Donegal 4-6 Monaghan 6-6
BY RYAN FERRY
A SPIRITED Donegal side lost out against Monaghan in their Camogie National League bow on Saturday in Foden.
It was a big day for Eunan O’Donnell’s team as they fielded a senior side for the first time in the league and they battled well for long stages of the match.
The difference between the teams was undoubtedly Monaghan full-forward Marie Greenan who scored 5-3.
In fairness to Donegal, they kept battling right until the end but Monaghan deservedly claimed the spoils.
A healthy crowd headed to Carndonagh for the historic match but it didn’t get off to a great start for Donegal as Monaghan’s Eileen Cullen scored a goal in the first minute.
The home side appeared a bit nervous in the early exchanges but Zoe Whoriskey settled them in the fifth minute with a point.
Donegal then swooped for a goal seconds later when Aoibhinn Randles raced forward and finished with aplomb.
Randles could have had a second goal but hit the post before Marie Greenan and Jane Kelly swapped points.
Whoriskey then notched a second goal for Donegal to put them into a 2-2 to 1-1 lead after 12 minutes.
Monaghan full-forward Greenan was a real handful and scored two majors in the space of three minutes.
Alex Elaurza hit back with a goal for Donegal but Greenan soon completed her hat-trick as the Farney side pushed 4-1 to 3-2 ahead.
Sarah Lambe added two scores to Donegal’s tally late in the half but frees from Greenan and Cullen had Monaghan in front by two at the break.
Monaghan upped the ante at the start of the second half and Greenan bagged another two goals.
O’Donnell’s charges then won a penalty when Randles was unceremoniously was hauled to the ground.
Lambe struck her penalty well but Rebecca Hamill made a smart save.
Ciara Coulter did get a much-needed point for Donegal but the Monaghan forwards were lively and Michelle Morgan fired over twice.
A Randles goal in the 53rd minute got Donegal back to within five.
However, that was as good as it got as Eileen Cullen’s point ensured victory for the visitors.
Donegal: Hannah McDermott (Burt); Ella Kate Gillespie (St Eunan’s), Siobhan O’Donnell (St Eunan’s), Mary O’Neill (Markievicz); Jessica Martin (Markievicz), Sinead McIntyre (St Eunan’s), Aimee Lafferty (Markievicz); Paige Rushe (Markievicz), Sinead Flood (Markievicz); Alex Elaurza (Markievicz, 1-0), Sarah Lambe (St Eunan’s 0-3, 1f,1 ‘45’), Zoe Whoriskey (Burt, 1-1); Aoibhinn Randles (St Eunan’s, 2-0), Jane Kelly (Markievicz, 0-1), Ciara Coulter (Markievicz, 0-1). Subs: Wendy Patterson (Markievicz) and Teigan Duffy (Burt) for Gillespie and McIntyre (Half-time), Rebecca Whyte (Markievicz) for Martin (42 mins), Kara O’Neill (Markievicz) and Aoibhinn Taylor (Carndonagh) for M.O’Neill and O’Donnell (50 mins), Mollai Sharkey (Dungloe) and Allannah Curran (Burt) for Elaruza and Coulter (51 mins).
Monaghan: Rebecca Hamill; Sioneen Morgan, Mary McManus, Lucy Kindlon; Caoimhe Agnew, Rioghnach Duffy, Kellie Murtagh; Roisin O’Sullivan, Jessica Cullen; Eileen Cullen (1-1), Michelle Morgan (0-2), Dearhhaoie Quigley; Niamh Kelly, Marie Greenan (5-3, 1f), Abbey Byrne. Subs: Teagan Mayne for Quigley (47 mins), Louise Dempseh for S.Morgan (50 mins), Alanna Byrne for A.Byrne (58 mins).
Referee: Karol Collins (Galway).
