YVONNE MCMONAGLE INSPIRED Donegal to a fifth win in succession in the Lidl Ladies NFL League Division 2.
Donegal 4-11 Clare 2-7
Michael Naughton’s side conceded a goal inside of a minute against Clare – who also went into the contest with a 100 per cent record – with Glenfin’s McMonagle in excellent form, with an excellent personal total of 3-4.
Photo caption: The Donegal panel before this afternoon’s Lidl Ladies NFL League Division 2 fixture against Clare at Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon
Her sparring partner, Geraldine McLaughlin, had a quiet-ish first half, missed a penalty at the start of the second and then kicked on to bag 1-5 in all.
She scored 2-1 inside of the first minute to swing the advantage Donegal’s way.
Clare went in front after just 50 seconds at Fr Tierney Park when Niamh O’Dea drilled past Laura Gallagher to give the visitors the lead.
However, Donegal were soon to steady with Niamh Hegarty twice laying on assists for McMonagle goals.
First of all, the Donegal captain squared for McMonagle to shoot a fifth minute goal and then on 10 minutes, Hegarty played a long ball in and McMonagle turned before making room for herself to swing a shot into the bottom corner of Ciara Harvey’s net.
McMonagle continued her good start, scoring three points to put Donegal 2-3 to 1-1 up before adding her third goal on 26 minutes. This time Harvey in the Clare goal failed to hold a free from McLaughlin that dropped short and McMonagle toe-poked home.
O’Dea, with two frees added to an Ailish Consodine free, while McLaughlin scored at the other end and at half-time Donegal were 3-4 to 1-3 up.
McMonagle was at it again as soon as the gamer restarted, winning a penalty for some direct running inside a minute. However, Clare sub goalkeeper Emma O’Driscoll, with her first touch, made a great save down to the right from McLaughlin’s spot kick on 32 minutes.
McLaughlin, undeterred, kicked three more points and Katy Harron and McMonagle added further scores before O’Dea, on 43 minutes, put over the visitors’ first of the second half – Donegal 3-9 Clare 1-4.
Clare manufactured a goal on 45 minutes when Ailish Consodine snapped on a kick-out and although her first effort was saved by Gallagher, the Banner County’s centre-forward wriggled free to stab home.
Ten minutes from time, McLaughlin scored an excellent fourth goal when she cut in from right of centre and smashed low past O’Driscoll.
Donegal: Laura Gallagher; Teresa Doherty, Emer Gallagher, Nicole McLaughlin; Therese McCafferty, Ciara Hegarty, Deirdre Foley; Katy Herron (0-1), Karen Guthrie; Blathnaid McLaughlin, Niamh Hegarty, Grainne Houston; Eilish Ward, Yvonne McMonagle (3-4, 2f), Geraldine McLaughlin (1-5, 2f). Subs: Amber Barrett (0-1) for Ward (43), Kate Keeney and Emer Bradley for T McCafferty and Herron (58), Sarah Patton for Doherty (60).
Clare: Ciara Harvey; Eva O’Dea, Laurie Ryan, Graine Harvey; Roisin Consodine, Claire Hester, Ellie O’Gorman; Louise Henchy,Becky Mahon; Orla Devitt (0-1), Ailish Consodine (1-3, 3f); Roisin Howley; Aoife Keane, Niamh O’Dea (1-3, 2f), Sarah Bohannon. Subs: Emma O’Driscoll for C Harvey (half-time), Ciara Hickey for Keane (39), Grainne harvey for R Consodine (55)
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
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