Downed by Donegal

Downed by Donegal

3 February 2016

IT was the stuff of nightmares for Down as their return to Division One football yielded a massacre at the hands of a deadly Donegal offering.

Just two points from play came from the Mourne side over the course of the 70-plus minutes as a rampant Tír Chonnail outfit demolished the Down threat at every turn.

The game was effectively over at the midway point. Donegal led handsomely on a 0-9 to 0-3 scoreline.

The sublime Michael Murphy was converting some majestic set pieces as Down faltered in their rearguard.

Donegal’s power-plays were causing havoc and the second half turned out to be a chastening experience for the Red and Black.

The smallest man on the pitch, Ryan McHugh, caused absolute devastation with two net finishes while Paddy McBrearty scored a stunning individual three-pointer as Down were routed.

Donegal’s first two majors came midway through the third quarter and they propelled Rory Gallagher’s men in to an unassailable eleven-point lead.

Down began to get dragged all over the pitch and a Lazarus-style comeback was never on the cards.

The home side’s misery was compounded in the 65th minute with Donal O’Hare seeing red. His missed penalty was also a setback for the Burren man. 

Black cards were also issued to Joe Murphy and Conaill McGovern.

Manager Eamon Burns was very disappointed after the defeat. The two-time All-Ireland winner said: “I spoke before and said the best teams in Ireland, bar Tyrone, are in this division.

“We have a young side. But they will learn from that, and they will progress. We have to get them ready for Monaghan.”

He was left frustrated at the end at the prospect of a possible suspension for Donal O’Hare, claiming the referee said it was for striking, although the media did not catch it.

“He doesn’t know why he was sent off,” Burns remarked. “He said it was for striking, but he didn’t strike. There were other things going on before that; maybe the umpires only saw one thing, but he is very annoyed the way the situation played out.”

It was a fresh looking Down offering that took to the field but inexperience was the deciding factor.

Donegal gained their first away win in the top tier since 2009 while Down will be hoping for better days ahead.

Down: S Kane; D O’Hagan, G McGovern, M Magee; M Hughes, C McGovern 0-1, R Boyle; P Turley, H Brown; J Murphy, M Poland, K McKernan; R Johnston, A McConville 0-2, 1f, D O’Hare 0-4f. Subs: C Harrison for Johnston (28m), N Madine for McConville (38m), M McKay for Turley (48m), S Dornan for Poland (57m). Yellow cards: Brown (22), O’Hagan (23). Subs: C Harrison for Johnston (28m), N Madine for McConville (38m), M McKay for Turley (48m), S Dornan for Poland (57m). Yellow cards, Brown (22), O’Hagan (23); Black cards, Murphy (25m, replaced by D O’Hanlon, C McGovern (56m, replaced by A Carr), Red cards: O’Hare (65m)

Donegal: P Boyle; E O’Doherty, N McGee, P McGrath; M O’Reilly, R McHugh 2-0, A Thompson; M Murphy 0-8, 7f, 1x’sl’, C Thompson 0-1; M Carroll, F McGlynn 0-1, E McHugh; H McFadden, O MacNiallais, P McBrearty 1-2, 1f.  Subs: S McBrearty for MacNiallais (53m), N Gallagher for Thompson (60m) R Kavanagh for O’Reilly (62m), C McGonagle for McHugh (64m). Yellow cards: P McBrearty (23m), MacNiallais (45m). Black cards: N McGee (19m, replaced by E McGee), Carroll (43m, replaced by L McLoone 0-2), E McGee (65m, no replacement allowed).

Down 0-7

Donegal 3-15

NFL DIVISION 1