Louth3-10
Report: Alan Foley
Photographs: Brian McDaid
Donegal made it two wins from two in Division 3B of the National Hurling League when they defeated Louth at O’Donnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
The home side, who beat Tyrone in their
opening fixture last weekend, started slowly and it was the Leinster team who led at half-time by a point.
Donegal came good, though, in the second half, despite having to line out for the last 12 minutes with only 14 men after the dismissal of centre-back Joe Boyle for a second yellow.
There were a couple of defensive worries with the concession of three goals, but Donegal can be content that they have now put together two decent results on the bounce with their next fixture a taxing one in Fingal in two weeks’ time.
Wesley Morrissey scored the opening goal for Louth on 15 minutes after showing more conviction in the battle to Ronan Byrne’s long ball into the square with Donegal goalkeeper Paul O’Brien. The corner-forward was left with a routine tap into the net to consolidate his county’s promising opening.
That goal made it 1-4 to 0-3 for the visitors, adding to Gerard Smyth’s four frees. Donegal, who had already hit five wides by then, had Niall Campbell’s two placed balls and an excellent score from Ciaran Mathewson from the acutest of angles to thank for their total.
The concession of the goal, to the contentment of the home support, did kick Andrew Wallace’s outfit into action and Burt clubman Campbell, with another free, preceded points from Jamsie Donnelly and Mathewson.
On 19 minutes, Niall Campbell gave a fine individual run that included some competent juggling of the sliotar the finish it merited when he shot across the brows of Louth goalkeeper Eddie McArdle and into the top corner to put Donegal three up, 1-7 to 1-4.
However, just when Donegal appeared to have grappled control of the game, corner-back Barry Friel was adjudged to have fouled Morrissey and Smyth slammed home the penalty in the 29th minute and Louth went in 2-6 to 1-8 in front.
The side managed by Paddy Kelly doubled their advantage at the start of the second 35 minutes when Smyth was again on target with a free, but it merely acted a prelude to Donegal’s purple patch, which saw seven successive points clocked over without reply.
Ardal McDermott, substitute Danny Cullen, who replaced injured skipper Colm Breathnach before half-time, Donnelly, Niall Campbell with three and an Enda McDermott chipped in for the turnaround, which put Donegal 1-16 to 2-8 in front. Points were then traded at either end, with Mickey McCann, McDermott and Mathewson on the mark for Donegal, while Derek Hogan’s couple of points were added to by Diarmuid Murphy.
And even though Donegal lost Boyle to a second yellow card with 12 minutes left when he was cautioned for a second time after catching Murphy, who was crouching a little, high.
