Donegal 1-17 Meath 1-15: Donegal comeback denies Meath Division 2 title

It was looking rocky for large periods, but Donegal timed their run to perfection and the end result was more than satisfactory for the Ulster champions. That could be said both about the Ulster county's 1-17 to 1-15 final win over Meath, and indeed their Division 2 campaign as a whole.

Declan Bonner's charges built momentum throughout the spring, and as they welcomed back their main men as the campaign progressed, they steadily improved.

However, on Saturday evening they ran into a resolute Meath challenge. The Leinster side showed signs that they could be capable of holding their own in Division 1 next season, but ultimately Michael Murphy inspired Donegal to victory.

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Andy McEntee's side flew out of the blocks, stunning the reigning Ulster champions as they burst into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead. Mickey Newman was doing all the damage, kicking three points of his own and playing a key role in Thomas O'Reilly's 10th-minute goal.

Indeed, such was Newman's dominance that Declan Bonner elected to take off full-back Brendan McCole after just 13 minutes, and Gaoth Dobhair's Neil McGee was sent on to keep tabs on the Kilmainham club man.

However, Newman could have done even more damage, putting the ball in the net in the 33rd minute, but it was ruled out for a square ball.

While Donegal did settle with braces of points from Oisin Gallen, Michael Murphy and Jamie Brennan, Meath were deservedly five points up at the break.

After the break, Donegal began to chip into Meath's five-point advantage. Gallen continued to prove a handful for the Meath rearguard, while Michael Murphy's influence began to grow as Tir Chonaill's talisman began to direct play.

The Glenswilly star fielded and scored two marks to help close the gap to just one, and in the 58th minute he played in Jamie Brennan, who blasted the ball into the Royal net.

It was the first time Donegal led in the game, and they rode on the wave of momentum to see out a two-point victory, as Meath were reduced to 14 at the death after Shane Gallagher was shown a second yellow card.

Attention now turns to the summer, with Donegal opening against Fermanagh and Meath facing Offaly

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Referee: Derek O'Mahony (Tipperary)

Attendance: 23,644

Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-2 marks), Jamie Brennan 1-2, Oisín Gallen 0-4, Niall O'Donnell 0-2, Jason McGee 0-2.

Scorers for Meath: Mickey Newman 0-5 (0-2 frees, 0-1 mark), Thomas O'Reilly 1-1, Bryan McMahon 0-2, Cillian O'Sullivan 0-2 (0-1 free), Bryan Menton 0-1, Shane McEntee 0-1, Ben Brennan 0-1, Barry Dardis 0-1 (0-1 45), Graham Reilly 0-1.

Donegal

1. Shaun Patton

19. Stephen McMenamin

3. Brendan McCole

2. Paddy McGrath

6. Leo McLoone

7. Ryan McHugh

4. Eoghan Bán Gallagher

11. Jason McGee

8. Hugh McFadden

5. Daire Ó Baoill

10. Niall O'Donnell

12. Caolan McGonagle

15. Jamie Brennan

14. Michael Murphy

13. Oisín Gallen

Subs: Neil McGee for Brendan McCole (14th minute)

Eamonn Doherty for Leo McLoone (half-time)

Michael Landan for Caolan McGonagle (44th minute)

Eoin McHugh for Daire Ó Baoill (54th minute)

Frank McGlynn for Ryan McHugh (71st minute)

Meath

1. Andrew Colgan

4. Shane Gallagher

3. Conor McGill

2. Seamus Lavin

5. James McEntee

6. Donal Keoghan

7. Ronan Ryan

8. Bryan Menton

9. Shane McEntee

10. Cillian O'Sullivan

12. Bryan McMahon

11. Ben Brennan

13. Barry Dardis

14. Michael Newman

15. Thomas O'Reilly

Subs:

Graham Reilly for Bryan McMahon (35th minute)

Darragh Campion for Ben Brennan (44th minute)

James Conlon for Thomas O'Reilly (65th minute)

Gavin McCoy for Shane McEntee (67th minute)