MICHAEL NAUGHTON might have some tricky questions to answer when he returns to Letterkenny General Hospital later today.
By Jackie Cahill at Parnell Park
Donegal boss Naughton, who’s facing surgery, stunned medics on Friday when he signed himself out.
There was no way that Naughton was going to miss out on Donegal’s promotion push – even though he’s due to go under the knife.
[adrotate group=”53″]Victory in Saturday’s Lidl Ladies National Football League decider atoned for last year’s final loss and sent Donegal back to the top flight, following relegation in 2014.
Naughton wasn’t the only member of the Donegal camp putting his body on the line, the manager later revealed.
Geraldine McLaughlin lined out with two painkilling injections and Eilish Ward carried a broken nose into Saturday’s big win over Westmeath.
[adrotate group=”38″]Naughton smiled: “That’s a sign of dedication – I was in hospital myself, I was supposed to be having an operation, I signed myself out.
“I’ll go back on Monday. That’s what you’re dealing with for girls like this – you’ll put yourself on the line for them.
“I’ll be ok – I wasn’t going to miss this. I wanted to see these girls playing in Division 1 because they’re the best bunch of girls I’ve worked with.”
[adrotate group=”12″]McLaughlin was one of Donegal’s stars as, despite losing Ciara Hegarty and Katy Herron to sin-binnings in the final ten minutes, a 13-point victory was secured.
Inside forwards McLaughlin, Yvonne McMonagle and Amber Barrett collected 3-13 between them against outclassed Westmeath. McMonagle was the star turn with a 2-5 haul from play, McLaughlin kicked six points, including four frees, and Barrett added 1-2, including a crucial first half goal.
Midfielder Karen Guthrie was another player to excel and goalkeeper Aoife McColgan was brilliant too, pulling off brilliant saves in both halves.
[adrotate group=”46″]The new Division 2 champions were well in control, leading by 1-7 to 0-4, at the end of a first half that saw Westmeath register eight wides.
Barrett’s goal in the 18th minute helped to provide the buffer, as the corner forward punched the ball to the net after Niamh Hegarty’s long-range free bounced back into play off the crossbar.
Westmeath did start well, a pair of Leona Archibald frees putting them two points clear, but Donegal were back level by the seventh minute.
[adrotate group=”35″]Karen Hegarty kicked an eighth-minute point for Westmeath but they wouldn’t score again until the final minute of the half.
Donegal took over, hitting 1-5 without reply and that proved a match-winning platform.
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