Geraldine McLaughlin gets hauled back during the clash today
Armagh 4-18 Donegal 4-6
IT hardly seems fair to finish at the top of a league, only to lose out promotion because of the play-off format.
But Donegal Senior Ladies will stay in Division 2 next year after losing out by 12 points to Armagh at Parnell Park this afternoon.
The Orchard County's Aimee Mackin hit 2-5 from play in a repeat of the 2005 decider and will play in Division 1 next year.
Armagh were rocked after just 40 seconds when Yvonne McMonagle, who collected a treble, netted for Donegal.
Mackin responded in kind after eight minutes before Fionnuala McKenna, who also raised two green flags, struck in the 17th minute.
Geraldine McLaughlin scored Donegal’s second goal four minutes before half-time but Armagh pounced with a decisive blow with just 17 seconds remaining on the clock, as Mackin showed a blistering turn of pace to evade the Donegal cover before lashing home her second goal.
That gave Armagh a 3-10 to 2-03 half-time lead but Donegal came out fighting and McMonagle hit a 38th minute goal and when McLaughlin popped over a free, the deficit was down to six points, with Donegal trailing by 3-06 to 3-12.
McMonagle did pull another goal back for Donegal with eight minutes remaining but Armagh had surged ahead at that stage.
Scorers for Armagh: A Mackin 2-5, F McKenna 2-2, K Mallon 0-6 (3f), L McConville 0-2, A McCoy, C Malone & C O’Hanlon 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Y McMonagle 3-0, G McLaughlin 1-2 (0-1f), A McDonnnell, N Hegarty, S McGroddy & A Barrett 0-1 each.
ARMAGH: K Daly; M Tennyson, C Morgan, S Marley; S Reel, N Henderson, N Marley; C Malone, C O’Hanlon; A McCoy, K Mallon, L Kenny; L M McConville, F McKenna, A Mackin.
Subs: S McCoy for S Marley (44), M McAlinden for McKenna (50), M McGuinness for N Marley (50), T McCoy for McConville (60), S Grey for McCoy (60).
DONEGAL: L Gallagher; D Foley, E Gallagher, Nicole McLaughlin; A McDonnell, C Hegarty, Niamh McLaughlin; K Herron, R Curran; E Ward, N Hegarty, S McGroddy; A Barrett, Y McMonagle, G McLauglin.
Subs: R Boyle for Curran (15), K Keeney for Nicole McLaughlin (h.t.), T Doherty for Ward (h.t.), E McCrory for Barrett (41).
Referee: G Carmody (Mayo)