All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final

Donegal 2-22
Louth 0-12

By Michael McMullan
in Ballybofey

DONEGAL booked their spot in Monday morning’s All-Ireland quarter-final draw with victory over Louth on Sunday at a blustery MacCumhaill Park.

A second half goal by Ciarán Thompson broke Louth’s resolved after they’ve shaved a half-time deficit to a single point.

The home side had the breeze and led early on with points from Mogan and Conor O’Donnell before Paul Mathews opened the Louth account.

Murphy (free), Gallen and Roarty put Donegal 0-5 to 0-1 ahead before a 16-minute scoreless spell.

Oisín Gallen blazed a goal chance wide before three Ryan Burns points levelled the game at 0-5 each.

Gallen and McDonnell traded points before Donegal hit the net two minutes before the break. A Patton kick-out found Gallen over the top with O’Donnell making no mistake.

Donegal had a chance to stretch their lead but a failed attack in hooter time led to a fourth Burns point, Donegal 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.

Jason McGee and Conor Grimes games in at half-time with Murphy missing two early chances in the first phases of the half.

When he fouled Nally at the other end, Mulroy kicked his first score of the day to make it a one-point game.

Roarty pointed after a McHugh turnover and Gallen’s third gave Donegal some breathing space, 1-8 to 0-8 after 43 minutes.

When Hugh McFadden plucked a Louth kick-out, Murphy’s two pointer opened more daylight, putting Donegal six up.

It got better for Donegal when Ciarán Thompson hit a 50^th minute goal on his 50^th consecutive senior championship appearance.

Langan added a two pointer and with Louth down to 14 men, Donegal turned the screw to lead 2-16 to 0-9 with 15 minutes to play.

Shane O’Donnell fisted Donegal’s next score as they eased towards victory and a place in the last eight.

Scorers for Donegal: Oisín Gallen 0-5, Conor O’Donnell 1-2, Michael Langan 0-3 (1tp), Michael Murphy 0-3 (1tp, 1f), Ciarán Thompson 1-0, Dáire Ó Baoill, Finnbarr Roarty 0-2 each, Peadar Mogan, Caolan McColgan, Hugh McFadden, Shane O’Donnell and Niall O’Donnell and 0-1 each

Scorers for Louth: Ryan Burns 0-4, Sam Mulroy 0-3 (1f), Dara McDonnell, Craig Lennon, Peter Lynch, Ciaran Downey and Paul Mathews 0-1 each

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Ciarán Moore; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Caolan McColgan, Ciarán Thompson, Shane O’Donnell; Conor O’Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisín Gallen
Subs: Hugh McFadden for McGee (HT), Dáire Ó Baoill for McHugh (49), Patrick McBrearty for Murphy (51), Odhrán McFadden Ferry for Gallagher (54), Niall O’Donnell for C O’Donnell (54)

Yellow card: M Murphy (39

Louth: Niall O’Donnell; Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Emmet Carolan, Peter Lynch, Conall McKeever; Tommy Durnin Dara McDonnell; Daire Nally, Paul Mathews, Craig Lennon; Ciaran Downey, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns
Subs: Conor Grimes for Carolan (HT), Sean Callaghan for Durnin (49), Ryan Walsh for Mathews (51), Kieran McArdle for Lennon (53), James Maguire for Burns (56)

Black card: P Lynch (51)
Yellow card: D McKenny (32)

Attendance: 15, 369

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)