Donegal Ladies get off to perfect start in Division 1A opener

Donegal Ladies got off to a winning start in the NFL Division 1A opener against Galway with a three point win.

Donegal 0-10 Galway 0-7

Geraldine McLaughlin continued her 2021 All Star form with seven points, six from frees, while Karen Guthrie got two points.

Donegal controlled the first half and went into the break with a four point lead.

That lead could have been extended but McLaughlin had a penalty saved just before half-time.

Galway rallied in the second half but a couple of frees from McLaughlin and Guthrie kept Maxi Curran’s team in a safe lead while Katy Herron got a point from play.

Donegal started fast winning the throw-in and Geraldine McLaughlin drove forward before Donegal were awarded a free which McLaughlin converted with just 30 seconds gone.

It took 6 minutes for Galway to get off the mark after a wide from each team, but Kate Slevin got the away team’s opening point.

Donegal had more of the ball and a McLaughlin free after 10 minutes followed by a great Karen Guthrie score from play were the only other points of the first quarter.

The Tribeswoman had a great goal chance before the water break as a point attempt was blocked into the path of Mairéad Seoighe.

The Galway captain ran into the square unmarked but her left footed strike went past Roisin McCafferty and past the left post as it stayed 0-3 to 0-1 at the water break.

It was more of the same in the second quarter as McLaughlin scored another free straight after the restart before being played in by Guthrie with the goal looming but she smartly took a point for the 4 point lead.

Galway passed the ball around looking for space while Donegal defended well but somehow they found space in the sea of Donegal defenders and Leanne Coen got a great score.

Guthrie had a goal chance but it was straight at Alanah Griffin in the Galway goal as McLaughlin got her 5th point of the game, and her 4th free.

McLaughlin should have had another score when she won a penalty with second left in the first half.

The Termon woman stepped up and shot left but Griffin guessed the right way and prevented Maxi Curran’s side going into half-time with a seven point lead.

The penalty save seemed to cause a change in momentum after half-time as Galway started strong with good scores from Slevin and Ailbhe Davoren.

McLaughlin and Aoife O’Rourke converted a free for each team with to make it 0-7 to 0-5.

Galway had a chance before the water break to make it a one point game but Seoighe wasted the chance.

Donegal almost had their goal when once again McLaughlin and Guthrie combined and the former played in the latter but her left footed strike hit the post and rolled across the goal.

Niamh McLaughlin picked up the ball and played it back to substitute Katy Herron who made it 0-8 to 0-5.

Two points in two minutes from McLaughlin and Guthrie frees gave Donegal a five point lead and a bit of breathing space but Galway weren’t giving up.

Slevin scored a free and Shauna Brennan got a point from play but Donegal held on for a comfortable three point victory.

Donegal: Roisin McCafferty; Shauna McFadden, Evelyn McGinley, Niamh Boyle; Niamh Carr, Feena McManamon, Tara Hegarty; Nicole McLaughlin, Roisin Rodgers; Susanne White, Niamh McLaughlin (capt.), Shelly Twohig; Bláthnaid McLaughlin, Karen Guthrie (0-2,1f), Geraldine McLaughlin (0-7,6f).

Subs: Amy Boyle Carr for Susanne White (33 mins), Katy Herron (0-1) for Tara Hegarty (40 mins).