Donegal minor ladies coast to comfortable championship win over Fermanagh

Donegal made it two from two in the Ulster ladies MFC with a comprehensive nine-point win over Fermanagh in Ballybofey. 

Donegal 1-21
Fermanagh 3-6 

By the halfway mark, the hosts were already 1-13 to 0-0 to the good as Fermanagh struggled to make any real inroads into the Donegal final third. 

However, with the leaders easing the foot off the gas in the second stanza, the Ernesiders pulled themselves back from the brink of complete obliteration as they tagged on a respectable looking 3-6 to the final scoreline. 

Donegal senior star Katie Dowds had Donegal off the mark just 13 seconds in when she won possession from throw-in and went right through the middle to post. She also collected her side’s second over before earning a fourth minute penalty - again courtesy of her excellent direct running. 

Abbie McGranaghan smacked that spotkick off the butt of a post but relentless Donegal kept on trucking as the likes of Rhianna McCready (4), Ava Walsh (4), Eva Gallagher (2) and Amy Porter all lobbed additional points. 

And, just before the break, McCready fired in the game’s opening goal to make sure Donegal departed with an unassailable 16-point upperhand at the changeover. 

Donegal Abbie McGranaghan on the attack against Fermanagh. 

With Donegal ringing the changes throughout the second period, Fermanagh finally began to make a contest out of matters. Caoimhe Gallagher grabbed a goal right away, moments after the restart. 

And going down the stretch, replacement Eva Finlay McGovern raised a pair of green flags. However, Donegal were well into winddown mode at that stage as they now turn attention towards their third and final group outing against Derry. 

Donegal scorers: Ava Walsh 0-9,3f; Rhianna McCready 1-4,2f; Katie Dowds 0-2; Eva Gallagher 0-2; Amy Porter 0-1; Abbie Granaghan 0-1; Emily Boyce 0-1; Rhianna McColgan 0-1. 

Fermanagh scorers: Ciara McGarrigle 0-3,1f; Caoimhe Gallagher 1-0; Maeve Mulligan 0-1; Eva Finlay McGovern 2-0; Erin Tierney 0-2. 

Donegal: Aoibhin Randles (St Eunan’s); Ellie Ward (Dungloe), Abigail Temple Asokuh (MacCumhaills), Amy Porter (Carndonagh); Tara Rose Mahon (Buncrana), Sarah McGinley (Glenswilly), Niamh Harkin (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin); Katie Dowds (MacCumhaills), Rhianna McColgan (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin); Ava Walsh (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin), Eva Gallagher (Kilcar), Cora Doherty (Naomh Conaill); Abbier McGranaghan (Robert Emmets), Alisha Gallagher (Letterkenny Gaels), Rhianna McCready (Dungloe). 

Subs: Emma Nesson (Red Hughs), Meabh McAteer (Gaeil Fhanáda) and Clodagh O’Connor for Porter, Dowds and McCready (all 37); Claire Diver (Dungloe) for Randles (42); Rebecca Campbell (MacCumhaills) and Emily Boyce (MacCumhaills) for McGranaghan and Mahon (both 48); Mia Bennett (Ardara), Sile Ní Fhearraigh (Gaoth Dobhair) and Louise Doherty (Letterkenny Gaels) for Doherty, Gallagher and Harkin (all 55).  

Fermanagh: Aisling Quinn; Aine McCarney, Katie Shannon, Niamh Smyth; Laoise O’Keefe, Alannah Maguire, Orla Leonard; Niamh Boyle, Sinead Barrett; Caoimhe Gallagher, Caoimhe Hamilton, Ellie Carriagan; Chloe McManus, Erin Tierney, Ciara McGarrigle. 

Subs: Eva Finlay McGovern and Caoimhe Conlan for Hamilton and Shannon (both 40); Eva O’Donell and Maeve Mulligan for O’Keefe and Carriagan (both 46). 

Referee: Jude Dixon (Derry).