Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Monday 17°CTuesday 17°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
GAA

Relief for Rochford as Mayo find a way to survive again

written by Chris McNulty March 25, 2018
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Mayo showed again their cause is never lost on a day when Kevin McLoughlin, again, struck the crucial point to continue their Division 1 stay into its 22nd year.

By Chris McNulty in Ballybofey

They arrived in Ballybofey on the back of a 2-14 to 0-8 tanking by Tyrone and without five All-Stars.

Mayo have never won a League game on Donegal soil and landed at MacCumhaill Park with Donegal seeking to take their unbeaten sequence at the venue to a 20th game.

With the sights of summer coming into view, McLoughlin swung over a late equalising point. A year ago, McLoughlin saved Mayo at the death with a winning score against Tyrone.

“I genuinely felt that if we got the margin down to two we would go right to the clock,” Rochford said, after an exciting tie in front of 11,250; an attendance that added a real Championship feeling to the occasion.

“No doubt there was a big sigh of relief. At times we played reasonably well – the first fifteen minutes being obvious.

“I think we gave the momentum to Donegal as much as they taking it back. Just turned over the ball so easily in the top quarter of the field and we were punished: we found it hard to deal with their deep lying runners like Frank McGlynn and Eoghan Ban Gallagher.

“I thought that we remedied that a little in the second half. That ensured that there wasn’t a bigger margin than three points with the game coming to the end.”

Mayo are the masters of the great escapes in the League. They’ve been a Division 1 side since 1998 and McLoughlin’s point, as well as condemning Donegal to the drop, keeps intact that run.

“Last week’s game against Tyrone was an outlier to us,” the Mayo boss said.

“Tyrone were really impressive but I thought we assisted that in some of our decision making and our use of the ball. And we were below par on the things we pride ourselves on – our work rate and tackling and a team like Tyrone, with such good runners, will punish.

“So you take that and try and  learn from it. I don’t think we nailed it perfectly but there was an improvement.

“The things that were important-  one was getting a result and two well, part of the reason that I am back in management is that there is huge character and determination in that group.

“New guys, Eoin O’Donoghue, Conor Loftus, new leaders in the team today. They stood up and that is really pleasing.”

Relief for Rochford as Mayo find a way to survive again was last modified: March 25th, 2018 by Chris McNulty
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
2018 Allianz League Division 1Declan BonnerdonegalKevin McLoughlinMayoStephen Rochford
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Dublin legend Michael Darragh MacAuley makes surprise...

13 hours ago

Donegal Ladies defeated by Armagh as relegation...

1 day ago

Donegal Ladies gearing up for relegation playoff...

2 days ago

Shane O’Donnell in running for Player of...

2 days ago

Mayo star Lee Keegan believes Donegal still...

6 days ago

Former Donegal coach Rory Gallagher launches High...

6 days ago

Tickets for Donegal’s All-Ireland semi-final on sale...

6 days ago

Shane O’Donnell nominated for Player of the...

7 days ago

Donegal to face Meath in All-Ireland semi...

7 days ago

Shane O’Donnell carrying “confidence” after Man of...

1 week ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.