Experimental Donegal suffer challenge defeat to Roscommon in Ballyshannon

In the end it was a much stronger Roscommon side that prevailed by a single point in this crisp encounter in Ballyshannon on Sunday.

In a real game of two halves, Donegal decisively won the first period of 40 on a score of 3-14 to 2-6 when both sides were at full strength.

It was a most impressive display from a team that was only really missing Steven McBride and Sean McVeigh.

Mickey McCann then decided to give his fringe players a run and they were not able to match a much stronger Roscommon side in the second period, hitting just 0-4 to their opponents’ tally of 2-10.

Roscommon had early overs from Adam Donnelly and Dara Finn. Sean Ward, who was very prominent, and Declan Coulter levelled matters as Donegal gradually asserted themselves.

Gerard Gilmore, Liam McKinney, Coulter, Ward and Jack O’Loughlin then eased the home side into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead with Finn Killion responding for the Rossies.

Josh Cronolly McGee found the net for Donegal and it took a great save from Roscommon keeper Enda Lawless to deny Gilmore a certain goal from his thundering volley in the 25th minute.

Gilmore and Brian MacIntyre landed further points before Gilmore swopped on a loosed ball and netted with aplomb.

Roscommon hit back with a goal of their own from Conor Kennelly and Cian Mulry added another before Donegal’s Ruairi Campbell hit a third maximum for the home side.

MacIntyre and Mulry swapped points as Donegal turned over leading by 3-14 to 2-6 at the break.

McCann ran his bench for the second half and Donegal immediately looked a little lightweight as Roscommon took full advantage.

Mickey Joe Egan, James Dowling and Trevor Fallon all got on the score sheet as the weakened hosts struggled to keep up with them.

Egan was quickly off the mark with some well-struck points while Mulry and Conor Murray were also on target as the new-look Donegal took time to settle.

Egan and Murray netted in the final quarter with Donegal replying through Ryan Hilferty and Dean Harvey.

But Roscommon finished strongly with late Cian Mulry and Fallon goals to seal victory.

Donegal welcomed back Christopher McDermott and gave run outs to Cormac Finn and Oisin Kelly along with Michael Donaghue on a day when their main players showed they have lost none of their hunger or sharpness.

Donegal scorers: Gerard Gilmore 1-3; Ruairi Campbell 1-0; Josh Cronolly McGee 1-0; Sean Ward 0-4; Declan Coulter 0-2; Brian MacIntyre 0-2; Ryan Hilferty 0-2; Dean Harvey 0-2; Liam McKinney 0-2; Jack O’Loughlin 0-1.

Roscommon scorers: Cian Mulry 1-3;  Connell Kennelly 1-0; Trevor Fallon 1-1 Cian Mulry 1-1 Finn Killion 0-3,2f; Conor Murray 0-3; Mickey Joe Egan 0-3; Adam Donnelly 0-2.

Donegal: Luke White; Oisin Kelly, Christopher McDermott, Jack O’Loughlin; Conor O’Grady, Danny Cullen, Cormac Finn; Declan Coulter, Brian MacIntyre; Sean Ward, Liam McKinney, Gerard Gilmore; Ruairi Campbell, Ronan McDermott, Josh Cronolly McGee. 

Subs used: Dylan Lafferty, Kevin Curran, Ciaran Bradley, Padraig Doherty, Conor Griffin, Gavin Browne, Conor McGettigan, Dean Harvey, Michael Donaghue, Fergal Delaney, Ryan Hilferty, James Hartnett, Ciaran Porter.

Roscommon: Enda Lawless; Mark Ward, Tim Gilmore, Matt Comerford; Brendan Mulry, Conor Cosgrove, James Hoey; Dara Finn, Jack McGahon; Finn Killion, Conor Murray, Cian Mulry; Adam Donnelly, Connell Kennelly, Daniel Staunton. 

Subs used: James Dowling, Mickey Joe Egan, Trevor Fallon.

Referee: Eugene Drummond (Aodh Ruadh)