By Charlie Collins
Donegal League 4 v 2 Leinster League
The Donegal League produced another impressive performance to beat the Leinster Senior League at their headquarters in Ballyare, bouncing back after losing a 2-0 lead to win 4-2 in a very competitive and entertaining game.
Donegal had the better chances, Adrian Delap pulled a shot wide from the edge of the box in the third minute and after Michael Funston had sent him through with a lovely pass, Edward O Reilly was denied by an excellent save by Scott Kavanagh in the twelfth minute.
Two minutes later the visitors almost snatched the lead when some slack defending gave Lee Fallam a chance but his effort was weak to the relief of the home team. The home side had another great chance in the 25th minute when O Reilly crossed to Shane McNamee but he was denied by another excellent save by Kavanagh.
A minute later the visitors were awarded a penalty when Joel Gorman was adjudged to have fouled Dean Sutcliff but Reece Kavanagh’s effort from the spot was well saved by Blake Forkan. Edward O Reilly was denied again by Scott Kavanagh but two minutes later Donegal took the lead. Joel Gorman’s free-kick was poorly defended and dropped to Matthew Crossan who’s lob come shot caught keeper Kavanagh off his line and although he got a hand to the ball he couldn’t prevented dropping into the net, 1-0 to the Donegal League and deserved lead which they took into the half-time break.
Edward O Reilly almost gave Donegal the perfect start to the second-half when he spotted keeper Kavanagh off his line but the keeper just about did enough to get a hand to the ball and deflect it for a corner. Five minutes into it was 2-0, Adrian Delap sent Michael Funston away on a right, he held off Kyle Murphy and his low cross found Edward O Reilly who had a simple tap in at the far post, Donegal in the driving seat but plenty of time left in the game.
And the visitors hit back quickly as they needed to do when they were awarded another penalty, keeper Forkan making contact with substitute Luke Dunne, Scott Cleary hammered the ball to the net, game on again.
Four minutes later it really was on when Leinster equalized, Forkan denied another substitute Synott Lawlor but Dean Sutcliff followed up to shoot home 2-2 and now anyone’s game.
Back came Donegal, Paul Boyle headed in Joel Gorman’s corner the 65th minute after great work by O Reilly and seven minutes later it was 4-2 when Gorman’s free-kick from near halfway deceived everyone and flew into the net, the Donegal League in control again.
Both teams introduced a number of substitutions and both created a few reasonable opportunities but couldn’t convert any as Donegal held on for a most deserved victory and a semi-final spot in the Oscar Traynor Cup.
Donegal League: Blake Forkan, Jamie Doherty, Brendan McCafferty, (Kevin O Donnell (70mins), Paul Boyle, Matthew Crossan, Joel Gorman, Adrian Delap, Mark Forker (Christy Conaghan 77mins), Michael Funston (Zach Gorman 65mins), Eddie O’Reilly (Nathan Plumb 80mins), Shane McNamee (Lee McMonagle 88mins)
Leinster Senior League: Scott Kavanagh, Gerard Heffernan (Lewis Burdock 73mins), Kyle Murphy, Calvin Rogers, Ben Carroll, Conor Mooney, Jono Donoghue (Synott Lawlor 55mins), Scott Cleary (Daniel Cully 80mins), Lee Fullam (Luke Dunne h/t), Reece Kavanagh, Dean Sutcliff (Ben Coughlan 79mins). Referee: Barry Maxwell.
