National Football League Division Two final/Louth 3-8 Donegal 0-17: This game may have been moved out of Croke Park, but in the Breffni Park sun yesterday Louth and Donegal produced a spectacle fit for the hallowed turf.
Louth boss Eamonn McEneaney described it as a championship clash in everything but name and if we are gifted a few more games like this in the coming months we're in for a hectic summer. That the sides have to do it all again at the same venue next Sunday is just a bonus.
Louth will kick themselves for surrendering a seven-point half- time lead but will also be glad of a second chance after Donegal dominated the second half.
Adrian Sweeney was sprung from the bench at half-time and the veteran forward was instrumental in Donegal's revival, bagging four points and causing the Louth defence big problems.
Martin Farrelly opened the scoring after a minute but Louth goalkeeper Stuart Reynolds gifted Donegal their first point by kicking straight out to Rory Kavanagh, who dispatched gratefully.
Louth's work rate and constant harrying began to pay dividends as the half progressed, and Christy Grimes added a brace of scores to put them two clear.
Donegal mustered their best passage of the half as Ciarán Bonner, Damien Diver and Brian Roper kicked them in front for the first time at 0-4 to 0-3.
Darren Clarke and Toye traded scores before Louth regained their advantage in fine style after 22 minutes.
Mark Stanfield, Paddy Keenan and John Neary were all involved in a flowing move down Donegal's left wing. The latter crossed to Mark Brennan, who put Aaron Hoey in on goal. He squeezed the ball beneath Michael Boyle to the delight of a large Louth support.
That wasn't the end of the first-half drama. Paddy Keenan and Darren Clarke pointed and with four minutes left Louth built up a sizeable lead thanks to a Mark penalty after Barry Monaghan was penalised for a foot block on Martin Farrelly.
That proved the last score of the half but, crucially, Louth kicked two wides in the closing stages and should have adjourned with a better lead than 2-6 to 0-5.
With that seven-point deficit to close, Donegal excelled in the early stages of the second half.
Sweeney pointed with his first touch and though Clarke replied for Louth, Donegal went on to score six without reply to close the gap to a point before Louth's next score on 56 minutes.
But crucially, that reply was Louth's third goal, dispatched by Martin Farrelly after a great move involving Paddy Keenan, Darren Clarke and JP Rooney to make it 3-7 to 0-12.
But Donegal could still smell an unlikely victory. Corner back Barry Dunnion replied at the other end almost immediately and within a minute Michael Doherty should have levelled matters. He latched on to a Bonner punt and with only Stuart Reynolds to beat he struck the keeper's right-hand upright.
Louth seemed to have steadied their ship with a point from Farrelly with 10 minutes left on the clock, restoring their four-point advantage at 3-8 to 0-13. But Donegal went on to bag the last four scores of the match - the last of which was a free from the supremely accurate Doherty after Peter McGinnity fouled Brendan Boyle.
Same time and venue next Sunday and, let us hope, similar fare.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J Carr; J O'Brien, P McGinnity, J Neary; M Farrelly (1-2), P Keenan (0-1); C Grimes (0-2, 1f), M Brennan, M Stanfield (1-0, pen); JP Rooney, A Hoey (1-0), D Clarke (0-3, 2f). Subs: S Lennon for M Brennan (51 mins), J Kermath for Stanfield (59 mins), T O'Brien for Rooney (61 mins), M Brennan for S Lennon (70 mins).
DONEGAL: M Boyle; N McGee, P Campbell, B Dunnion (0-1); D Diver (0-1), B Monaghan (0-1), F McGlynn; B Boyle, N Gallagher; C Toye (0-1), M Hegarty, R Kavanagh (0-2); B Roper (0-1), C Bonner (0-3), M Doherty (0-3, 2f). Subs: A Sweeney (0-4, 1 sideline, 1f) for Roper (half-time), S McDermott for Hegarty (45 mins), R Sweeney for McGee (50 mins).
Referee: P McGovern (Galway).
