Donegal cruise into Nicky Rackard Cup final with win over Roscommon

Donegal are back into another Nicky Rackard Cup Championship final following a comfortable win over Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park this afternoon. 

Twelve points separated the teams at the finish as Donegal dominated for long stretches, with Gerard Gilmore, Liam McKinney, and Seán Ward making big contributions on the scoreboard in an overall superb team display.  

Donegal, after briefly going behind early on, led by eight points at half-time, 1-13 to 0-8.  

Ward scored the goal in the middle of the second quarter with Gerard Gilmore landing 0-6, Liam McKinney hitting over 0-4, Peter Kelly nailing 0-2, and the goal scorer Ward adding a point to his name. 

Paddy Fallon responded with three points, two from 65s, while Cian Murray, Sean Canning, James Hardiman, Brendan Mulry, and Conor Cosgrove were the other Roscommon players to register on the scoreboard.  

The early exchanges of the match were evenly contested as Murray, Gilmore, and Sean Canning traded points between them. 

Fallon and James Hardiman notched over points as Roscommon edged into a 0-4 to 0-2 point lead by the ten-minute mark.  

But from then on Donegal took control and the scores flowed as Gilmore, Sean Ward, and Liam McKinney posted scores to lead 0-10 to 0-6 with under 10 minutes remaining in the half. 

But then Mickey McCann’s men turned the screw, and when Ward got on the end of a good Oisin Grant run to hit the back of the Roscommon net, Donegal were on their way as they led 1-13 to 0-8 at half-time.  

The locals did threaten a second-half revival when half-time substitute Robbie Fallon hit the back of Luke White’s net eight minutes into the new half. 

But normal service was restored and with McKinney, Gilmore, Ward, Stephen Gillespie, and Maoileidigh all posting points, Donegal was coasting.  

Brendan Mulry scored a late-consolation goal for the locals who now face Mayo next weekend in Castlebar needing a win to keep their final hopes alive. 

Donegal are away to Louth next weekend in the last of their group games.  

Roscommon Scorers: Paddy Fallon 0-4, 2 '65’; Brendan Mulry 1-1; Robbie Fallon 1-0; Cian Murray, Sean Canning, James Hardiman, Conor Cosgrove, Conor Mulry 0-1 each. Donegal Scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-10, 9f, 1 '65’; Liam McKinney 0-7; Sean Ward 1-3; Peter Kelly 0-3; Stephen Gillespie and Daire O’ Maoileididhgh 0-1 each. 

Roscommon: Enda Lawless; Mark Ward, James Dillon, Darragh Mullin; Jack Donnelly, Conor Cosgrave, Jack Dowling; Darragh Finn, James Hardiman; Cian Murray, Conor Mulry, Sean Canning; Brendan Mulry, Liam Og Coyle, Paddy Fallon. Subs: Robbie Fallon for J Dowling (h/t); Adam Donnelly for P Fallon (h/t).

Donegal: Luke White; Ciaran Curran, Stephen McBride, Gavin Browne; Jack O Loughlin, Declan Coulter, Stephen Gillespie; Gerard Gilmore, Conor O’ Grady; Ruairi Campbell, Oisin Grant, Brian McIntyre; Peter Kelly, Danny Cullen, Liam McKinney. Subs: Daire O’ Maoileidigh for R Campbell (h/t); Dean Harvey for O Grant (53); Conor Griffin for B McIntyre (61); Ronan McDermott for G Gilmore (66).    

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)