Donegal ladies pulled off a big upset to defeat All-Ireland champions Cork and continue their quest for the semi-finals in Division 1.
Donegal 3-16 Cork 0-12
Micheál Naughton’s team had 13 points to spare in Mallow with their best result yet in what has been a fine first campaign back in the top flight.
Yvonne McMonagle and Geraldine McLaughlin did the bulk of the damage here, the deadly duo scoring 3-10 between them, with McMonagle bagging 2-4 and McLaughlin scoring 1-6.
McLaughlin, the captain, got Donegal off to a fine start when the Termon woman netted a penalty in the fifth minute.
It got even better for the Tir Chonaill women when the razor-sharp McMonagle finished to the net eight minutes later.
Niamh Hegarty tacked on a point and Donegal led by four.
Despite Grainne Houston being sin-binned late in the half, Donegal led 2-5 to 0-8 at the short whistle
Donegal had goalkeeper Aoife McColgan to thank for a penalty save from Rhona Ni Bhuachalla while McMonagle was thwarted by Martina O’Brien, the Cork number one as the Glenfin woman menaced through.
Seven minutes into the second half, McMonagle wouldn’t be denied as she fired home Donegal’s third goal and they were on their way to a famous win.
Donegal: Aoife McColgan; Treasa Doherty, Emer Gallagher, Nicole McLaughlin; Therese McCafferty, Ciara Hegarty, Kate Keaney; Katy Herron (0-1), Karen Guthrie (0-1); Yvonne McMonagle (2-4), Niamh Hegarty (0-2), Shannon McGroddy; Roisin Friel, Geraldine McLaughlin (1-6), Grainne Houston (0-1). Subs: Eilish Ward for Friel, Deirdre Foley for Keaney, Paula McGrory for Guthrie, Caroline Gallagher for McGroddy, Kaneshia McKinney for McCafferty, Lucy O’Flynn for G.McLaughlin.
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