Donegal were caught by a late late James Durcan goal for Mayo in their opening Division 1 game of the Allianz Football League season on Saturday night at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, as it finished level on a final scoreline of Donegal 0-19 Mayo 2-13.
Durcan’s goal for the defending league champions came in the sixth minute of added time – and was effectively the last kick of the game.
The game marked the return of Killybegs clubman Eoghan Bán Gallagher for his first competitive game for Donegal since breaking his ankle last Summer.
The home side controlled most of the first half despite Mayo’s James Carr finding the net midway through the half.
Donegal led by 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time and they moved three points clear in the third quarter.
But Mayo were never too far away and kept pushing for the vital scores to try and rescue at least a point.
However, Declan Bonner’s appeared to be home and hosed when Ciaran Thompson’s added time point helped Donegal establish a three-point lead.
But then, with added time almost up, up popped James Durcan for Mayo to snatch the goal and the draw for his county.
Listen back to how the Ocean FM Sport commentary team of Paddy McGill and Eamon McGee described the dramatic finish:
One note of concern for Donegal was a head injury for Kilcar’s Ryan McHugh, who was substituted in the closing stages.
Saturday’s Division 1 results
Donegal 0-19 Mayo 1-13
Dublin 1-18 Kerry 1-18 (latest)
Division 2
Armagh 2-18 Cavan 1-8
Division 3
Derry 2-11 Leitrim 1-14
Cork 0-20 Offaly 0-13
Division 4
Carlow 0-11 Wicklow 0-9
Waterford 0-10 Limerick 1-10
NHL Division 1 – Group A
Tipperary 0-18 Limerick 2-14.
