Ronan McHugh double seals promotion to Premier Division for Donegal Town

Three teams. Two spots. One ambition. 

Donegal Town were one of the three and while top spot in Division 1 wasn't achieved for the Claret and Blue, they were still celebrating after a win over Ballybofey United at Hospital Field to secure the runners-up spot - and automatic promotion to the Premier Division.

Declan Duignan opened the scoring for Donegal Town and that lead was extended when Ronan McHugh found the top corner. Ballybofey United reduced the cushion to one-goal after John Paul Byrne found the wrong net, but the two-goal cushion was restored when McHugh scored his second. 

In a fast start for the hosts where Declan Duignan fizzed one across the face of goal inside five minutes, he found the back of the net with ten minutes on the timer, with a low left-footed effort that settled into the bottom left corner of the goal. 

Roughly five minutes later, that lead was almost stretched, only for a tight angle against Ben Sweeney. 

Joseph Campbell and Stephen Graham both had efforts close to the half hour, while Dermot Glackin had a shot saved as the game awaited that second goal. 

With a little under ten minutes to go in the first half, that goal arrived. McHugh cut in from the left, and a brilliant strike floated into the top right corner. 

Ryan McGee flashed one across the face of goal at the end of the half to no avail, but at the start of the second, a low ball in from Karolis Reuka was diverted into his own net by John Paul Byrne. 

Damien Glackin almost drew the game level prior to the hour with a shot that Dermot McCafferty clawed away, while McGee had another opportunity that rolled narrowly off target.

Five minutes beyond the hour, Donegal Town bagged an all-important third goal. Just moments after McHugh had squandered a big chance, he came out on top in a race against Christopher Patton, and prodded the ball into an unguarded net.

That goal was the last action of note in the game as Donegal Town celebrated promotion to the Premier Division after three years in Division One.

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Donegal Town: Dermot McCafferty; Ben Sweeney, Joseph Campbell (Thomas Cutts 86), John Doherty, John Paul Byrne; Stephen Graham, Aidan McHugh(Dermot Slevin 80), Eoin Slevin, Declan Duignan(Ryan Mahon 86); Ronan McHugh (Aaron Gallagher 80), Mark Jordan (Oisin Gorrell 70).

Ballybofey United: Christopher Patton; Diarmuid O'Donnell (Martin Mbuli 75) Paul Kelly, Bobby Hennigan (Gavin Doherty 72), Joshua McMenamin(Michael Scully 72); Cian Thompson, Oran Gallen, Karolis Reuka, Damien Glackin; Kieran Thompson (Aaron McAuley 72), Ryan McGee.

Referee: Ryan Carlin.