With three games left to play, Donegal NY's Junior squad appear assured of a playoff berth. On the heel of a loss to Monaghan they sit equal in second on the table with Cavan, also with one loss, whom they face on the 21st. All three have five wins to their credit but Monaghan has a draw to offset the one loss of Donegal and Cavan.

Donegal's loss came a week ago to the strong and physical Monaghan side, 1-7 to 1-11. A late Monaghan goal stretched the gap wider than the play had been after Donegal for the first time in the campaign gave up points in the first 15 minutes and after 10 minutes were behind for the first time in the year. The interval score line of Donegal 6, Monaghan 4 was more indicative of the closeness of the match than the final tally.

On Wednesday Donegal returned to form, demolishing Tyrone 5-8 to 2-9 after leaping to a 3-3 score before Tyrone got onto the board. At the interval the score was Donegal 5-5 to Tyrone's 1-1. Although Donegal failed to capitalize on possession after possession in the second stanza, tallying only three more points, the mountain Tyrone had to climb was well beyond their ability, especially as wide after wide squandered their drives. Donegal supremo Gary Dowd (the ageless Pettigo lad) again emptied his bench, even introducing himself into the tie for the last few minutes.

Donegal's quest for silverware goes on with the FDNY and St. Barnabas panels set to face the Tir Chonaill scoring machine in August before the playoffs. But it's the Cavan tie on 21st July that is the challenge and a victory will assure no less than second seed for Donegal, who could well finish with an 8-1 record. Tweet

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