Donegal off and running in NHL Division 2B with victory over Sligo

Donegal opened their Allianz NHL Division 2B campaign with a win over Sligo side in slippery conditions in O’Donnell Park. 

Donegal 1-16     
Sligo 0-15 

And, while they were the better side, Lady Luck did play a part in this essential win as they had a somewhat lucky goal and Sligo hit 16 wides -  at least 10 of which were quite scorable. But the crucial score for Donegal came just before half time when an under-hit Gerry Gilmore shot somehow drifted into the Sligo net past unsighted keeper Luke Comerford. 

Ruairi Campbell and a Sligo defender went for the ball and there was some suggestion that Campbell may have had a touch - but the consensus at the end was that it was Gilmore’s goal. That strike put Donegal into a 1-9 to 0-8 lead at the break after Sligo had recovered from a poor start to level matters at 0-6 each by the 25th minute. But Sligo’s inaccuracy apart, the contribution of Coulter was crucial to victory and he went on to give a match-winning display, notching 0-8.

Danny Cullen was also rock solid, especially in the final minutes as Galway native Diarmuid Hannify led a late Sligo surge on the Donegal goal.  Hannify and Rory McHugh spurred on Sligo, but Andy Kilcullen was off colour as Sligo missed the consistency of Gerard O’Kelly Lynch, who is concentrating on football this year. 

Donegal were minus Ronan McDermott - on holiday in the US - but will be available for next week’s trip to London. Donegal had a whirlwind start and had three swift points on the board in just two minutes. 

Ruairi Campbell opened the scoring after just 40 seconds from 21 metres on the wing.  This was quickly followed by a pointed free from Liam McKinney and Gerard Gilmore arrowed over another. 

Wind-assisted Sligo hit back with an Andrew Kilcullen pointed free. Donegal had two good chances of points, but Liam McKinney was just off target. But he made up for those errors in the 10th minute with a well struck effort and Campbell made it 0-5 to 0-1. Sligo responded well with points from Kilcullen, but he then missed three chances. 

Still, four points on the spin put them level at 0-6 each before Gilmore’s lucky goal. Donegal had the breeze after the break and Coulter extended their lead with the excellent Joe McHugh replying for Sligo. Ruairi Campbell made it 1-11 to 0-9 by the 40th minute and Coulter put the home side ahead by six points by the 50th minute. Sligo were undaunted and hit four points on the spin from Hannify, Kilcullen and Joe McHugh, but also hit five bad wides. 

They finished the stronger side and took the margin back to two points as Donegal were on the ropes. But Coulter kept tapping over the frees in five minutes of injury time to earn a valuable victory for Donegal. A deserved victory for Donegal but they will need to concede less frees against London next weekend. 

Donegal: Dylan Lafferty; Steven McBride, Stephen Gillespie, Michael Donaghue; Brian McIntyre, Jack O’Loughlin, Christopher McDermott; Declan Coulter (0-8, 8f) Danny Cullen; Liam McKinney (0-2, 1f) Ritchie Ryan, Gerry Gilmore (1-1); Conor Gartland, Daire O’Maoiléidigh (0-2), Ruairi Campbell (0-3) Subs; Gavin Browne for Jack O’Loughlin and Sean Ward for Richie Ryan (45), Ryan Hilferty for Brian McIntyre (47), Oisin Marley for Gerry Gilmore (58), Dean Harvey for Daire O’Maoileidigh (66)  

Sligo: Luke Conerford; Darragh Cawley, James Weir, Kevin O'Kennedy; Ruairi Brennan, Rory McHugh, Donal Hanley; Niall Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly (0-1); Conor Hannify, Eddie O’Donoghue (0-1), Thomas Cawley (0-2); Liam O’Kelly Lynch, Andrew Kilcullen (0-5,1f), Joe McHugh (0-1), Subs; Diarmuid Hannify (0-5,1f) for Liam O’Kelly Lynch (21), Niall Feehily for Donal Hanley (31), Gavin Connolly for Ruairi Brennan (35), Cian Flynn for Eddie O’Donoghue 

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)