Galway Ladies will be action in Tuam Stadium on Sunday when they host neighbours and arch rivals Mayo in the second round of the Lidl National Football League (2pm ).
This is a crucial game for Galway, having lost their opener by 0-10 to 0-7 to Donegal last weekend, while Mayo arrive with a bounce in their step having seen off Westmeath by 7-22 to 1-12.
The ticket only game takes place at Tuam Stadium, and Galway will be urging fans to turn out in force after last weekend's defeat in Ballybofey.
Mayo dominated last year's intermediate champions from the start, leading 4-11 to 1-5 at half-time, and they will be clear favourites to add a second win in division one.
Galway, having been beaten by Mayo at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage last year, will be looking for an improvement after last weekend. It is difficult times for the team, without a manager after Gery Fahy stepped down last month, and while it would not have helped their preparation, there are many experienced players in the Galway team who will be leading from the front.
Donegal led from the start, with a free in the opening minute after Karen Guthrie went down and McLaughlin opened her account, before Galway's Kate Slevin struck from play on six minutes.
McLaughlin, who was well marshalled by Aoife Ni Cheallaigh, drew a foul to put the hosts back in front, and their best score followed when Tara Hegarty and Shelly Twohig combined to set up Guthrie for goal.
Galway created their chances - Shauna Brennan’s deflected ball found Mairead Seoighe who sliced it wide, and Donegal went three clear when McLaughlin profited from Suzanne White’s free to make it 0-4 to 0-1 on 19 minutes. She added another before good work from Ailbhe Davoren led to Leanne Coen reducing the arrears.
Just before half-time Geraldine McLaughlin was brought down by Ni Cheallaigh, but Galway goalkeeper Alannah Griffin saved the low shot to leave Galway’s half-time deficit at 0-6 to 0-2.
There was more energy from Galway after the restart as Slevin and Ailbhe Davoren converted to reduce the deficit to two by the 35th minute, but that was as close as Galway got.
McLaughlin and Aoife O’Rourke traded frees before the water break leaving it 0-7 to 0-5.However it was the home side that prevailed, putting five between the sides, and despite late points for Slevin and Brennan, it was not enough for the Tribseswomen.
DONEGAL: R McCafferty; N Boyle, E McGinley, S McFadden; N Carr, F McManamon, T Hegarty; Nicole McLaughlin, R Rodgers; B McLaughlin, Niamh McLaughlin, S Twohig; G McLaughlin, K Guthrie, S White.Subs: A Boyle Carr for White (34 ), K Herron for Hegarty (41 ).
GALWAY: A Griffin; S Molloy, E Gavin, A Ni Cheallaigh; K Geraghty, C Cooney, S Brennan; A Davoren, S Ni Loingsigh; L Coen, A Trill, L Finnegan; A O’Rourke, M Seoighe, K Slevin.Subs: C Trill for Molloy (37 ), E Power for Ni Cheallaigh (37 ), D Keane for Seoighe (45 ), L Scanlon for Finnegan (45 ), L Booth for Geraghty (49 ), F Cooney for Ni Loingsigh (58 ), J Burke for Coen (60 ).
Ref: Garryowen McMahon (Mayo )
