NFL Division 1A: Donegal 1-8 Dublin 0-9
AFTER three successive defeats, Declan Bonner got the commitment he asked for yesterday and saw his team ease their relegation worries with a two-point victory over division leaders Dublin.
It was far from perfect, as the manager himself conceded afterwards, but the importance of two league points overshadowed any deficiencies in the performance.
“People were starting to write us off after those three defeats but they’ve made us mentally stronger for the year ahead,” said Bonner.
“We’re not that far away from being a good side. We made a lot of mistakes but I spoke at the team hotel this morning about the importance of two points today and I can’t fault the players for their commitment.”
Dubin were much fitter than Donegal but it was the home side who took control in the latter stages. They made hard work of it, however, the brilliant Jim McGuinness continually winning possession only for his heart to be broken by others who gave the ball away much too easily.
But enough Donegal men played well to ensure victory was achieved. McGuinness, Sweeney and Barry Ward all stood out.
Donegal: T Blake, D Diver, J J Doherty, N McGinley, O Reid, N Hegarty (0-1), N McCready, J Ruane, J McGuinness (0-1), B Roper (1-1), A Sweeney (0-1), B Ward, B Devenney (0-1), T Boyle (0-2 both frees), B McLaughlin
Subs: J Duffy (0-1, free) for Boyle (39 mins); M Crossan for J J Doherty (41 mins); P Gillespie for B McLaughlin (57 mins).
Dublin: D Byrne, L Walsh, S Ryan, T Lynch, P Croft, P Curran, K Galvin (0- 1), E Sheehy, C Whelan, B Stynes (0- 2), D Darcy (0-2, both frees), S Connell, R Cosgrove, D Farrell (0-3, two frees), N O’Donoghue (0-1)
Subs: I Robertson for Connell (30 mins); J Sherlock for O’Donoghue (44 mins); M O’Keefe for Cosgrove (53 mins).
Referee: Martin McBrien (Fermanagh).
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“THE Yanks don’t frighten me,” said Gary O’Kane just before he swept to an impressive victory in the 25 metres breaststroke race at the Special Olympics in Belfast’s Grove pool.
The Drumross centre swimmer’s time was 25.20 seconds. Gary repeated the golden performance in the 50 metres event in 49.49 seconds.
“Nobody frightens this man,” said Terry McKinstry, the Northern Ireland co-ordinator of swimming for the Special Olympics in Ireland.
“Gary and Grant are great guys. They’ll take on the best in the world in Carolina and give a good show.”
Grant is Grant Wilson, another Drumross man bound for the Special Olympics World Championships in North Carolina in June.
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Antrim 0-8 Roscommon 1-11
A WHIRLWIND start by Roscommon blew Antrim off course at Casement Park yesterday with the visitors sweeping through to a merited six points victory. Roscommon came out of the traps like greyhounds in a sprint to gallop into a 1-7 to no score lead after 18 minutes with a goal being a picture score by corner-forward Frankie Dolan.
The right winger collected the ball 20 metres out on the left, dashed along the sideline and then across the endline on a super solo before cracking the ball home from an acute angle.
That cracking score laid the foundations of Roscommon’s win and set Dolan up for the ‘Man of the Match’ award as he tacked on three points to his personal tally.
Antrim: D Shannon; M Mulholland (0-1), A Finnegan, L McCurdy; P McCann, C McKearney, B Elliott; J Murphy, C O’Neill; K Brady (0-1), P McErlean (0- 1), D Gallagher; M Boyle, R Hamill (0-2), K Madden (0-3)
Subs: G Adams for McCurdy (24 mins); P Logan for Gallagher (40 mins).
Roscommon: D Thompson; D Gavin, D Donlon, E Gavin; R Callaghan, M Ryan, C Heneghan; D Connellan, T Ryan (0-1); M Kenna, D Duggan (0-1), E Lohan (0-3); F Dolan (1-3), F Grehan (0- 3), L Dowd
Subs: A Carbery for Kenna (45 mins), J Gillooly for Dowd (63 mins).
Referee: J McKee (Armagh)
