Colm Anthony Mc Fadden battles well to hold on to this ball in Ballysannon on Sunday evening. Donegal eventually won on a scoreline of 1-19 to 3-07. Photo Brian McDaid
At one stage at Fr Tierney Park, it appeared that Donegal were going to lap Louth they were that far ahead in this National League Division Two game.
But a combination of laid back play and no less that three goals from the Wee County, saw this turn into a much closer affair than it should have been.
Donegal romped into the lead and led by a massive 0-12 to 0-1 after 31 minutes in front of an official crowd of 3,600.
Scores from Michael Murphy, Com McFadden, Rory Kavanagh, Christy Toye, Dermot Molloy and Declan Walsh made it look like a masterclass in point-taking rather than a competitive league encounter.
The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped by two black cards handed to Dessie Finnegan and Eoin O’Connor.
Christy Toye and Leon Thompson go high to win this ball in the game in Ballyshannon on Sunday against Louth. Photo Brian McDaid
Louth managed to snatch a fortunate goal as Paul Durkan dropped a ball to allow Shane Lennon to nip in to make it 0-13 to 1-1 at the break.
You simply couldn’t see a way back at that stage.
And almost twenty minutes into the second half, things hadn’t changed that much.
Donegal had added some more points to their tally reflected on a scoreline of 0-16 to 1-3.
But Brian White and Paddy Keenan ripped up that script as they both both the Donegal net as Louth played a direct brand of football and exposed the home defence.
Suddenly it was a three point game and Donegal fans were left wondering if they were about to witness one of the biggest implosions under Jim McGuinness.
Patrick Mc Brearty in control for Donegal in Ballyshannon against Louth. Photo Brian McDaid
Delcan Walsh helped to steady the ship a minute later as he found the Louth net with a great strike to put six points between the teams again.
McFadden, Murphy Kavanagh and Molloy helped add more points to make sure that daylight stayed between the two sides.
Worringly however was the fact that Louth continued to breach the home defence on occasion with apparent ease and could have had at least one other goal.
Louth continued to press hard until the final whistle and Donegal, to their credit, defended well in numbers when they needed to.
The final scoreline read Donegal 1-19 to 3-7.
What odds would Paddy Power have given on that at half-time?
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