DONEGAL LADIES began life back in Division 1 of the Lidl Ladies National Football League in style today with an 11-point win over Armagh in Convoy.
Donegal 4-10 Armagh 0-11
By Charlie Collins, Donegal Sport Hub
Micheál Naughton’s team were on song with Buncrana’s Paula McGrory scoring two first half goals and green flags raised in the second half by Amber Barrett and Roisin Friel.
Donegal also saw goalkeeper Laura Gallagher save a penalty in the second half, thwarting Aimee Mackin.
Naughton’s team won Division 2 last spring and are back in the top flight – and they showed they mean business here with a fine win.
Donegal got off to a dream start as McGrory finished to the net in the opening minute after a brilliant five-player move.
Karen Guthrie had opened the scoring after 30 seconds and Micheál Naughton’s team bagged goal number two in the eighth minute. McLaughlin, Guthrie and Grainne Houston were all involved and McGrory applied the finish, firing past Armagh goalkeeper Caroline O’Hare.
Donegal were all guns blazing and were only denied a third goal by a block from Mairead Tennyson. Geraldine McLaughlin fed Termon colleague Roisin Friel, but hwer shot was kept out by Tennyson.
Armagh themselves went close to a goal, but Amy Mulholland was denied by Laura Gallagher when one-on-one with the Donegal ‘keeper.
Guthrie tagged on a free and Friel landed an excellent score from long range as Donegal led 2-4 to 0-4 at the switchover.
McLaughlin (2) and McGrory added points for the hosts early in the second half and goal number three arrived 12 minutes into the second half.
Katy Herron delivered a long ball into the mixer, McLaughlin flicked it on and Friel hammered to the net.
Donegal added another goal on 52 minutes when a long ball into the forwards was siezed on by sub Barrett and she slotted home.
Armagh were denied again when Gallagher got down to save a penalty from the Orchard’s Aimee Mackin, who scored five points in the second period.
Donegal: Laura Gallagher, Treasa Doherty, Emer Gallagher, Kelly Wilson; Therese McCafferty, Nicole McLaughlin, Kaneshia McKinney; Katie Herron, Karen Guthrie (0-4, 2f); Grainne Houston, Niamh Hegarty, Eilish Ward; Roisin Friel (1-1), Geraldine McLaughlin (0-3), Paula McGrory (2-1). Subs: Ciara Hegarty for McKinney (45), Amber Barrett (1-0) for Friel (45), Caroline Gallagher for Guthrie (55), Blathnaid McLaughlin for McGrory (55), Shannon McGroddy (0-1) for McCafferty (58), Kate Keaney for N.McLaughlin (60), Niamh McDaid for Houston (60).
Armagh: Caroline O’Hare; Caoimhe Moran, Mairead Tennyson, Sharon Reed; Niamh Marley, Clodagh McCambridge, Megan Sheridan; Caoline O’Hanlon (0-3), Blaithinn Mackin, Aoife McCoy, Shauna Grey, Amy Mulholland; Aimee Mackin (0-6, 2f), Lauren McConville, Fionnuala McKenna (0-2, 2f). Subs: Colleen McKenna for Marley (10), Catherine Marley for Mulholland (38), Sinead Finnegan for Grey (45), Marion McGuinness for Reed (52).
Referee: Conor Doureen (Cavan).
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