Donegal put bodies on the line in final push
Donegal boss Naughton, who’s facing surgery, stunned medics on Friday when he signed himself out so he could attend Saturday’s Lidl Ladies NFL Division Two final against Westmeath.
Naughton wasn’t the only member of the Donegal camp putting their body on the line. Geraldine McLaughlin lined out with two painkilling injections and Eilish Ward carried a broken nose into Saturday’s big win over Westmeath.
Naughton smiled: “I was supposed to be having an operation but I signed myself out. I’ll go back on Monday. That’s what you’re dealing with for girls like this – you’ll put yourself on the line for them.”
Inside forwards McLaughlin, Yvonne McMonagle and Amber Barrett collected 3-13 between them against outclassed Westmeath.
McMonagle was the star turn with a 2-5 haul from play, while McLaughlin kicked six points and Barrett added 1-2. Midfielder Karen Guthrie was another player to excel and goalkeeper Aoife McColgan was brilliant too, pulling off magnificent saves in both halves.
The Ulster side were well in control, leading by 1-7 to 0-4 at half time as Westmeath registered eight wides.
Y McMonagle 2-5, G McLaughlin 0-6 (4f), A Barrett 1-2, K Guthrie 0-3 (1f), K Herron 0-1.
L Archibald 0-7f, K Hegarty & L Walsh 0-2 each, F Claffey & C Blundell 0-1 each.
A McColgan; T Doherty, E Gallagher, K Wilson; T McCafferty, C Hegarty, D Foley; K Herron, K Guthrie; E Ward, N Hegarty, G Houston; A Barrett, Y McMonagle, G McLaughlin.
K Keeney for Wilson (39), S McGruddy for Foley (48), R Friel for N Hegarty (57), B McLaughlin for G McLaughlin (57).
S Keegan; F Coyle, L Brennan, T Durkan; F Claffey, J Rogers, A Martin; M.A. Foley, K McDermott; R O’Connor, L Archibald, J Maher; C Blundell, L Walsh, K Hegarty.
L McCartan for Maher (inj, 20), C Kelly for O’Connor (h.t.), S McGrath for Coyle (48), A Brady for Durkan (52).
K Delahunty (Tipperary).
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