Donegal ease past London with a 13-point victory at O'Donnell Park

Donegal 2-26 London 1-16
Donegal will play in Division 2A of the Allianz National Hurling League for the very first time next season following this afternoon’s big win over London, in O'Donnell Park.

Thirteen points separated Donegal and the Exiles at the final whistle, and on a day when Donegal hurling history was re-written the margin of victory did not flatter the locals.

The win also means Donegal is back in another Division 2 B semi-final after finishing in second place in the Division 2B table behind Derry. 

In the semi-final, they will face Tyrone back in O’Donnell Park, next weekend. 

Donegal led by six points at half-time after pulling away in the second quarter to go in 0-14 to 0-8 in front.

The early exchanges were evenly contested with the sides level five times in the opening 15 minutes. Gerard Gilmore, who was unerring from placed balls, Stephen Gillespie, Josh Cronnolly, and Conor Gartland posted the early Donegal scores. 

Brian Dowling, Owen Shiels, and Eoin McGrath lit up the scoreboard for the Exiles who went toe-to-toe with the host.

With the sides level at 0-6 each entering the second quarter and the good-sized attendance getting a bang for their buck, Donegal went up a gear.

And playing a mix of the long and short possession game the locals with Gilmore, McKinney, Gartland, Rúaurí Campbell and Brian Óg MacIntyre all split the post as Donegal reeled off eight unanswered points to open up a 0-13 to 0-6 lead by the half-hour mark

And while sharpshooter Downing pulled two back from placed balls, McKinney brought the curtain down on the first half with a brilliant strike for a 0-14 to 0-8 half-time lead.  

London began the second half as if they meant business, with two quick-fire points from Shiel and Dowling to trim the Donegal advantage to four points. 

But the Donegal response was immediate when Oisín Grant cutting in from the stand side and shooting into the Swilly River end as he planted the ball in the top right corner of the London net for a super strike and Donegal’s first goal since opening day back at the beginning of February against Wicklow.

That was on 38 minutes and by the time Liam McKinney powered through for goal number two, the match was well and truly over. 

With two minutes of normal time remaining Mickey McCann’s charges had opened up a 15 lead as they led 2-24 to 0-15.

Seán O’ Meara who battled to the end scored a late consolation goal on the stroke of time for the Exiles who played most of the second half down to 14 men when wing forward Pádraic Mullen was shown a red card for a late challenge on Conor Gartland.

Scorers - Donegal: Gerard Gilmore 0-13, 4f; Liam McKinney 1-4; Oisin Grant 1-0; Conor Gartland and Daire O'Maoileidigh 0-2 each; Stephen Gillespie, Josh Cronnolly McGee, Rúairí Campbell, Brian Óg MacIntyre and Jack O'Loughlin 0-1 each. London: Brian Dowling 0-8, 7f; Seán O’Meara 1-1; Owen Shiel and Rory Lodge 0-3 each; Eoghan McGrath 0-1.  

Donegal: Luke White; Ciaran Curran, Stephen McBride, Gavin Browne; Bernard Lafferty, Conor O’Grady, Stephen Gillespie; Sean McVeigh, Gerard Gilmore; Josh Cronolly McGee, Brian MacIntyre, Oisin Grant; Rúairí Campbell, Liam McKinney, Conor Gartland. Subs: Daire Ó Maoileidigh for Cronolly McGee (42); Jack O’Loughlin for B Lafferty (43); Peter Kelly R Campbell (47); Cathal O’Brien for S Gillespie (59); Ciaran Bradley for C Curan (60); Sean Ward for C Gartland (65). 

London: Tommy Wallace; Cillian MacSweeney, Darragh Bolger, Niall Geoghegan; Cathal O’Carroll, Sean O’Meara, Eoghan Ryan; Eoghan McHugh, Robbie Murphy; Owen Shiel, Paul Kennedy, Padraic Mullen; Brian Dowling, Niall Broderick, Eoin McGrath. Subs: Rory Lodge for N Broderick (38); Conan Finnegan for E McGrath (59). 

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Antrim).