We got our trophy back! The Anglo Celt is back in Donegal
hands for the third time in four years and with the Fr. Murray cup also
crossing the border last night after the minor team’s victory it was a day of
double delight for the green and gold.
Despite being somewhat used to the celebrations that go with
an Ulster title win, the management and players took particular pleasure out of
yesterday’s win; it seemed to mean more, even judging by Jim’s reaction at the final
whistle. There’s a fierce determination within the group to right the wrongs
from last year and they’ve now banished the memory of the provincial showpiece
12 months ago.
For a few of course this is their first Ulster medal – Ryan
McHugh marked the occasion with a man of the match performance while Odhran
MacNiallais kicked three wonderful points over the course of the game.
In the early stages of the match, the blood and thunder of
last year wasn’t quite evident; there was nervy, nasty atmosphere and a
somewhat claustrophobic tension which mirrored the dead heat in the Clones air.
The apprehensiveness affected the players too with three of the country’s leading
dead ball specialists, Conor McManus, Michael Murphy and Rory Beggan, all
missing attempts at the posts in the opening minutes; indeed McManus would register his only score in stoppage time at the end of the match – and that
was a long ball intended to land in and around Paul Durcan’s square.
Donegal coped better in the dour opening exchanges, notching
the game’s first three points and Monaghan struggled to cope with Jim’s
defensive setup. McGuinness stationed Leo McLoone in the full forward line alongside
Colm McFadden and it is an example of the options that the coaching staff have
developed over time. Leo’s fabulous fetch on the end line led to MacNiallais’
second point of the day and kept Donegal nudging ahead.
Despite the perception that ‘The System’ is extremely rigid,
the players have to be agile and be able to undertake different roles
throughout the course of a game. Murphy is the best example of this of course;
he spent most of yesterday’s game as an auxiliary centre back alongside Frank McGlynn
and on numerous occasions he was even covering in at full-back when Neil McGee
sauntered up field. Armagh were the pioneers of this role under Joe Kernan -
Tony McEntee used to slot in alongside Kieran McGeeney as Murphy did yesterday.
The purists baulk at such tactics, stunned that one of the
game’s eminent attackers is asked to perform such a role yet I’m sure Michael
didn’t mind one bit where he played once he was able to climb the steps of
the Gerry Arthur stand to pick up the trophy for the third time.
When the team was named during the week, it was assumed that
there would be changes before throw-in and Karl Lacey was sure to be one of
them. He had a fine afternoon, getting the game’s opening point and also
displaying his now trademark, textbook dispossession on Dermot Malone in the
second half. You often see defenders - not very good ones - frantically swinging both arms at
an attacker hoping to dispossess them; Karl does this but always in a measured way, aimed at the
ball and it’s a fantastic skill.
Lacey’s half back counterpart, Anthony Thompson, had a
somewhat unusual game – time and again his handling let him down and he, like
quite a few of the players, looked nervous. Yet the Glenties man just
always seems to make a big contribution and he certainly did that again.
Neil Gallagher was another change to the fifteen named and
the Glenswilly man had an outstanding game. Such are his injury problems that
he rarely gets seventy minutes in a Donegal jersey these days but he lasted the
pace yesterday and that in itself is a huge positive as we move into the All-Ireland series.
There’s an intense, somewhat bitter rivalry building between
these teams lately and that always simmered close to the surface yesterday.
There were quite a few flashpoints in the game and it was a surprise that both
teams managed to keep their full complement of players on the field. The McGee
brothers both picked up cautions in the first half but did well to keep their
discipline thereafter, crucial in such a tense, turgid battle.
The battles were taking place in the stands too with quite a
few slagging matches breaking out amongst the two sets of supporters. Stephen
Gollogly didn’t help matters as he put in a high tackle on McHugh, this of
course the same player who ended Mark McHugh’s Ulster final participation last
year. Monaghan were intent on drawing Donegal into a physical battle and they
hit hard and sometimes late. Yet the discipline shown by the men from the Hills
was commendable – in the first few minutes Gollogly swung Murphy around by the
neck but there was no reaction whatsoever from the Maestro, he just took his
free and got on with it.
Donegal had a two-point lead at the break and continued to
look in control in the third quarter, stretching the difference out to four. Monaghan’s goal could have been a major
turning point as it left just the minimum between them - the next score was
going to be crucial. McGuinness’ men got it and added two more and that
was the winning of the game.
Patrick McBrearty was to the fore in this period and maybe
the decision not to start him was a smart call from Jim in that it reminded the
Kilcar youngster that his displays had to improve. Injury curtailed his
involvement during the league but in almost every game he came off the bench to
good effect and got his name on the score sheet, just like he did yesterday.
It was the captain who had the final say, Murphy nailing a
monster 70 yard free to sink Monaghan hearts. It was reminiscent of the free he
scored against Ardara in last year’s county semi final to get his club to the
final – big moments, big man.
A handling error from Frank McGlynn led to the goal but that
aside he was immense throughout. He was the source for many of his side’s
attacks and swept up in front of the McGee brothers. Earlier in that move for
the goal, McFadden handled poorly to give possession back to the Farney men;
Colm’s poor form continued yesterday, having been brilliantly marshalled by Drew
Wylie, and his lack of confidence is a worry as we head for Croke Park. He’s
working as hard as ever but it just isn’t happening for him at present. That
can happen sometimes and you feel that a goal or a big point from play could
turn his season around. He still notched 0-4 from frees though and for that
alone he’s a vital cog.
Neither Colm nor Michael scored from play yet the team still
registered 0-15; maybe Donegal aren’t as reliant on these two as everyone makes
out. For a defensive side who supposedly neglect the attacking element of the
game, it was a decent score to post and indeed there were some very poor wides
and missed chances to go along with that.
So all this means that its back to Jones Road in a few weeks’
time for a quarter final against either Armagh or Meath. The Orchard had our
number for quite a few years so a rematch would be something to look
forward to.
Looking forward to the semi-final is what the rest of the
country are doing though – the unbeatable juggernaut that is Dublin will be
there and many believe Donegal are the only team that can stop them. A Dublin
street trader even found his way to the market town yesterday, selling
headbands for a euro, maybe on a spying mission for August.
Certainly right now, the team is not as fluid or assured as
it was this time two years ago. However Jim has broken a seventy minute
football match into so many little parts and has a specific plan for each as
regards positioning of players, personnel changes from the bench and game plans
that you wouldn’t back against him in any contest.
There probably wasn’t a need to go as defensive yesterday as
Jim did but maybe this was with an eye on future opponents and honing that
watertight system that will be undoubtedly pushed to its limit by the Dubs
should the two sides meet.
That’s for another day though; for now it’s a quarter final
to think about and a chance to bask in the glory of another Ulster title. Maith sibh lads.
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