ALLIANZ LEAGUE DIVISION 2 – RESULT DONEGAL 2-11, SLIGO 1-14 (DRAW)BRAVE DONEGAL came from behind to draw with Sligo in their Divison 2 league opener in Ballybofey tonight.
Stephen Griffin was the local hero, grabbing an equalising point with just 20 seconds to play.
Sligo had dominated the early play and were the better team at MacCumhaill Park as Tony Taylor’s point gave them a one point lead.
Donegal did eventually settle and when they did they they were soon ahead 0-3 to 0-1 helped by a Michael Murphy free and a point from Colm McFadden.
Both sides exchange scores before Dermot Molloy added second point of the evening from a 30-metre free after 23 minutes to leave the home side 0-5 to 0-3 up before Sligo drew level with scores from Mark Breheny and Adrian Marren, with the latter’s score a peach of a point after great work by Francis Quinn and Philip Green.
And then the turning point which was to see Donegal lose out – Kevin Mulhern was sent-off for a second bookable offence – within minutes Sligo went ahead and they went into the break two points ahead – 0-8 to Donegal’s 0-6.
In the second half Sligo soon took advantage of the extra man and Mark Breheny won the ball for the Yeats men, passing four Donegal defenders on his way to firing a shot at goal.
The re-bound fell to Sligo forward David Kelly who had the simple task of poking the ball over the line – giving Sligo a five point lead.
Within minutes however Donegal were gifted a goal of their own. Conor Davey handled the ball on the ground, giving Donegal a penalty chance.
Michael Murphy’s penalty was saved by Sligo keeper Greene but the Donegal man followed up and fired the ball home.
And with just minutes to go Sligo fired over two points – points which everyone thought would give them a victory.
But they hadn’t counted on the great Donegal fighting spirit.
Leo McCloone rounded Green to give the home side a vital goal – only to see Sligo’s Tony Taylor point a minute later to give the visitors a one point lead heading into added time.
But Donegal’s hero was Stephen Griffin who pointed with second left to give the home side the draw.
