BEATEN National League finalists for three of the past four seasons, Donegal were condemned to Division Two for the first time since 1988 when they were comprehensively defeated 1-14 to 1-7 by Kildare at Newbridge.
Mick O’Dwyer’s side are on the crest of a wave having already qualified for the quarter-finals before today’s game, while his counterpart PJ McGowan was praying for a second win in the league and other results to survive in the top flight.
However, it all ended in disaster for Donegal who can have no complaints about their defeat – a point accepted afterwards by their full-forward Manus Boyle.
“It’s a disappointing day for Donegal football but we can have no complaints, we were lethargic and didn’t want to win it enough today but really there have been too many poor results in the campaign and we have to take a serious look at ourselves before the championship,” he said.
Kildare manager O’Dwyer praised his team for the way they moved the ball around so quickly in difficult conditions.
“The secret is to move the ball at pace and the lads did that very well today.
“It is disappointing for Donegal but it may give them a chance to blood new players which is difficult in Division One,” he said.
Kildare: C Byrne, M Ryan, J Finn, K Doyle, A Rainbow, G Ryan, B Fahy, D Hynan, N Buckley (0-8, 0-4f, 0-1 45’), P Graven, D Kerrigan (1-0), T Harris, E McCormick (0-1), M Lynch (0-2), E Dockery (0-2)
Sub: M Ryan (0-1) for Harris (50 mins)
Donegal: P Callaghan, P McGinley, S McEwen, J Cunningham, D Diver, M Crossan, O Reid (0-1), J Ruane, M Gavigan, J Bann-Gallagher, T Boyle (0-1), B Murray, A Sweeney (0-2), M Boyle (0-3), B Roper (1-0)
Subs: D McNamara for J Bann-Gallagher (42 mins), M Gallagher for McEwen (48 mins), J Gildea for M Boyle (50 mins)
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BITTERLY disappointed not to register even a single score in the second half of a woefully one-sided game at Dougan Park, Antrim footballers were on the long road home when they heard the dramatic news of their survival in Division Three.
Despite a 2-10 to 1-4 loss in Galway, the later start in a lot of other games meant their fate wasn’t clear until they were on the bus home. As it turned out, other results went their way and the Saffrons survived.
Galway, for whom the fixture was meaningless from a league point of view, led by 2-4 to 1-4 at half-time with Niall Finnegan and John Donnellan banging home the goals.
Ronan Hamill flicked home Antrim’s goal just before the break but they failed to score in a disappointing second period.
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DERMOT McCabe hit a stunning match winner in a dramatic final few minutes to steal the show at Dungannon as Cavan saw off Tyrone by 0-8 to 1-4.
The 19-year-old student star threw battling Cavan a relegation lifeline with two points in the last five minutes. McCabe snatched victory after a dominant second-half effort of frenzied attacking football from Cavan, the win forcing a three-way play-off to see who joins Donegal in division two next season.
Brian Gormley had found the net for Tyrone inside 24 seconds but that was one of only two scores the Ulster champions managed from play, despite Peter Canavan’s first appearance since August as a second half sub.
