Late goal deprives much-changed Donegal of victory in final Minor League game

An unfortunate late goal deprived the Donegal minors of victory after an entertaining encounter with Sligo at the Donegal Training Centre, Convoy.

Donegal 0-11   Sligo 2-6

Donegal could argue with some conviction that they were the better team, dominating the second half when they had the wind in their backs, but they were not helped by a free count of 28-13 against them. Maggie Farrelly's interpretation of some of the decisions led to Donegal manager, Luke Barrett, being shown a yellow card in the second half.

Sligo, who had their Summerhill College contingent back for the first time, were the better team in the opening half, but Donegal had Conor McCahill and he accounted for all of their first half total in a top class performance.

Donegal made nine changes from the previous week as they were already qualified for the league final and were using this game as an opportunity for the fringe players. They will play Derry in the final on Saturday next.

Donegal were hit with a big blow after three minutes when a free was not cleared well and Michael Carroll picked up the loose ball and found the corner of the Donegal net.

Against a difficult wind and with underfoot conditions tricky after heavy overnight rain, Donegal did respond and Conor McCahill had them on the board on five minutes.

The Four Masters man raced through five minutes later to fist a second point but then Sligo hit three in-a-row from Michael Carroll from a mark; Dara Moyston and Cian Carty from a free.

Again McCahill replied before Sligo midfielder Conor Walsh lofted a good score. But in the final five minutes of the half McCahill converted a free from out near the sideline and another from closer to goal to cut the lead to two points.

But a bad mix-up in the Donegal defence saw another bad free being given away and Dara Royston converted to leave it 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

It took Donegal some time to get going with the wind at their backs, but they were dominating possession. Gavin Doherty cut the lead to two after nine and further points from Conor McCahill and a Danny Brown free had them all square with 45 minutes played.

Cian Carty fired over a free to edge Sligo back in front but in a two minute period from the 53rd to 55th minute Donegal went two ahead with good points from Ronan Maher, Tiarnan Ward (free) and Danny Brown from play.

It looked as if they had secured the win but Sligo were awarded a soft free two minutes into added time. Cian Carty was going for a point but the ball dropped short and ended in the net for rather fortuituous win for the Yeats men.

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Donegal scorers: Conor McCahill 0-6,2f; Danny Brown 0-2,1f; Ronan Maher, Gavin Doherty, Tiernan Ward (f) 0-1 each.
Sligo scorers: Cian Carty 1-2,all frees; Michael Carroll 1-1,1m; Dara Royston 0-2; Conor Walsh 0-1.

Donegal: Cian McConnell; Aiden Friel, Jordi Gribben, Conan Brannigan; Cathal Gallagher, Shane Ellison, Ronan Maher; Oisin Scanlon, John James Gallagher; Eoghan Scott, Tiarnan Ward, Donnacha O'Baoill; Dylan Mulholland, Conor McCahill, Gavin Doherty. Subs: Fionn McGinty for Brannigan; Danny Browne O'Baoill; Philip Doherty for Mulholland (all ht); Jack Gallagher for C Gallagher (41); Sean O'Carroll for G Doherty (53).

Sligo: Tiernan Scanlon Mongey; James Lavin, Eamon Keane, Jack Hayes; Liam Higgins, Cian Gallagher, Clyde Regan; Conor Walsh, Oran Harte; Eoin Tuffy, Cian Carty, Conor McDonagh; Eamon O'Mahoney, Dara Moyston, Michael Carroll. Subs: Darragh Mastin for Hayes; Josh McHugh for O'Mahoney; Niall Duffy for Moyston; Aaron Lang for McDonagh; Cillian Duggan for Keane.

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan)