July 13 - Men's Senior Football: Donegal v Galway

Galway 2-7 Donegal 6-15

Donegal joined Shannon Blues on top of the senior football table with a lopsided win over Galway.  Galway needed to win to keep hopes of a playoff place alive and for most of the first half were doing what they needed to make that happen.  Donegal took advantage of a Galway lapse late in the half to turn the tables and with the drop in Galway heads went on to win easily.

Donegal pulled away from Galway in the second half of the game.

Galway were giving Donegal a real challenge until just about 5 minutes before half time.  With Galway ahead by three points, the tribesmen won a line ball deep inside their won half.  The sideline kick ended up missing its target and into the hands of the deadly Daniel McLaughlin, and the Donegal wing forward buried the chance to bring his side level and deliver a blow to Galway spirits.  Galway had gotten off to a great start.  A Gary Kelly penalty gave the side an early lift, and the teams traded points.  Donegal pointed through McLaughlin, Stephen Griffin, and Sean Boyle.  For Galway it was Andy Glennon, Kelly, and Paddy Breen on target.  Donegal had come close to netting on two occasions.  First Martin O'Connor pulled off a great save from a Griffin shot, and soon afterwards Matt Smyth shot low and just past the post.  Coming just before half time, the goal visibly deflated Galway's effort.  Griffin and McLaughlin pointed to send Donegal 2 points to the good entering the break.

Things got worse for Galway in the second half.  Donegal netted with the first attack through Griffin, and followed up with quick points from Boyle and McLaughlin.  The writing was on the wall for Galway.  The scores began to come easy for Donegal as the difference between the teams became a yawning chasm.  Sean Boyle added a third Donegal goal with a fisted high ball.  It was one way traffic thereafter as each team brought in the subs to give them a run.  Donegal move top with the Blues, and Galway chances of forcing a playoff game exist, but are mathematical in nature.

Galway: M. O'Connor, D. Redmond, J. Gallagher, G. Patterson, P. Cummins, D. Judge, E. Kavanagh, C. Fitzmaurice, D. Reddin, G. Kelley, J Kehoe, A. Glennon, P. Breen.  Donegal:  C. McLaughlin, M. Canny, C. McCarron, C. Healy, G. Gallagher, S. Doherty, M. Smyth, S. McDonagh, J. O'Connor, C. Thompson, D. Mclaughlin, S. Griffin, S. Boyle. 

By Rory O'Donnell