Donegal got a crucial victory as they beat Kildare 2-11 to 1-09 in the Allianz National League Division 1 in MacCumhaill Park this afternoon.
Late first half goals from Paddy McBrearty and and Ryan McHugh gave the home side a comfortable lead at half time but Kildare started coming back quick in the second half.
After a long spell without any points for Declan Bonner’s side, Michael Langan got 2 important scores along with Conor and Shane O’Donnell.
Stephen McMenamin made his return from injury as a late sub but Declan Bonner will have more concerns as Michael Murphy and Jason McGee both came off injured.
Conor O’Donnell got the first point of the game but Jimmy Hyland scored from a mark in Kildare’s first advance up the pitch.
Jason McGee scored after being played in by Paddy McBrearty but Hyland once again levelled the scoring.
Two points from play gave Donegal a lead as McBrearty and Michael Langan got a point each while Caolan Ward made a great tackle to stop Daniel Flynn.
Padraic Tuohy scored a free for Kildare as the Lilywhites were finding space in the Donegal defence.
McBrearty again turned provider for O’Donnell to make it 0-5 to 0-3.
Shaun Patton made a great save from a Kildare man flick from a Paul Cribbin ball into a dangerous area but minutes later a long shot dropped short and Hyland punched the ball into the net to give the Leinster side the lead.
Langan scored after pinpoint strike that went straight over the black spot to level the game and McBrearty scored a goal to give the hosts a three point lead.
Paddy Woodgate scored the second free of the game
Ryan McHugh made amends for a couple wides with a point and made it even better moments later as he scored a goal just before half-time to make it 2-7 to 1-4.
Kildare corner back Ryan Houlihan scored quickly into the second half and another free from Woodgate before a super score from Kevin Flynn got Kildare right back into the game.
O’Donnell got an important score and there was a lull in the game as neither team got a score until 10 minutes later when Hyland scored a free to make it 2-8 to 1-8.
Donegal got a badly needed scored through Michael Langan which may have been the crucial score to swing the momentum as Shane O’Donnell gave Declan Bonner’s side a 5 point lead in his league debut coming on as a sub.
Hyland got his fourth point of the game but Langan once again proved his importance to the team with a great score to end the game 2-11 to 1-09.
Donegal will travel to Kerry for the next league game in Killarney in two weeks.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Caolan Ward, Brendan McCole, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Ryan McHugh (1-01), Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Tony McClenaghan, Paul Brennan, Jason McGee (0-01), Caolan McMonagle, Peadar Mogan, Conor O’Donnell (0-03), Michael Langan (0-04,3f), Paddy McBrearty (1-01), Michael Murphy.
Subs: Charlie McGuinness for Murphy (22 mins), Shane O’Donnell (0-01) for Jason McGee (half-time),Ethan O’Donnell for McClenaghan (50 mins), Stephen McMenamin for Odhran McFadden Ferry (70 mins)
Kildare: Aaron O’Neill; Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan (0-01), Jack Sargent, James Murray, Tony Archbold, Kevin Feely, Kevin Flynn (0-01), Padraic Tuohy (0-01f), Paul Cribbin, Ben McCormack, Paddy Woodgate (0-02f), Daniel Flynn, Jimmy Hyland (1-04,1f).
Subs: Aaron Masterson for Feely (23 mins), Neil Flynn for McCormack (50 mins), Paddy McDermott for Tuohy (61 mins)
