into the wind, and Doyle and McKinney again traded points to leave it a three-point game.

Wicklow substitutes Eoin McCormack and Luke Evans made an impact and landed two points.

Coulter replied before Sam Dowd put Wicklow ahead by 1-15 to 1-14 in the 50th minute.

Donegal substitute Dan Donnelly responded to level for Donegal as Doyle nudged Wicklow back in front.

It was then McKinney exploded into action as he hit a stunning 1-2 in four minutes to put Donegal into a 2-18 to 1-16 lead.

It looked like five points would be enough to see them through, but Wicklow kept battling hard and were rewarded with two late scrambled goals to fashion a memorable win.

Wicklow scorers: Seanie Germaine 3-0, Padraig Doyle 0-8, 6f, Sam O’Dowd 0-3, Padraig Doran 0-1, f, Brandon Ryan, Fionn D’Arcy and Luke Evans 0-1 each.

Donegal scorers: Liam McKinney 1-9, 4f, Gavin Browne 1-1, Peter Kelly and Declan Coulter 0-2 each, Ronan McDermott, Richie Ryan, Josh McGee Cronolly and Dan Donnelly 0-1 each.

Wicklow: Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Bryan Kearney, Ian Clancy; Tommy Collins, John Henderson, James Boland; Padraig Doran, Sam O’Dowd, Brandon Ryan, Andrew Kavanagh, Jack Doyle; Fionn D’Arcy, Padraig Doyle, Seanie Germaine.

Subs: Luke Evans for Jack Doyle and Eoin McCormack for Brandon Ryan (both ht), Jack Phelan for Fionn D’Arcy (64).

Donegal: Luke White; Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Bradley, Steven McBride; Conor O’Grady, Kevin Kealy, Gavin Browne; Danny Cullen, Brian MacIntyre; Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott, Peter Kelly; Declan Coulter, Richie Ryan, Josh McGee Cronolly.

Subs: John Kealy for Peter Kelly (53), Dan Donnelly for Richie Ryan (55), Ruairi Campbell for Declan Coulter (62), Ryan Hilferty for Gavin Browne (66), Conor Diver for Brian MacIntyre (69).

Referee: Matthew Farrell (Offaly)