Donegal snatch late draw to remain top of the pile

Donegal extended their unbeaten National League run, salvaging a point despite being a man down as they fought back to earn a dramatic 1-17 to 0-20 draw with Galway in Ballyshannon.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is braced for a possible league final as his side remain top of the table with two games remaining, including their trip to Roscommon on 15 March.

"It's on the horizon now, if we win one more game, we're probably there," said McGuinness.

"But we want to do that in the context of what we're trying to build in the game plan, with the younger players getting an opportunity."

Donegal had started sharply despite a flurry of early wides, with Michael Langan and Jamie Brennan pushing them two clear before Robert Finnerty opened the visitors' account.

Conor O'Donnell was central to Donegal's best moments in the opening half. After restoring parity midway through the half, he rifled home a superb goal on 20 minutes following a precise Gavin Mulreany kickout against the breeze.

Galway hit back through the game's top scorer, Oisin MacDonnacha, whose two-pointer helped shift momentum and he would finish the game with seven points.

A black card for Michael Langan further disrupted Donegal, allowing the Tribesmen to add late scores and take a 0-13 to 1-07 lead into half-time.

The visitors seized control early in the second period, extending their lead to six as Donegal struggled to gain territory and then lost Stephen McMenamin to a second yellow card.

"The two incidents, you can't defend. In physical games such as these, those are the moments you must hold your discipline," McGuinness added.

However, the introduction of Michael Murphy, Finnbarr Roarty and Peadar Mogan sparked a revival. Further points from Jason McGee and Ryan McHugh drove the Tir Chonaill men forward, gradually eroding the deficit.

A Murphy free cut the gap to one before Mogan's late two-pointer nudged the hosts in front for the first time since the opening half.

The Tribesman seized the last opportunity of the match as Paul Conroy struck in the dying moments to secure a share of the spoils.