THREE PADDY HANNIGAN goals and a 10-point comeback weren’t enough to save Donegal from relegation in their Allianz NHL promotion-relegation play-off against Roscommon in Ballina this evening.
Donegal 4-9 Roscommon 3-13
It means that Ardal McDermott’s side – who came back from 10 points down before leading and eventually losing – will drop to Division 3A next season, with Roscommon, who won that particular division this year, going up to 2B.
It was the Connacht side who were 1-6 to 0-5 up at the break at St James’ Park, with Adrian Murphy scoring the first of his three goals.
Murphy added two more goals by the 39th minute to put Roscommon 10 points up at 3-6 to 0-5.
Donegal showed serious resolve and Hannigan posted three second half goals to bring his side right back into it.
With seven minutes to go, Ciaran Mathewson levelled it with a fourth Donegal goal at 3-10 to 4-7.
Both sides traded the lead over and back and over again but in the end, it was Roscommon who came out on top by a single point.
More to follow …
