Another win recorded for Donegal tonight in Ballybofey against Queens University and whatever
about the epitaphs of this year’s McKenna Cup as regards qualification and the
blooding of players, Jim McGuinness can look back on a tournament where he’s trebled his
win rate. He again picked a strong side for this encounter with the
Belfast students; the Neils, McGee and Gallagher, in from the start after
seeing second half action in Armagh on Sunday.
Being stationed in Dublin and not being able to make the
game tonight meant relying on Highland Radio and Twitter for updates – and they
were coming thick and fast on a night where Donegal were on the front foot from
the word go. The team knew a big score was essential if they were to have any
chance of a semi-final spot and Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden didn’t waste
time in getting scores on the board.
Donegal ran incessantly at the Queens defence and drew
plenty of frees in the process. It can be taken for granted at times but it is
such a huge advantage the team possesses in having two of the games deadliest free-takers;
and better again having one on either side of the field.
The hosts registered 1-7 in the first half including another
thunderbolt of a goal from Murphy, this time from even further out than his
effort against Tyrone in O’Donnell Park. The students managed to net two goals in the opening period and that is something that won’t please McGuinness or indeed Damian Diver, who was brought on board this year for his expertise in
defence. Moments into the second half Ryan Rafferty bagged his third goal of
the night for the visitors.
The auld radio and twitter updates are particular useful on nights like this when scores in other games have a direct effect
on your own team; it became fairly clear early on that Monaghan were going to
have things much their own way against Fermanagh and in turn pip Donegal to the
best runner-up spot - Tyrone, Derry and Cavan all qualified safely as group
winners.
Jim again used his bench at half time with Rory Kavanagh,
David Walsh and the returning Christy Toye entering the fray; Christy hadn’t pulled
on a Donegal jersey since that wonderful day sixteen months ago in the
All-Ireland Final. He also endured a long spell away from the action from 2009
to 2011 with an Achilles problem so unfortunately the St Michael’s man is no
stranger to long injury lay-offs; hopefully he’ll get a good run at training
over the next few months as he always does a job for his side and is a key
member of the squad.
Murphy got things going again for his team after the
resumption, this time a point off his ‘weaker’ left foot - that is if there is anything
weak in his repertoire. This of course was Michael’s first McKenna Cup campaign
for Donegal in a number of years having previously been tied to playing with
his college, DCU. He looks as sharp as ever and if he can keep this form and
fitness up it should be another big year for the maestro.
Stephen McLaughlin saw some more action tonight after making
a brief cameo at the Atheltic Grounds at the weekend and he got his name on the
score sheet with a point midway through the second period. That just leaves Kilybegs’
Hugh McFadden as the last of newcomers to the panel who has yet to see some
action so expect him to be given a run at some stage in league.
The black card was much talked about prior to the McKenna
Cup but it didn’t have as big an impact as many had anticipated; it did rear
its head more conspicuously in tonight’s game though with three of the students
receiving their marching orders and having to be replaced.
Donegal made a good fist of things in the second half as
regards racking up a high score, finishing with 3-17; with Monaghan though posting
2-20 in Brewster Park and having a superior points difference coming into tonight, they were always in the driving seat and they go on to
meet Cavan this weekend; Tyrone and Derry make up the semi-final quartet.
The one worry on the night was a knock picked up by Rory
Kavanagh; we don’t have the strongest of panels but this is especially true
around midfield – Kavanagh and Gallagher fully fit are a must for Donegal so
that will certainly be a headache for the management team if it turns out to be anything more
than just a knock.
So pre-season is done with and next up its National League
and O’Moore Park in Portlaoise is the first port of call for green
and gold supporters. In theory at least the players should hit the ground running
in the league and be well in contention having got some game time into the legs
in the last ten days. While undoubtedly Division One is a higher standard, once
you go beneath the top three or four teams the rest are on a par with those in
the second tier so there’s no such thing as easy games.
Winning the league is a realistic target for McGuinness but
it will be anything but straight forward. It worked well in 2011, when we last
played in Division Two, losing just one game out of eight and getting better
and better as the Championship went on after that. There’ll be no such luxuries
available this year – Derry in Celtic Park in our Ulster Championship opener will
be a huge challenge and the team must be firing on all cylinders for that.
That tough fixture makes the league even more important;
despite getting relegated with the draw against eventual
All-Ireland winners Dublin in the last game last season, McGuinness’ men played well that day and it set
them up for the battle against Tyrone a few weeks later; and no doubt Jim will
be hoping that an appearance on league final day in Croke Park in April could
set the boys up nicely for Derry.
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