Allianz FL D1: Spoils shared in Ballyshannon

Allianz Football League Division One

Donegal 1-17 Galway 0-20

By Chris McNulty at Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon

Peadar Mogan landed a dramatic two-pointer at Fr Tierney Park to preserve Donegal’s unbeaten start to 2026.

Mogan arrowed over in the dying embers as 14-man Donegal came back from six points down to earn a share of the spoils with Galway.

The St Naul’s man, who was introduced from the bench for the second half, scurried into position on the left-hand side of the arch to punt over the levelling score.

Donegal are also unbeaten now in 13 games in Ballyshannon - a run that stretches back to 2009.

Trailing by three at half-time, Jim McGuinness sent the signal out for some of his heavy hitters with Mogan, Michael Murphy and Finnbarr Roarty all brought on for the second half.

Murphy was making his 194th appearance for Donegal - equalling Neil McGee at the top of the all-time appearances list and moving ever closer to his 200th game in the green and gold.

Ciaran Mulhearn and a brace by Oisin Mac Donnacha widened the gap to six before Donegal defender Stephen McMenmain was sent off in the 44th minute. The Killygordon man, already carrying a yellow card from the first half, was late on Cian Hernon and could have no complaints as he headed for an early shower.

Roarty clipped over and Jason McGee thumped over an effort that took a lick from the crossbar on its way over to bring Donegal - for whom Conor O’Donnell bagged a superb goal in the first half - within three points again with a little under 20 minutes to go and the home side pressed on to claim a point.

Robert Finnerty had just put Galway 0-5 to 0-4 in front when Donegal made a big play. Goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany went long with the kick-out and O’Donnell knocked down for himself. Well before he got control of the ball, O’Donnell had his sat nav set. The Carndonagh man flicked on the afterburners and fired past Conor Gleeson.

Mulreany converted a two-point free soon after to put Donegal four ahead, 1-6 to 0-5.

Galway, though, responded well, Shane McGrath and Mulhearn tacking on two in the space of a minute. Mulhearn opted to fist over when he might’ve carried on his run.

Oisin Mac Donnacha - who scored eight points in all - inched Galway closer and it was a two-point free by Mac Donnacha that put Galway ahead in the 28th minute.

Donegal were dealt a hammer blow in the 32nd minute when their captain, Michael Langan, was shown a black card after barging into Mac Donnacha.

Matthew Tierney, O Conghaile and Mac Donnacha landed points as Galway led by three, 0-13 to 1-7, at the short whistle. Late in the half, Mulhern shot at Mulreany as Galway threatened again.

Earlier in the afternoon, Langan and Jamie Brennan posted early scores for the home side, but Finnerty and Tierney opened Galway’s account before O Conghaile swept over delightfully from the left-hand side.

It was tit-for tat in testing conditions, Donegal’s lot including a couple of points by the returned Jamie Brennan, when Galway could have had a goal, Mulreany saving well from an awkward first-timer by corner back Johnny McGrath.

Donegal survived something of a scare after 12 minutes when Tierney dropped one short after combining well with Mac Donnacha and the effort seemed to momentarily catch Mulreany off guard.

Donegal gave first League starts for Naomh Columba player Paul O’Hare and St Eunan’s Eoin McGeehan while Stephen McMenamin and Brennan were making their first starts of 2026.

Oisin Gallen, initially named to start, was not included in the matchday 26 while Young Footballer of the Year Roarty dropped to the bench before being called for at half-time.

Murphy and Langan reduced the arrears for Donegal, who were kept in it by an excellent double save in the 48th minute. First, Mulreany saved superbly with his feet from Hernon and Dylan McHugh’s follow-up was blocked on the line by full-back Brendan McCole.

Mulreany had to intervene again as Galway looked to put matters to bed, the Inver man thwarting Daniel O’Flaherty.

Donegal looked like they might run out of time - but Mogan had other ideas.

Scorers for Donegal: Conor O’Donnell 1-2; Michael Murphy (1f) 0-3; Jason McGee, Jamie Brennan, Michael Langan, Gavin Mulreany (1 2pt f), Peadar Mogan (1 2pt) 0-2 each; Finnbarr Roarty, Ryan McHugh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Oisin Mac Donnacha (3fs, 1 2pt) 0-8; Ciaran Mulhearn 0-3; Shane McGrath, Robert Finnerty, Matthew Tierney, Liam O Conghaile 0-2 each; Cian Hernon 0-1

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Shea Malone; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Paul O’Hare, Conor O’Donnell, Jamie Brennan; Conor McCahill, Jason McGee, Eoin McGeehan.

Subs: Michael Murphy, Peadar Mogan and Finnbarr Roarty for McGeehan, Brennan and McCahill (all half-time), Kevin Muldoon for Malone (57).

Galway: Conor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Cian Hernon, Jack Glynn; Liam Silke, Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly; John Maher, Matthew Tierney; Shane McGrath, Ciaran Mulhearn, Liam O Conghaile; Robert Finnerty, Cein Darcy, Oisin Mac Donnacha. Subs: Fionn McDonagh for O Conghaile (57), Paul Conroy for Darcy (60), Daniel O’Flaherty for S.McGrath (60).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).