Susanne White holds her nerve to help Donegal to share of points against Kerry

Donegal pegged back Kerry in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey, as Susanne White held her nerve late on to split the spoils in this TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 2 opener. 

In dreadful conditions, nothing separated the sides at half-time as a Caoimhe Keon goal helped send Donegal in level at 1-3 to 0-6.

Niamh Ní Chonchúir had opened the scoring for the visitors but with Keon rattling the net for Donegal just four minutes in, the hosts stole an early march. 

Anna Galvin and Danielle O’Leary then managed to tie matters up for a settled Kerry by the tenth minute. 

Katie Dowds did hit back for Donegal but three Kingdom overs on the bounce, off the boots of O’Leary, Lorraine Scanlon and captain Niamh Carmody helped open up a two-point advantage. 

On 18 minutes, home markswoman White was on target from a free to leave it 0-6 to 1-2. 

But with conditions continuing to deteriorate and underfoot now extremely difficult, that was the end of the scoring action right up until the half-time hooter as Aussie Rules star and Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin squared it. 

Kerry jumped two clear once more at the start of the second stanza as Carmody and Scanlon lobbed over. 

Another White free kept Donegal on the visitors’ coattails but a smart Emma Dineen clip, on the three-quarter hour mark doubled Kerry’s upper hand once more. 

Nearing the final five minutes, the away side still led 0-9 to 1-4 but a searing Dowds break from the back saw her drive at goal just clear the crossbar. And with White nailing that pressure free at the end, the points were split.  

Donegal scorers: Donegal: Susanne White 0-3,3f; Caoimhe Keon 1-0; Niamh McLaughlin 0-1; Katie Dowds 0-2. 

Kerry scorers: Niamh Carmody 0-2,1f; Danielle O’Leary 0-2; Anna Galvin 0-2; Niamh Ní Chonchúir 0-1; Lorraine Scanlon 0-1. Emma Dineen 0-1. 

Donegal: Clare Friel; Shannon McLaughlin, Abigail Temple Asokuh, Evelyn McGinley; Katie Dowds, Niamh Boyle, Tara Hegarty; Róisín Rodgers, Niamh Carr; Caoimhe Keon, Niamh McLaughlin, Amy Boyle Carr; Susanne White, Katy Herron, Katie Long.

Subs: Eva Gallagher for A Boyle Carr (36), Blaithnaid McLaughlin for K Long (48), Jodie McFadden for N Carr (55), 

Kerry: Ciara Butler; Eilís Lynch, Kayleigh Cronin, Ciara Murphy; Aishling O’Connell, Deirdre Kearney, Aoife Dillane; Mary O’Connell, Lorraine Scanlon; Niamh Carmody, Katie Brosnan, Anna Galvin; Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Emma Dineen, Danielle O’Leary.

Subs: Hannah O’Donoghue for K Brosnan (44), Amy Harrington for M O’Connell (44), Siofra O’Shea for N Ní Chonchúir (49), Laoise Ní Mhuircheartaigh for E Dineen (57),  

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway)