Laois left ruing their luck

Donegal 1-14 Laois  2-8:LUCK WAS with Donegal when they overcame Laois in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon yesterday.

Their goal led a charmed life in the final quarter as twice Colm Kelly was denied strong penalty claims and substitute Donie Brennan spurned two goal chances in the final 10 minutes.

The Leinster men make the drop to Division Two but they welcomed back Joe Higgins as a second-half substitute and can count themselves very unlucky not to have got a result in this game.

Their anger at Longford official Eugene Murtagh for not awarding the penalties was vented after the game and with some justification.

Donegal started well with Colm McFadden and Ciarán Bonner in good form, but a scoring spurt by Laois had the visitors ahead by 1-4 to 0-5 after 18, their goal coming from half-back Padraig McMahon.

Donegal hit back with a fisted goal from David Walsh to lead by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break but they were hit by another scoring scoring spurt of 1-2 by the visitors early in the second half.

However, the goal by Paul Lawlor and points from David Murphy and Ross Munnelly were to be Laois's final scores of the game.

Donegal had to send in Brian Roper to give some leadership and points from Michael Hegarty and McFadden got them into a lead they hardly deserved.

Laois's Kelly was twice fouled inside the area but got no reward while Brennan hit the side-netting and then found Michael Boyle equal to his best effort from 20 metres out.

Kelly was outstanding for the losers while McMahon, Billy Sheehan and John O'Loughlin can count themselves unfortunate to be on the losing side on this occasion.

For Donegal McFadden had a very good game with David Walsh, Kevin Rafferty, Karl Lacey and substitute Roper also making an impact.

Thanks to this victory, Donegal now move on to eight points along with Kerry and Derry, two behind leaders Galway. They meet neighbours Derry next Sunday in Letterkenny but their inferior scoring difference may count against them in the final shake-up.

DONEGAL:M Boyle; K Lacey (0-1), N McGee, P McDaid; F McGlynn, E McGee, K Cassidy; K Rafferty (0-1), R Kavanagh; C Toye, M Hegarty (0-2, two frees), C Bonner (0-2); L Thompson (0-1), C McFadden (0-7, six frees), D Walsh (1-0). Subs: B Roper for Bonner; C Dunne for Toye; S McDermott for Rafferty; R Bradley for Thompson.

LAOIS:C Gorman; P O'Leary, M Timmons, C Healy; D Murphy (0-1), D Rooney, P McMahon (1-0); B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; B McCormaic, P Lawler (1-0), B Sheehan; M Tierney (0-2, 45), C Kelly (0-1), R Munnelly (0-2). Subs: D Brennan (0-2) for Mac Cormaic; J Higgins for Murphy; B McDonald for Munnelly.

Referee:E Murtagh (Longford).