Donegal hit back in style to overcome Monaghan for another impressive win in Division 3A.
Donegal 1-21 Monaghan 2-13
Ardal McDermott’s team trailed by four points at the break, but a fine second half saw the Tir Chonaill men take the win.
Monaghan, who had enjoyed an unblemished start to their campaign, began well and Donal Meegan fired home a goal in the fourth minute.
Meegan’s goal helped Monaghan to a 1-3 to no score lead.
The Farney were at it again in the 11th minute as Sean Leonard riffled past Paul Burns, the Dnegal goalkeeper.
Meegan was on song and Eanna Mac Suibhne landed two excellent points as Monaghan led 2-7 to 0-9 at the short whistle.
However, Donegal struck gold early in the second half as Ronan McDermott latched onto Kevin Campbell’s long ball and slotted to the net.
That borught Donegal to within a point and former Armagh All-Star Declan Coulter drilled over to draw Donegal level.
At one stage in the second half Donegal scored six points in a row as Lee Henderson, Coulter, Davin Flynn, Jack O’Loughlin and Stephen Gillespie all swung over.
Although Meegan was keeping Monaghan in touch, Donegal finished well with Coulter and Flynn on the mark.
Scorers: Donegal – L Henderson (7f) 0-8, D Flynn, D Coulter 0-5 each, R McDermott 1-0, J Boyle, J O’Loughlin, S Gillespie 0-1 each
Monaghan – D Meegan 1-9 (6f), S Leonard 1-0, E Mac Suibhne 0-2f, B McGuigan, T Campbell 0-1 each
Donegal: P Burns; D Grant, J Donnelly, P Doherty; J Boyle, J O’Loughlin, R Kee; D Cullen, L Henderson; D Flynn, K Campbell, D Coulter; B Lafferty, R McDermott, Enda McDermott. Subs: S Gillespie for E McDermott (55), N Cleary for B Lafferty (65).
Monaghan: P Bermingham; L McKenna, P Finnegan, B Flanagan; J Guinan, P Treanor, M Murphy; E Mac Suibhne C Meegan; Fergal Rafter, Tadhg Campbell, Conor Boyle; D Meegan, Sean Leonard, Brian McGuigan. Subs: N Garland for McKenna (16), B Connor for Guinan (55), E Leonard for C Boyle (61), P J Boyle for Leonard (65).
Ref: S Hynes (Galway).
