Hi °C | Lo °C Donegal's chances of winning back-to-back league titles are still on track but they were lucky in Ballyshannon yesterday as Laois had plenty of chances.
The Leinster men were very unhappy with referee Eugene Murtagh who denied them two penalties in the second half and Laois also squandered two great goal chances.
In a game that swung from end to end, both defences were under pressure with Colm Kelly, at full-forward for Laois, the outstanding player on the field.
They will wonder how they failed to get anything from the game and how they failed to score from the eighth minute of the second half.
Donegal started well and led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 13 minutes but a great goal by Padraig McMahon on the overlap was the spur for Laois to take a two point lead.
Donegal hit back with Colm McFadden to the fore and a fisted goal by David Walsh had the home side in front by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.
A second goal from Paul Lawlor five minutes into the second half again saw Laois hit 1-2 inside three minutes and into a two point lead once more.
But thereafter they spurned chance after chance and failed to raise another flag.
Donegal had to send in Brian Roper to give some leadership - and points from Michael Hegarty and Colm McFadden got them into a lead they hardly deserved.
Colm Kelly was twice fouled inside the area but got no reward while Donie Brennan hit the side netting and then found Michael Boyle equal to his best effort from 20 metres.
Donegal now face Derry on Sunday next in what is almost a League semi-final but they will have to improve greatly on this showing if they are to contest the final.
DONEGAL: M Boyle; K Lacey (0-1), N McGee, P McDaid; F McGlynn, E McGee, K Cassidy; K Rafferty (0-1), R Kavanagh; C Toye, M Hegarty (0-2,2f), C Bonner (0-2); L Thompson (0-1), C McFadden (0-7,6f), D Walsh (1-0). Subs: B Roper for Bonner; C Dunne for Toye; S McDermott for Rafferty; R Bradley for Thompson.
LAOIS: C Gorman; P O'Leary, M Timmons, C Healy; D Murphy (0-1), D Rooney, P McMahon (1-0); B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; B McCormaic, P Lawler (1-0), B Sheehan; M Tierney (0-2, 45), C Kelly (0-1), R Munnelly (0-2). Subs: D Brennan (0-2) for Mac Cormaic; J Higgins for Murphy; B McDonald for Munnelly.
Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).
