Donegal Masters pick up another win with victory over Sligo

Francie Martin’s Donegal Masters picked up another two points with victory over Sligo in Collooney on Thursday night.

In a strange affair, Donegal led by eight points early in the second after a well worked Stephen Coyle goal and seemed to be in total control. At that stage they were 1-9 to 1-1 ahead and Sligo were so poor that it looked like it could be an embarrassing margin of defeat.

But similar to those intercounty challenge games which take place pre-season, Donegal began to use their bench and suddenly they lost all momentum, this despite being playing with the breeze.

Between the 40th and 57th minutes, Sligo took control to notch seven points and cut the lead to the minimum - 1-9 to 1-8. Donegal began putting their first teams back on the pitch and they managed to get a second goal, maybe a bit fortuitously. An effort for a point from Stephen Coyle dropped short and was played into the ‘square’ where Brian McLaughlin got the touch to the net.

The goal put a pin in the Sligo comeback balloon and they just managed one more point, a Peter Lyons free in the 61st minute, his effort for a goal skimming the crossbar.

Donegal were happy to hear the final whistle and it was a bit of a surprise that only one minute was added on.

They had dominated the first half against the breeze with Conor McShane, Stephen Coyle, Damien Browne and especially Nigel McGonagle and Gerard McBrearty to the fore.

They were given an early shock when Alan Keane saw his effort for a point end up in the back of the Donegal net, but the Sligo side would only add one more point in the half from John Marren on 24 minutes.

They did have a few wides from frees but it was Donegal who looked the superior side. The points began to flow after Stephen Coyle opened their account on 10 minutes. Nigel McGonagle and Gerard McBrearty, creating all sorts of problems for the Sligo rearguard, quickly added others with McBrearty having a goal on his mind for a split second.

Stephen Coyle pushed Donegal ahead for the first time from a free before Sligo equalised.

But it was Donegal who finished the half really well with points from Damien Browne (free), two in quick succession from Nigel McGonagle and another from Gavin McGinley for a 0-8 to 1-1 half-time lead.

They looked to be on their way to an easy win when Conor McShane and Stephen Coyle went through the middle. The ball reached Gerard McBrearty who crossed for Coyle to walk it into the net. Damien Browne added a quick point for an eight point lead on 40 minutes.

But then Sligo hit a big purple patch and points began to flow, especially from full-forward Peter Lyons who hit four (three frees). Other points came from Mark Burke, John Marren and Johnny Martyn to cut the lead to the minimum on 57 minutes.

They also had a goal chance on 54 minutes when Peter Lyons got into place in front of goal but blazed wide of the target.

Donegal needed a break and they got it with Brian McLaughlin’s goal to ease the pressure and it was enough to give them the win.

The Donegal and Sligo Masters teams pictured  after the game

Sligo scorers: Peter Lyons 0-5,4f; Alan Keane 1-0; John Marren 0-2; Mark Burke, Johnny Martyn 0-1 each.

Donegal scorers: Stephen Coyle 1-2,1f; Brian McLaughlin 1-0; Nigel McGonagle 0-3; Damien Browne 0-2,1f; Gerard McBrearty, Gavin McGinley 0-1 each.

Sligo Masters: Darren Kearns; Damien Kelly, Mark Burke, Sean Stags; Enda Kelly, Colm Neary, Kevin Gallagher; Tony Taylor, Johnny Martin; Ogie Murphy, Shane Dunne, John Marren; Ian Rossiter, Peter Lyons, Alan Keane.

Interchange players: Pa Murphy, Enda Mitchell, Aiden Brennan, Brendan Tierney, Karl Hannon, Robert Nealon, Martin Nealon, John McGowan,  Patrick Gormley. 

Donegal Masters: Karl O’Brien; Paddy Joe Doohan, Eamon Ward, Enda Bonner; Nickey McGarrigle, Conor McShane, Martin Donaghey; Stephen Coyle, Brian Doherty; Benny Quinn, Eunan Keaveney, Nigel McGonagle; Gerard McBrearty, Brian McLaughlin, Damien Browne.

Interchange players: Eamon J McHugh, Antoine O’Hara, Steven Nairn, Ciaran Cunningham, Barry Nelis, Andrew McMullin, Diarmaid Slevin, Hugh Foy, Paul Gallagher, Paul McCrudden, Gavin McConnell, Gavin McGinley, Joe O’Donnell, Gary Gillen, Michael Canning, Laurence McMullan, Paul Patton.

Referee: Michael McGurl