By Charlie Collins
Donegal 0-21 v 0-13 Mayo
Level at half-time Donegal gave an excellent second-half performance to take the points against Mayo in ideal conditions at O Donnell Park, Letterkenny.
Both these teams became their Nicky Rackard Cup campaigns with impressive victories, Donegal winning away in Armagh while Mayo were much too strong for Monaghan in Castlebar. Both teams would be seen as potential winners of this year’s competition and although a defeat in this game wouldn’t be seen as a disaster, with three rounds of games still to come, a victory would certainly be a boost for either side.
Donegal gave a first start in quite some time to Declan Coulter and named the experience Danny Cullen among the substitutes. The home team got off to a flying start with points from Gerry Gilmore, goalkeeper Luke White’s long range free and Ruairi Campbell but Mayo replied with three in a row from Eoin Delaney, and full-backs Oisín Greally and Luke Conner – 0-03 apiece after eight minutes.
Gerry Gilmore put Donegal ahead again with a super point from out wide on the left but goalkeeper converted from a long range free to level it up again. Gilmore and Liam McKinney points put Donegal two ahead but Mayo hit back in style with three excellent points from Liam Lavin, Cormac Phillips and Shane Boland to lead for the first time, 0-07 to 0-06
Back came Donegal with points from Oisín Grant and Gerry Gilmore’s fourth but just before halftime Liam Lavin got his second to leave it level at the break, 0-08 points apiece and all to play for.
The scoring pattern continued early in the second-half, goalkeeper Bobby Douglas converted three super long range scores but Liam McKinney, Declan Coulter and Gerry Gilmore replied for Donegal, 0-11 points apiece.
However from then to the end Donegal dominated this game. Gerry Gilmore scored three quick points, Conor Gartland pointed two in quick succession and Ruairi Campbell made it six in a row for the home team, 0-17 to 0-11 and in command.
Mayo added just two more points but Peter Kelly, Luke White, Liam McKinney and Sean Ward points saw Donegal through to an important win to make it two from two with Monaghan next up next week.
Donegal: Luke White (0-02f’s), Ciaran Curran, Stephen McBride, Declan Coulter (0-01), Stephen Gillespie, Sean McVeigh, Jack O’Loughlin, Gerry Gilmore (0-08), Conor O’Grady, Brian MacIntyre, Oisín Grant (0-01), Conor Gartland (0-02), Josh Cronolly McGee, Liam McKinney (0-03), Ruairi Campbell (0-02). Subs: Peter Kelly 0-01 for McGee Cronolly (43mins), Sean Ward (0-01) for McIntyre (50mins), Dean Harvey for Grant (58mins).
Mayo: Bobby Douglas (0-04f’s), Luke Connor (0-01), Oisin Greally (0-01), Conal Hession, Matthew Connor, David Kenny, Eoghan Collins, Adrian Phillips, John Heraty, Eoin Delaney (0-01), Cormac Phillips (0-02), Liam Lavin (0-02), Shane Boland (0-02), Sean Regan, Sean Kenny. Subs: Joe Burke for for Kenny (45mins), Michael Farrell for Regan (50mins), Conor Murray for Conner (53mins), Kealan Gallagher for Cormac Phillips (58mins), Evan Hearty for John Heraty (60mins). Referee: James Clarke (Cavan).
