Experimental Down outfit show promise in Donegal

6 January 2016

DONEGAL got the New Year off to a good start with a win over Down in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

The contest marked Eamon Burns’s first game in charge for Down while it was the 100th game for Donegal captain, Michael Murphy.He marked his introduction in the second half with one of his trademark points, and he was also almost in for a goal, but slipped at the vital moment.

Donegal led by 1-3 to 0-4 at half-time after a stop-start first half. The homesters started well with Frank McGlynn finding the Down net inside 68 seconds.

McGlynn, who was captain for the day, found himself all alone in front of the Down goal and took full advantage of a great pass from Odhran MacNiallais before chipping Down ‘keeper Stephen Kane for a classic score.

The score brought back memories of McGlynn‘s great goal against Down in the Ulster final of 2012.

His deployment at centre half forward is something new this year. He had the No. 11 jersey in a recent challenge game against Sligo also and when asked about that

afterwards, manager Rory Gallagher, said it was something different that they wanted to try.

Gallagher’s experimentation was well managed with a good mix of experience and young players in each line.

Cathal Doyle had Down’s first score on three minutes, but Donegal were dominating and two good points from one of the six starting Donegal debutants, Ciaran Thompson, had Donegal four points clear.

They should have been further ahead as Eoghan Ban Gallagher blazed wide after a lovely flick from Leo McLoone put him clean through on 15 minutes.

Thereafter, Donegal seemed to lose their way and by the 23rd minute Down were back within a point with three points from Gareth Johnston, Arthur McConville (free) and Ryan Mallon.

There was just one more score from then to the half-time whistle, Martin O‘Reilly pointing a free on 29 minutes.

It was an opening half that saw 31 frees, 20 to Down while the teams also shared 15 wides, Down having eight to Donegal’s seven.

The second half was a much more open affair. Gareth Johnston was almost in for a Down goal on 15 seconds, but blazed over and the corner forward was wide with two further efforts in the following minute.

Points from Martin O’Reilly and Hugh McFadden was the perfect response and by the 46th minute, Ciaran Thompson and Caolan Ward had opened the gap to 1-7 to 0-6. Donegal’s Jack O’Brien, saw a thunderbolt come back off the crossbar moments later with ‘keeper Stephen Kane well beaten, after some good approach work. Indeed, from the rebound Odhran MacNiallais had a half chance, but saw his effort blocked.

There was an unusual cameo with a corner back from both sides, Ryan Boyle and Paddy McGrath, getting on the scoreboard within a minute of each other. McGrath‘s effort was his first ever score for the county.

Sean Dornan had a point for Down before the biggest cheer of the day from the 2,000 crowd greeted Michael Murphy‘s introduction on 54 minutes and he had a point on the board three minutes after his introduction.

It helped Donegal into a 1-10 to 0-8 lead and although Down pulled the margin back to three, the final result was never really in doubt as the hosts recorded a deserved win.

Donegal: D Rodgers, J O‘Brien, E Doherty, P McGrath (0-1), M O‘Reilly (0-2,2f), C Ward (0-1), E Ban Gallagher, H McFadden (0-1), C Thompson (0-3), M Carroll, F McGlynn (1-1), S McBrearty, O MacNiallais (0-1), L McLoone, E McHugh. Subs: M Murphy (0-1) for Carroll 54, C Morrison for McHugh 69.

Down: S Kane, M McGee, C McGovern, R Boyle (0-1), R Mallon (0-1), A Carr, D O’Hanlon (0-2,2f), P Turley (0-1), C Doyle (0-1), J McDermott, C Mooney, J Murphy, G Johnston (0-2), A McConville (0-1,f), S Dornan (0-1). Subs: D Turley for McDermott 44, B O’Hagan (0-1) for Mallon, M McKay for McConville, C Harrison for Dornan, P McEldowney for Turley 66.

Donegal 1-11

Down 0-11

McKENNA CUP SECTION B

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