Mulligan makes the difference as Donegal survive Roscommon’s late comeback

Donegal 0-10 Cork 1-5

Cian Mulligan produced a sparkling performance as Donegal survived a blistering Roscommon fightback in the closing minutes of this All-Ireland minor football championship quarter final at Markievicz Park on Saturday.

Mulligan scored four points and was involved in many of Donegal’s eye-catching moves as the Tír Conaill men booked their place in the semi-final against either Cork of Dublin at Croke Park on August 31st.

Roscommon packed their defence in the first half depriving the Donegal forwards of any real scoring opportunities while at the same time setting up chances of their own on the break.

The game opened up considerably in the second half with Donegal’s greater creativity and coolness under pressure paying dividends in a tense finish that had the 2,676 strong crowd on the edge of their seats.

Goal chance

Roscommon opened the scoring with a Cathal Callinan point after 60 seconds of the first half before Cian Mulligan levelled for the

Ulster

champions two minutes later.

The Connacht side missed a good goal chance when Killian Bannon failed to convert from close range after 13 minutes

A John Campbell point a minute before half time gave Donegal a 0-5 to 0-4 points interval lead.

Mulligan opened the second -half scoring with a superb point from 40 yards and Donegal were six points in front before the beaten Connacht finalists got their first score of the half , a goal by Noel Gately following a good ball in by Killian Bannon in the 53rd minute.

Roscommon laid siege to the Donegal goal in the closing minutes with an Evan McGrath shot superbly blocked as the Ulster champions held out for their hard-earned win.

DONEGAL: D Rogers; D Monagle, C Gillespie, C Kelly; C Mulligan (0-4),T McCleneghan, A McClean; N Harley,C McGonigle; E Ban Gallagher, L Connor (0-1 free), M Carroll (0-1), J Brennan (0-1),J Campbell (0-3 frees), S McBrearty. Subs: E O Donnell for McClean (ht), C Bonner for Harley (48 mins), C O Boyle for Carroll (52 mins), C Doherty for Brennan (56 mins), S McMenamin for Campbell (56 mins).

ROSCOMMON: S Mannion; J Connaughton, B Stack, K Beirne; M F Lennon, E McGrath, E Fallon; C Murray, R Raftery; C Callinan (0-1), L Carty, K Bannon; N Gately (1-0), H Darcy (0-1), K Smyth (0-3 from frees). Subs: B Kelly for Callinan (42mins), D Connaughton for Bannon (48 mins), J Gannon for Carty (56 mins).

Referee: C O Hagan, Tyrone.