DONEGAL SUFFERED THEIR first defeat of the Division 2 league campaign this afternoon as they slumped to a 1-9 to 0-10 loss against Down in Newry this afternoon.

The only goal of the game proved to be a crucial score when Niall Madine found the net for James McCartan’s side in the 13th minute.

Mark Poland and Kevin McKernan pointed to help Down lead by 1-3 to 0-2 after 22 minutes with Michael Murphy keeping Donegal in touch.

Dermot Molloy also showed up well for Donegal in the first-half scoring stakes yet Down  were ahead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval with Poland and Madine tacking on important points.

The teams swapped points early in the second-half – Martin McElhinney and Leo McLoone for Donegal, Donal O’Hare and Conor Garvey for Down – with the Mourne County moving 1-8 to 0-7 ahead.

The scoring rates then dried up but Down were still in control as they led by 1-9 to 0-8 with just three minutes remaining. Donegal struck late points from Neil Gallagher and Colm McFadden but Down held on to take the spoils.

Down's Aidan Carr and Donegal's Karl Lacey. Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO / Russell Pritchard/INPHO

Meanwhile a Sean Armstrong point rescued a draw for Galway against Louth in Drogheda as the teams finished tied at 0-15 to 2-9.

Both sides were in desperate need for points as they battled relegation and Louth looked like they had claimed a dramatic win when Paddy Keenan netted in injury-time but Armstrong then rescued Galway.

Louth were in front by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time with Derek Crilly grabbing their goal. But Louth had raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead and Galway hit back significantly before the break with Paul Conroy (2), Gareth Bradshaw and Michael Martin all notching points.

Galway continued to dominate early in the second-half as they hit a series of points and were ahead by 0-10 to 1-6 by the 53rd minute. Bradshaw, Conroy and Eddie Hoare stretched their lead with points to create a four-point lead with eight minutes remaining.

Louth hit back to cut the gap to the minimum before a Conroy free looked to be the insurance score as it sent Galway into a 0-14 to 1-9 lead. Then came the late drama with Keenan looking like he had snatched the win for Louth before Armstrong saved Galway.

Division 2 Results
Down 1-9 Donegal 0-10
Galway 0-15 Louth 2-9

Galway's Sean Armstrong. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

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