The Donegal U17 Hurlers had their final group game outing in the Celtic Challenge this afternoon in Scarden playing Mayo.
Donegal 1-12 Mayo 2-09
Mayo hurling with a string breeze in their favour started well racing out to a four-point lead however, Donegal steadied with a brace of points from play.
With Donegal, struggling against the breeze to get the ball out of their half Mayo pounced with a well-worked goal to stretch out their lead again.
Donegal upped their intensity tackling hard and winning the breaking ball. Four answered points from Donegal closed the half.
Half time score Mayo 1-04 to Donegal 0-06.
The second half opened with both teams exchanging points.
However, Mayo stretched their lead with two points and then a goal when the Donegal defence failed to clear the sliotar.
Six points down with fifteen minutes to go Donegal had to dig deep.
Conor Gartland scored a great point.
Then Ruairi Campbell raced through to score a fine goal.
Mayo and Donegal then scored two points each. Three minutes to go and two points down Ronan Kelly broke into the Mayo square but had to kick a point with his hurley blocked.
Donegal then had a series of wides as they searched for an equaliser.
Calvin Aidoo then found the space to fire the equaliser over the bar. In injury, time Donegal drove forward looking to win but each chance flew wide.
Referee Michael Connolly presented Ciaran Mc Laughlin with the Donegal man of the match award. (Pictured).
Eunan O Donnell thoughts now turn to next Saturday’s knockout game (Opposition and Venue TBA).
Donegal Panel: Aidan Breathnach, Calvin Aidoo, Caolan O Neill, Ciaran Curran, Ciaran McLaughlin, Conor Gartland, Darius McColgan, David Carey, Dean Harvey, Frank Duffy, Gavin Forde, Jason McDaid, Kevin Curran, Liam Doherty, Mark Cannon, Mark Mulholland, Matthew Noonan, Michael Greene, Oran Duffy, Paraic Curran, Paul O Donnell, Peter Campbell, Peter Grant, Ronan Kelly, Ruairi Campbell, Russel Forde, Sean Doherty, Sean O Donnell, Tommie Lee Scully, Yarin McNeil
Management: Eunan O’Donnell, Tommy O’Neill and Daithi Roberts
