CAPPRY ROVERS MAINTAINED their five-point lead at the top of the Temple Domestic Appliances Division 1 with a last minute equaliser at Donegal Town.
Donegal Town 1-1 Cappry Rovers
It looked as though the home team at the Hospital Field were about to close the gap on their visitors having led through a Conor McMonagle goal, only for Brendan McLaughlin to fire a late leveller for Cappry.
It means that the side from north of Barnesmore are now five ahead with just three games to go and Donegal Town lead the chasing pack.
Donegal went close to the opening goal when Declan Brown headed just off target in the fourth minute, while Stephen McDermott was similarly close with a shot at the other end four minutes later.
Joe McIntyre, on 24 minutes, should’ve put the hosts in front when he got onto a pass from Daniel McHugh and whilst clear, got the touch on it before advancing goalkeeper Conor McBride only for the ball to slip wide.
After a scoreless first half, McIntyre went close again for Donegal Town, only to see his shot following a turn blocked by Gavin Reilly saved by McBride.
McBride, the Cappry goalkeeper, then made a stop from a free-kick from McHugh.
The breakthrough finally came some 18 minutes from time. Sean Graham’s shot was blocked only for it to fall to McMonagle, who hammered into the bottom corner from just inside the area to put Donegal Town 1-0 up.
Things got competitive from then on – even more so in actual fact – although referee James Malseed kept things under control.
Aaron Kelly from Cappry though he’d pulled his team level from an 86th minute corner only for Stephen Curneen, the Donegal Town substitute, to clear off the line.
However, in the last minute of the 90 the league leaders got on terms when McLaughlin drove into to roof of the Donegal Town net from seven yards to claim a vital point.
Donegal Town: Eamon McGinley; Bryton Maf-Tranz (Stephen Curneen half-time), Danny McGarrigle, Stephen Rodden, Declan Brown; Ben Sweeney, Raymie McGroary, Stephen Graham, Joe McIntyre; Daniel McHugh, Conor McMonagle.
Cappry Rovers: Conor McBride; Aaron Kelly, Darren McGowan, Darren O’Leary, Gavin Reilly; Alan Gethins (Leo Gallagher 90), Patrick McNulty, Stephen McDermott (Ronan McNamee 70), Brendan McLaughlin; Calvin Bradley, Gerard Melaugh (Ronan McHugh 76).
Referee: James Malseed.
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