Donegal salvage late draw to deny Monaghan in five-goal thriller in Ballybofey

A Jittery Donegal salvaged a draw against a much better Monaghan side in a high scoring affair in Ballybofey.

A late mark from Paddy McBrearty levelled a rollercoaster match where Monaghan deservedly led for long periods. But they also missed six big goal chances.

Three killer goals from Conor McCarthy in the first half saw unfancied Monaghan side stun a Donegal side who looked shaky in the absence of team captain Michael Murphy who limped off after five minutes.

Just a minute later McCarthy struck for the first of three cracking goals when he took a pass from ex-basketball star Stephen O’Hanlon and cooly rifled the ball to the net.

That put the lively Farney lads into a 1-4 to 0-4 lead and a shell-shocked Donegal defence couldn’t cope with the penetration of the flying Farney forwards.

Speedster Karl O’Connell then found McCarthy and he slipped the ball confidently to the net to leave Monaghan leading by 2-4 to 0-4.

Monaghan's Conor McCarthy scores his third goal of the game (©INPHO/Tommy Dickson)

And Scotstown ace McCarthy repeated the dose five minutes later with a brilliant solo goal.

Crucially, Donegal did hit back with a fine goal from Michael Langan to leave Monaghan 3-7 to 1-9 ahead at the break.

Monaghan threw on Conor McManus and he obliged with a well finished goal in the 42nd minute.

But they could only manage two more points as gritty Donegal clawed their way back through points from Oisin Gallen, Niall O’Donnell and their saviour McBrearty.

This is one that definitely got away for the Farney side.

Donegal: S Patton; E Ban Gallagher (0-1) N McGee, B McCole; R McHugh, P Brennan, P Mogan (0-1); H McFadden, C McGonagle (0-1); N O’Donnell (0-3) C Thompson (0-2) M Langan (1-2); P McBrearty (0-8, 4f), M Murphy, O Gallen (0-2)

Subs: D O’Baoill for M Murphy (6), E McHugh for P Brennan (h-time), O MacNiallas for H McFadden (48),S McMenaming for N McGee (56), P McGrath for E Ban Gallager, J McGee for B McCole (64)

Monaghan: R Beggan; C Duffy, C Boyle, R Wylie; K O’Connell (0-1) K McMenamin, R McAnespie (0-1); D Hughes, K Lavelle; S O’Hanlon, A Mulligan (0-3, 2f) M Bannigan (0-2, 1f); C McCarthy (3-1) A Woods, S Jones.

B-card: C Boyle (13)

Subs: C McManus (1-2, 1f), for S Jones (h-time), S Hanratty for M Bannigan (41) N Kearns for A Woods (52), J McCarron for S O’Hanlon, C Lennon for K O’Connell (58) G Mone for A Mulligan

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)