Donegal too good in the end

Donegal 3-14 Kildare 0-12 Donegal made up for last year's defeat in the All-Ireland junior football final by securing their first title in impressive fashion at Croke Park yesterday. An inspirational eight-point contribution from Maureen O'Donnell and three well timed goals condemned Kildare to their second defeat at this stage in three years.

It had all started well for the Leinster champions as scores from Gráinne Heduan and Maria Moolick put them into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes.

However, five points in succession sent Donegal into an ascendancy they simply refused to relinquish thereafter.

Tracey Noone, Kildare's most accomplished forward, interrupted the potential rout with a well taken point but a brilliant individual goal from Kelly Lacey, when she slipped past both Ann Hughes and Antoinette Mooney, stretched Donegal's lead to four points.

Despite trailing 1-9 to 0-7 at half-time, Kildare, to their credit, came out after the interval in a determined mood, Noone landing two frees and a Deirdre Gately point further reducing the deficit.

But with Lacey and McDonnell in fine form, the Ulster champions pulled away once more. The vital second goal arrived after 45 minutes when Yvonne McMonagle sent a delightful lob over goalkeeper Ellen Ryan.

Three minutes later they wrapped up the contest with the third goal when captain Debbie Lee Fox finished smartly after a clever through ball from Francis Hoy.

DONEGAL: C McHugh; M Doherty, L O'Sullivan, D Dunnion; A McDonnell, D Toner, A Hegarty; N Lacey, D Lee Fox (1-0); Y McMonagle (1-0), N Doherty, K Lacey (1-3); M O'Donnell (0-8, 0-4 frees); F Hoy (0-1), S Campbell (0-2). Subs: M Devenney for L O'Sullivan (half-time), C McGrory for Y McMonagle (61 mins), N Stapleton for K Lacey (66 mins).

KILDARE: E Ryan; E Delaney, A Hughes, A Mooney; A Lambe, K Leahy, A Holton; B Leahy, J Cunningham; S Gilbert, D Gately (0-2, 0-1 free), N Earley (0-1); T Noone (0-6, 0-4 frees), M Moolick (0-1), G Heduan (0-2 frees). Subs: D Power for A Mooney (30 mins), Y Murphy for G Heduan (63 mins).

Ref: L McDonough (Sligo)