NFL Division 2A - review

13-man Donegal came from behind against Monaghan to maintain their 100% Division 2A record - winning out 3-06 to 1-11 at Ballyshannon - but Roscommon will head into the three-week break topping the pile on points difference after their 2-12 to 2-07 defeat of London at Ruislip.

Donegal, ahead of second-placed Roscommon at the beginning of the afternoon by virtue of a single point, certainly had the better start with full forward Brendan Devenney finding the Monaghan net in the first minute.

However 1-03 from the boot of Damien Freeman of Monaghan’s first half haul of 1-04 saw the visitors lead at the break.

In a stormy game, Monaghan’s Jason Hughes and Paul Finlay were to be dismissed in the second half, along with Donegal half back Niall McCready and All-star forward Adrian Sweeney who was given a straight red.

Incredibly it was Devenney who was to score the clinching goals in the final 20 minutes to round off the Donegal win, hitting a final tally of 3-01 with Christy Toye (0-01) also scoring.

Carlow veteran Johnny Nevin hit 1-02 of his side’s first half lead tally of 1-07 against Offaly at Dr Cullen Park, before a Niall McNamee goal brought the sides level at 1-09 apiece, and former All-star Ciaran McManus slotted home a 74th minute penalty for the Faithful county’s one-point win – 2-09 to 1-11.

Half-forward Colm Foody continued his good form for London, hitting his second goal in the space of seven days to hand the home side a surprise 1-06 to 0-05 half-time lead against Roscommon at Ruislip.

Paul Hehir impressed with three early points with the visitors replying through Gary Cox with two scores from play and a brace also from Derek Connellan, scoreless in last weekend’s five-point win over Carlow.

But the game was to swing in the Connacht men’s favour in the second half as two goals from Nigel Dineen (54 minutes) and substitute Jonathan Dunning in the final minutes gave Roscommon the spoils.

Brendan Egan found the target for London as they lost out by just five points, 2-12 to 2-07.

In the final Division 2A game, Denis Russell scored 1-04 for Clare as they came out on top by 1-13 to 0-09 with Leitrim the visitors to Cusack Park.

Russell accepted a pass from his brother David to score a late goal, after Michael Foley hit six of Leitrim’s seven first half points to give them the lead.

Division 2A

Carlow 1-11 2-09 Offaly

Donegal 3-06 1-11 Monaghan

London 2-07 2-12 Roscommon

Clare 1-13 0-09 Leitrim