Donegal seal victory to secure championship status for 2025

Donegal will be playing senior championship football in 2025 following their dramatic one-point relegation play-off win over the All-Ireland Intermediate champions Kildare in Breffni Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Despite losing at half-time, John McNulty’s came out fighting, and landed four points to Kildare’s two in the final 30 minutes, to see them out for the win, in what was an exciting game of championship football. 

Kildare started brightly with Neasa Dooley knocking over the first score after playing the advantage and kicking it over after two minutes. 

Susanne White would ping over back-to-back points, the first from a 13-metre free on the fourth minute before a patient bit of play afforded the corner-forward to get on the end of what was a fine score moments later. 

Kildare were unfortunate not to have two goals in the opening 10 minutes, but Donegal goalkeeper Clare Friel was at her best and pulled off two point-blank saves, first from Ruth Sargent, and then the second from Leah Doran after a lovely ball was played into her on the top of the ‘D’. 

The Lilywhite would level matters on the 10th minute with Róisín Byrne striking over a free which hit the post, before bouncing off the crossbar to fall over.  

But then the Leinster side eventually found their grove and would seem much more comfortable on the ball, in what were horrendous conditions in the first half, as substitute Erin Brereton Foley found space on the loop to fire over her side’s third point. 

While Kildare held the majority of the possession, Donegal reverted to their defensive shape that we saw so much of this season, which resulted in last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate champions forcing two shots wide, while three dropped into Friel’s hands. 

Donegal’s patience eventually paid off as they finally forced a Kildare turnover and charged in numbers down the field on the attack, with fullback Abigail Temple Asokuh levelling matter and landing her side’s first score in 18 minutes, before White kicked over back-to-back frees to leave the scoreline 0-5 to 0-3 on the 27th minute for McNulty’s team. 

Kildare were determined to hit the front before half-time as they inserted a burst of energy into their play as they kicked over three points on the bounce with captain Grace Clifford leading the way with the first score, before Foley kicked over her second and third point of the day to lead 0-6 to 0-5 at the break. 

With the breeze to their advantage, Donegal levelled the match at the start of the second half with Katie Herron sliding through the Kildare defense to fire over. 

White would increase her side’s advantage from a free on the 40th minute as Donegal found their purple patch but only remained one in front as the intensity in the match increased, with neither side giving up possession easily. 

The importance of possession paid off, with Amy Boyle Carr kicking over the Kildare defence to hit her first of the afternoon as the third quarter came to an end with White landing her sixth of the day from a fisted point as Donegal led by three. 

Donegal and Kildare both traded goal chances but were denied by the goalkeepers, with both Niamh McLaughlin and Doran failing to raise green flags. 

Kildare would find their first score of the second half on the 52nd minute with Byrne striking over a free, before following it up with a second dead-ball point two minutes later to make it a one-point game with five minutes remaining. 

Lara Gilbert was extremely unfortunate to receive a yellow card and be sent to the sin bin with four minutes left on the clock when referee Eddie Cuthbert deemed the half-back entered the tackle with her shoulder as Donegal gained the advantage. 

However, this didn’t last long. With a minute remaining and trailing by one point, Kildare went on the attack forcing Caoimhe Keon to pull down her opposite number forcing her to sit out the remainder of the match, but Donegal held on for the win as they came out of Cavan the victors.  

Scorers – Donegal: Susanne White 0-6, 4fs; Amy Boyle Carr, Katie Herron and Abigail Temple Asokuh 0-1 each. Kildare: Róisín Byrne 3fs, and Erin Brereton Foley 0-3 each; Neasa Dooley and Grace Clifford 0-1 each. 

Donegal: Clare Friel; Shannon McLaughlin, Abigail Temple Asokuh, Evelyn McGinley; Katie Dowds, Niamh Boyle, Tara Hegarty; Roisin Rodgers, Eva Gallagher; Caoimhe Keon, Niamh McLaughlin, Amy Boyle Carr; Susanne White, Katie Herron, Niamh Carr. Subs: Blathnaid McLaughlin for Dowds (40 mins), Katie Long for Gallagher (53 mins). 

Kildare: Anna Dunlea; Fiona Troute, Alex Reynolds, Aoife Clifford; Ellie O’Toole, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilbert; Grace Clifford, Leah Doran; Claire Sullivan, Neasa Dooley, Mia Doherty; Ellen Dowling, Róisín Byrne, Aoife Rattigan. Subs: Erin Brereton Foley for Sargent (10 mins), Niamh Farrelly for Rattigan (40 mins), Sarah Munnelly for Sullivan (45 mins). 

Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down)