Donegal Town get better of Gweedore Celtic in entertaining game at Hospital Field

Donegal Town got their promotion hopes back on track with an exciting comeback victory over Gweedore Celtic at the Hospital Field.

Donegal Town 3,   Gweedore Celtic 2

Donegal Town went to the dressing rooms at half-time wondering how they were 2-0 down after creating the most chances and looking the better team in the first half.

But they showed remarkable spirit in the second half to get a deserved win in a cracking contest. It was the bench that made the difference for the winners, with all five substitutes making a huge contribution.

The win sees Donegal Town close the gap on Gweedore Celtic, who remain in third place in the table.

They had a great chance on three minutes when Ruairi McLaughlin met a Mark Jordan cross but his header went just over the crossbar.

McLaughlin then forced a good save from Michael McKelvey after a good through ball from Joe Stitt. Gweedore were limited to sporadic raids. Ben Sweeney, impressive at left back, almost got McLaughlin in on 20 minutes and another run from Sweeney set up another chance but Mark Jordan's effort was turned out for a corner.

On 38 minutes the Donegal Town side had claims for a penalty on Ronan  McHugh, but it was waved away by the referee. Gweedore broke quickly and after good work from Ryan Doherty and especially Tomas Diver, Ryan Greene found the corner of the Donegal Town net.

Worse was to follow for the home side when before half-time 'keeper Paddy Kelly's clearance was picked up by the visitors and veteran full-forward Tomas Diver had the easiest of tasks finding the empty net.

The Donegal Town boys were back on the front foot early in the second half but found Colin McNicholas a rock at the centre of the Gweedore defence. Tomas Diver created another chance for Ryan Greene, who was almost in for a third on 57 minutes.

The big turning point in the game came just after this with Donegal Town making a quadruple substitution. Killian Faulkner had arrived after a Gaelic game for Four Masters in Tirconaill Park and he might have thought he would be introduced as a winger. But an injury to 'keeper Paddy Kelly saw Faulkner running to the dressing rooms for his goalkeeping gloves and jersey. David Graham, Robbie Murphy and Declan Duignan were also introduced with Graham and Murphy having a huge influence on the remainder of the game.

The Donegal Town boys were back in the contest on 52 minutes when a through ball from Robbie Murphy set Ruairi McLaughlin on his way and he was taken down for a penalty. Eoin Slevin stepped up to find the corner of the net.

Five minutes later it was all square as a David Graham cross was turned into his own net by Gweedore Celtic left back Conor Duggan.

Donegal Town continued to be the team on the front foot, although Killian Faulkner was called into action to save from Tomas Diver.

Ben Sweeney made another great run and found Ronan McHugh, who was foiled by 'keeper Michael McKelvey as he tried to get in a cross with two players waiting.

With time running out it looked as if Donegal Town had won the game when Robbie Murphy was impeded and they got a second penalty but Michael McKelvey guessed right this time against Eoin Slevin to save.

But in added time the home side came again and after an effort from Ruairi McLaughlin was saved the ball went free and David Graham hit a glorious winner for Donegal Town.

Buncrana duo Emma Doherty and Keri Loughrey on the scoresheet for Sligo Rovers

Steve Feeney's Sligo Rovers are gearing up for the Women's National League season and won 2-1 away to Galway United with Buncrana's Emma Doherty and Keri Loughrey their goalscorers

Donegal Town: Paddy Kelly, Ryan Hegarty, Ben Sweeney, Ryan O'Brien, Eoin Slevin, Stevie Graham, Graham Harron, Joe Stitt, Ruairi McLaughlin, Ronan McHugh, Mark Jordan. Subs: Killian Faulkner, Robbie Murphy, David Graham and Declan Duignan for Kelly, Stevie Graham, Jordan and Stitt (all 58); Franco Llobs for O'Brien (70)

Gweedore Celtic: Michael McKelvey, Aidan Breathnach, Conor Duggan, Fiachra Coyle, Colin McNicholas, Liam McFadden, Ryan Doherty, Ciaran McHugh, Tomas Diver, Cian McBride, Ryan Greene. Subs: Shaun Gallagher and Damien O'Sullivan for C McBride and McNicholas (both 75); Neil Doran for R Doherty (86).

Referee: John McGlanaghy