Football

Yvonne McMonagle scores last gasp winner for Donegal

Yvonne McMonagle scored the winning point for Donegal in their Qualifier match against Galway  
Yvonne McMonagle scored the winning point for Donegal in their Qualifier match against Galway  
By Louise Gunn

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship qualifier:

Donegal 3-15 Galway 4-11

YVONNE McMONAGLE kept her cool with a last gasp point to send Donegal into an All-Ireland quarter-final meeting with Dublin.

The Glenfin player, who finished with 1-8, hit the winning point from a free with the last kick of the game to stun Galway in a pulsating Qualifier at Pearse Park, Longford. This was a game very much there for the taking for both sides, with Donegal fancying their own chances, but Connacht finalists Galway were expected to perhaps edge home.

However, Donegal are and always have been a team you right off at your peril and, once again, they showed just how close to the top teams they can be. But it could easily have been a different story. With three minutes left, Donegal were four points clear, but Galway substitute Roisí­n Leonard netted with her first touch before landing an equalising free. There was still time for Donegal to launch one last attack, however, and McMonagle dusted herself off to hit over the winning score after she was fouled by Noelle Connolly.

Donegal led by 2-8 to 1-7 at the break, Amber Barrett's first penalty on the stroke of half-time giving Micheal Naughton's charges a two-point lead having recovered from a 0-4 to 0-1 deficit early on. After Donegal drew level at 0-4 apiece with the breeze advantage, McMonagle slammed home a brilliant 11th-minute goal, taking a super pass from Roisí­n Friel before drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

But Galway responded in kind four minutes later as Maria Hoey scorched through for a goal that levelled matters at 1-5 apiece. McMonagle and Galway's impressive forward Gillian O'Connor, a late replacement for Leonard, traded points before Karen Guthrie's second free nudged Donegal 1-7 to 1-6 in front. Back came Galway with a brace of quick-fire points from Mairéad Seoighe, the first from a free, but Donegal hit back in style before the break as Barrett took her tally to 1-2 for the half. 

McMonagle converted a free to open the second-half scoring, but Nicola Ward netted a 34th-minute goal for the Tribe women as they struck the first significant blow after the break. In what would turn out to be a gripping second-half, the sides were now level at 2-8 until Galway had their third goal 14 minutes from time, when Seoighe took a pass from Edel Concannon and finished well.

Back came Donegal two minutes later as Barrett converted her second penalty after player of the match McMonagle was fouled. Barrett, who finished with 2-3, forced a brilliant save from Tina Hughes as Donegal attacked again and the pre-match underdogs moved four points clear down the home strait, with Guthrie hitting another free and Barrett pointing from play. Leonard dragged Galway back from the brink but, just when extra-time looked certain, McMonagle held her nerve to fire over the winner with the time clock at zero to set up an August 13 meeting with Leinster champions Dublin back at Pearse Park.

In the other Qualifier, Westmeath eased to a 3-20 to 1-4 win over Meath to set up a last-eight meeting with Connacht champions Mayo.

MATCH STATS

Donegal: A McColgan; T Doherty, K Herron (0-1), K Wilson; T McCafferty, C Hegarty, D Foley, G Houston, K Guthrie (0-3); R Friel, N Hegarty, K McKinney; E Ward, Y McMonagle (1-8, 0-4 frees), A Barrett (2-3, 2-0 pens); Sub: P McGroary for Friel (52).

Galway: T Hughes; S Gormally, N Connolly, S Hynes; F Cooney, N Ward (1-0), M Heneghan; M Hoey (1-0), P Gleeson; M Glynn, L Ward, O Divilly (0-1); M Seoighe (1-3, 0-1 free), G O'Connor (0-3), E Colcannon (0-3, 0-1 free); Subs: L Gannon for Gleeson (40), C Cooney for Glynn (49), N Burke for Hynes (52), R Leonard (1-1, 0-1f) for Seoighe (66).

Referee: Y Duffy (Cavan).