Sport

Devenney makes all the difference

Donegal 3-6 Monaghan 1-11: Donegal's 100 per cent record remains, but they can thank their stars for this one-point victory.

Mon Feb 16 2004 - 00:00

Donegal 3-6 Monaghan 1-11: Donegal's 100 per cent record remains, but they can thank their stars for this one-point victory.

Monaghan were four points up and cruising to victory as the game went into added time, but by the time Martin Kolbohm blew the whistle on a tempestuous encounter, the home side had fashioned a one-point win.

The game ended 13-a-side - a total of 14 yellow and four red cards were flashed. Donegal managed just one score - a Brendan Devenney goal after 60 seconds - in the opening half and at half-time Monaghan led by 1-4 to 1-0.

The second half also saw Monaghan dominate, but Devenney was the Donegal saviour, hauling them back into the game midway through the half and then, a minute into added time, giving them hope with a third strike.

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Monaghan, earlier so assured, suddenly became fragile and conceded two further points.

Monaghan had cruised into a six-point lead early in the second half. A second Devenney goal stopped the exodus of Donegal fans to the gates, but when Monaghan tagged on three more points it seemed Donegal had lost their chance. Then came the third Devenney goal and the points from Stephen McDermott and John Gildea to give Donegal an undeserved win, a fact admitted by manager, Brian McEniff.

"Monaghan deserved to win the game and all I can say is that I give our lads credit for sticking at it. But we were well beaten in most areas of the field," he said.

Donegal face Tyrone in the final of the Dr McKenna Cup next week without Adrian Sweeney, red-carded for a clash with James Coyle. Also sidelined, for double yellow offences, were Donegal's Niall McCready and Monaghan's Jason Hughes and Paul Finlay.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; E McGee, R Sweeney, N McCready; S Carr, B Monaghan, K Cassidy; J Gildea (0-1), P McGonigle; C Toye (0-1), M Hegarty, B Roper; C McFadden, A Sweeney (0-2, 2f), B Devenney (3-1, 1f). Subs: N McGinley for McGee; J Haran for Roper; B Boyle for McFadden; S McDermott (0-1) for McGonigle; B Dunnion for Haran.

MONAGHAN: P McElroy; JP Mone, J Coyle, E Lennon; D Duffy (0-1), J Conlon, V Corey; E Lennon, J Hughes; D Clerkin, P Finlay (0-3, 2f), D Freeman (1-4); T Freeman (0-1). R Ronaghan, G McQuaid. Subs: D Mone (0-2) for McQuaid.

Referee: M Kolbohm (Tyrone).