Donegal ladies put up big fight, but Dublin win with big second half

Dublin defeated Donegal ladies thanks to a strong second-half performance at Parnell Park today.

Dublin 2-17 Donegal 3-7

Micheál Naughton’s Donegal were level at the break, 2-2 to 0-8, after a brace of Geraldine McLaughlin goals, but the Dubs proved too strong in the second half and won by seven points.

McLaughlin’s first goal came in the 19^th minute when the Termon woman drilled home after Niamh Hegarty’s shot fell short.

Three minutes later, McLaughlin slotted home a penalty and it leveled the tie with neither side scoring again until the break.

Carla Rowe struck a goal for Dublin early in the second half and when Lyndsey Davey added another during a purple patch for the Dubs, it was going to prove too steep a climb for Donegal.

Hegarty did get in for a third Donegal goal, but the task proved too arduous and Dublin done enough.

Donegal: Laura Gallagher; Treasa Doherty, Ciara Hegarty, Kate Keaney; Therese McClafferty, Nicole McLaughlin, Emer Gallagher; Katy Herron, Karen Gutherie (0-1); Grainne Houston, Niamh Hegarty (1-2), Eilish Ward (0-1); Roisin Friel, Geraldine McLaughlin (2-2, 1-0pen, 2f), Paula McGroary (0-1). Subs: Kaneshia McKinney, Deirdre Foley, Niamh Carr, Caroline Gallagher.