Donegal ladies put in a brilliant performance to lift the Division 2 league title

Donegal were crowned Ladies National Football League Division 2 champions after a brilliant performance against Cavan in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

Against a strong breeze in the first half, James Daly’s side defended well and trailed by just 0-4 to 0-2 at the break, Katie Dowds with both scores for Donegal.

And with scores from Susanne White, Dowds, and Ciara McGarvey, Donegal got level despite losing captain Róisín Rodgers to a yellow card for ten minutes.

But in this spell, Mia Bennett palmed in for an important goal, and with five minutes to go and back to the full 15, Dowds capped off a great performance with a second goal to seal the win.

With a breeze in their favour, the table toppers Cavan looked to make it count early on, and Ella Sheridan pointed on the two-minute mark after a bit of patient play.

She added a second from a free three minutes later, and she repeated that with another free as Cavan led by three on ten minutes.

Donegal began to grow into the game after this and had decent spells of possession, but Cavan were strong in the tackle and prevented any shot at goal, Mia Bennett having a first attempt that was going wide and short.

James Daly’s side did try and get in behind the Cavan rearguard twice, Bennett was well tackled when trying to get past her marker to get through on goal, while Feena McManamon almost got Evelyn McGinley in, but the pass just went ahead of the St Michael’s woman, and the ball trickled out of play.

It was nearly fifteen minutes between scores, but Cavan got a fourth as Sinéad Greene cut in from the left and curled one over for their fourth and final point of the half.

But Donegal did halve the deficit before the break, first as Katie Dowds finished off a neat move with the right boot after patient play for their first score on 25 minutes.

And Dowds got her second point two minutes from half-time as Susanne White played a free short to the Sean MacCumhaills woman, who fired over with her left foot this time to leave it at 0-4 to 0-2 at the break.

Cavan would get the first score after the restart as Sheridan squeezed over her third free of the game, but Dowds did well to win a free that White converted, and the Killybegs woman scored an easier free soon after as Feena McManamon was fouled.

Donegal had it back to one point, but they lost captain Róisín Rodgers to what looked like a harsh yellow as she was sinbinned, although a good move between Dowds, McGinley and Ciara McGarvey allowed the Termon attacker in, and she blasted over for a point.

A Dowds shot caused problems at the back for Cavam, and a slip allowed White to get a shot off from the ground, but she fired wide.

But Donegal did get their goal as Bláthnáid McLaughlin’s shot dropped short to Mia Bennett, who palmed it in ahead of goalkeeper Evelyn Baugh.

Catherine Dolan quickly responded with a fisted point, but Dowds got her third as White played another free short, and she got space to get her shot off.

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Substitute Eva Gallagher added another score, with Sheridan replying from a free, as we entered the last five minutes with just a goal in it.

And that’s when the decisive score came as Donegal counter-attacked, starting with Ulitah Boyle and as they moved forward, an unmarked Ciara McGarvey on the right palmed the ball across to Dowds, who rounded the goalkeeper and poked in from close range.

They almost had a third when Dowds found McManamon in behind the defence, who played it across to McGarvey, but her shot was well blocked down.

Cavan were getting desperate for goals, and Sheridan shot, with her effort hitting off the top of the crossbar and going over for a point, as Donegal ended up worthy winners of the Division 2 title.

Donegal scorers: Katie Dowds 1-3; Mia Bennett 1-0; Susanne White 0-2f; Ciara McGarvey and Eva Gallagher 0-1 each. 

Cavan scorers: Ella Sheridan 0-6,4f; Sinéad Greene and Catherine Dolan 0-1 each.

Donegal: Clare Friel; Niamh Carr, Evelyn McGinley, Sophie McFeely; Tara Hegarty, Feena McManamon, Shauna McFadden; Clodagh Brennan, Róisín Rodgers; Bláthnáid McLaughlin, Katie Dowds, Niamh Boyle; Susanne White, Mia Bennett, Ciara McGarvey.

Subs: Ulitah Boyle and Eva Gallagher for Brennan and Bennett (42)

Cavan: Evelyn Baugh; Zara Fay, Sinéad Kelly, Ailbhe Kennedy; Deirbhile Lynch, Christina Charters, Sinéad Greene; Micaela Fitzpatrick, Keri McCormack; Catherine Dolan, Ella Sheridan, Niamh Keeneghan; Shauna Lynch, Aishling Sheridan, Katie Mai Reilly.

Subs: Ellie Brady for Fitzpatrick (45), Cara McCaffrey and Lucy Crowe for McCormack and Lynch (50), Clara Lynch and Niamh McCorry for Keenaghan and Reilly (52)

Referee: Angela Gallagher (Meath)