Late smash and grab from Roisin Rodgers sees Donegal stun Monaghan in Lifford

A last-gasp Roisin Rodgers goal snatched Donegal’s first league win of the season at the expense of a shell-shocked Monaghan. 

James Daly’s side looked to be on their way to a one-point loss but in the dying seconds, Donegal captain Rodgers got a desperate hand to a dipping Susanne White free and somehow slapped to the back of the net. 

The Farney County had started extremely well this term and opened at the weekend joint top of the standings alongside Galway – and with maximum points – after two games.

A one-point victory over Tipperary last time out kept Monaghan in the promotion picture as Donegal drew their second successive game, this time against Westmeath.

Donegal went into Sunday unbeaten but were no doubt anxious to claim their first win of the campaign in this Ulster derby.

And while they threatened to get on top at the midpoint of the second-half as they led for the first time at 0-7 to 0-6 Monaghan, even though they were down to 14, seemed like they’d wrestled the momentum back their direction. 

However, there would be late, late drama in Lifford as Rodgers struck right at the death. 

Back at the outset, it was Darren Swift’s girls that got out of the blocks first thanks to an early Eabha Sherry free. 

On seven minutes, visiting number seven and Monaghan skipper Casey Treanor got up the right flank to float over her side’s second. 

Donegal were off the mark a minute later thanks to White but a superb ping from distance by Jodie McQuillan soon reinstated Monaghan’s two-point advantage. 

Jodie McFadden then made her first impact on proceedings, landing a fine individual effort as she jinked in from the wide right. 

Eva Gallagher followed that lead with an equally impressive punt as Donegal squared it up at 0-3 apiece. 

McQuillan then arched over her second, from a free, as Donegal simultaneously lost Shauna McFadden to the sin-bin. 

Katie Dowds again levelled the game up four minutes out from the midpoint and that’s how it remained at the changeover with White having a late penalty claim waved away. 

Donegal and Dowds began the second stanza in the same fashion they ended the first as the hosts led for the first time. 

Donegal turned over the resulting kickout and Eva Gallagher also grabbed her second point to make it a 0-6 to 0-4 game. 

Sherry halted that momentum down the other end as Monghan opened their second-half account on 34 minutes. 

The visiting markswoman was at it again three minutes later as she converted a third free to leave it 0-6 each. 

With Shauna McFadden back in the mix, and Donegal with their full quota of players on the field once more, the hosts were back in front as White, from a free, clipped a seventh Donegal over. 

Ten minutes out from time Sherry was at it again as she grabbed a fourth, again from a free from the hands, as matters were squared for a fourth time. 

Monaghan then went down to 14 for the duration of the remainder when wing back Aoife Burns was yellow carded. 

Still, McQuillan would nudge her side back to the fore with just two minutes left on the clock. 

However, fortune would eventually favour Donegal’s bravery as Rodgers dived into danger to somehow grab victory for her side. 

Donegal scorers: Roisin Rodgers 1-0; Susanne White 0-2,1f; Jodie McFadden 0-1; Katie Dowds 0-2; Eva Gallagher 0-2. 

Monaghan scorers: Casey Treanor 0-1; Eabha Sherry 0-4,4f; Jodie McQuillan 0-3. 

Donegal: Claire Friel; Shauna McFadden, Abigail Temple Asokuh, Evelyn McGinley; Sophie McFeely, Niamh Boyle, Niamh Carr; Roisin Rodgers, Rhiana McColgan; Cait Gillespie, Katie Dowds, Feena McManomon; Jodie McFadden, Susanne White, Eva Gallagher. 

Subs: Ava Walsh for C Gillespuie (ht), Mia Bennett for Feena McManomon (50), Abbie McGranaghan for S McFadden (57). 

Monaghan: Orna Kelly; Aimee Clarke, Shone Brady, Caoimhe Brennan; Aoife Burns, Jennifer Duffy, Casey Treanor; Niamh Flanagan, Jodie McQuillan; Gemma Grimes, Amy Gartland, Grace Hanratty; Laura Connolly, Eabha Sherry, Lauren Gartland. 

Subs: 

Referee: Declan Carolan (Armagh).