Donegal go three from three in Nickey Rackard Cup with victory in Roscommon

Conegal team captain Ronan McDermott certainly led by example in this impressive victory for Mickey McCann’s men in Waldron Park, Athleague.

Roscommon 2-16 Donegal 2-25

The Burt clubman hit a crucial goal in the 23rd minute in a tight first half and added another six great points some from very acute angles as he led his side to victory to give his side their third victory from three in the Nickey Rackard Cup.

Donegal had 11 different scorers in a game where Roscommon matched them for the first half, with only McDermott’s goal separating the sides at the break. But the visitors turned on the power in the second half, outscoring their opponents by 1-14 to 1-6 in the second half.

Donegal also threw on a number of subs in that half with Gerry Gilmore, San Ward and Ryan Hilferty all getting on the scoresheet.

But McCann will be less than happy with conceding two goals in the last five minutes and the Rossies were denied a third goal-but referee Niall Malone disallowed the goal for a square ball.

Roscommon’s best player Mikey Joe Egan got those two late goals and also hit six points.
Declan Coulter and Liam McKinney were also major figures for Donegal and second half sub Sean Ward got Donegal’s second goal.

And it looked like a rout as McCann’s men led by 2-22 to 0-15 eight minutes from time, but gritty Roscommon refused to yield, and Egan’s two brilliant strikes made the final scoreline much more respectable.

But another area of possible concern for Donegal was the fact that they also hit 14 wides - plenty from pretty scorable positions. Roscommon raced through and towering full forward Conor Mulry pointed after just eight seconds.

Donegal marksman Liam McKinney levelled the score as the sides were level for a further six times in the opening half. Egan and Mulry eased the home side into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the fifth minute.

Exchanges were tight and Donegal were repeatedly hemmed in on a tight, relatively bumpy pitch. McKinney and Coulter with a fine effort, levelled matters.

Egan and Jack O’Loughlin swapped points as Galway native Conor Cosgrove landed a mammoth point to put the Rossies in front by 0-5 to 0-4. Donegal struck a crucial goal in the 23rd minute.

A number of Roscommon defenders seemed trapped under a high ball which broke to the ever-alert McDermott and he blasted the loose ball to the net and followed with a great point to put Donegal into a 1-9 to 0-7 lead.

The the home side hit back with points from Eamon Flanagan and Naos Connaughton as McDermott hit another corker to leave Donegal leading by 1-10 to 0-10 at the break

Gilmore was brought into the action, and he responded with two fine points as Daire O’Maoileidigh also found the target to put Donegal into a 1-14 to 0-11 lead. Egan kept Roscommon in touch but there was no stopping the irrepressible McDermott as McKinney and Stephen Gillespie pushed Donegal to a 1-19 to 0-14 lead just over midway through the half.

It got even better when sub, Sean Ward found loads of space and landed his side’s second goal as Conor Gartland, Coulter and McKinney pushed Donegal to a 2-22 to 0-15 lead coming into the home straight.

They seemed to switch off in the last five minutes when Egan goaled twice, and his side had a third disallowed for a square ball. But there was never any doubting Donegal’s superiority as they now face Louth in a fortnight and if they win that match the final beckons.

Roscommon scorers: Mikey Joe Egan 2-7,5f; Conor Mulroy 0-3; Eamon Flanagan 0-2; Brendan Mulry, Conor Cosgrove, Naos Connaughton and Padraig Brennan 0-1;

Donegal scorers: Ronan McDermott 1-6; Liam McKinney 0-6,5f; Sean Ward 1-1; Declan Coulter 0-4; Gerry Gilmore 0-2; Luke White 0-1, 1f; Stephen Gillespie, Gavin Browne, Jack O’Loughlin, Daire O’Maoileidigh and Conor Gartland 0-1;

Roscommon: Enda Lawless; Darragh Mullen Mark Ward, Hugh Rooney; Joe Brennan, Adam Donnelly, Jack Dowling; Brendan Mulry, Eamon Mulry Conor Cosgrove ; Naos Connaughton, Eoin Kiernan; Eamon Flanagan, Conor Mulroy, Mikey Joe Egan Subs; Padraig Brennan for Joe Brennan, Paddy Fallon for Adam Donnelly, Ryan Conlan for Eoin Kiernan (h-time) Sean Dowd for Conor Cosgrove (40)

Donegal: Luke White: Michael Donaghue, Stephen Gillespie Gavin Browne; Bernard Lafferty, Stephen McBride, Christopher McDermott; Jack O’Loughlin Brian McIntyre; Ronan McDermott, Conor Gartland, Declan Coulter; Ruairi Campbelll, Liam McKinney, Daire O’Maoileidigh Subs: Gerry Gilmore for Brian McIntyre (27), Sean Ward for Ruairi Campbell (h-time) Ryan Hilferty for Jack O’Loughlin (49) Kevin Curran for Declan Coulter (58), Conor O’Grady for Daire O’Maoileidigh (57)

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)