After last week’s cakewalk in Pairc Esler, Rory Gallagher
would have been anticipating a much tougher test from Cork in Ballyshannon
yesterday. Instead it was more of the same from his charges – blistering speed,
wonderful link-play, rugged defence and some fantastic scores.
There seemed to be a sense of surprise amongst the crowd
at how easy it all was in the opening exchanges. Cork kept a plethora of bodies
back in an attempt to stifle Donegal but it had the reverse effect. The visitors
were pinned back and couldn’t escape from their own half of the field in the first
quarter.
They struggled from their own restarts, with newcomer Brendan O’Connell in goal finding it almost impossible to retain primary
possession with neither long nor short options working.
Aside from the ease with which Donegal scythed through
the Rebel rear-guard, the Fr Tierney Park crowd bore witness to another
surprise, a collector’s item even – two successive wides in as many minutes from
Michael Murphy, including one that was the wrong side of the net rigging behind
the goals. If his free taking was befitting something from the Gods last week,
Michael was in a more mortal state yesterday. He did include one party piece, a
stunning fifty metre strike from the floor but in any case, there were plenty
others who had brought their shooting boots, giving The Maestro a well earned break from scoring duty.
Despite incessant rain throughout, it was an unusually placid
day in South Donegal (certainly compared to the prevailing conditions in the same
fixture last year) with the slight breeze playing no significant part in proceedings.
This provided the perfect platform for Patrick McBrearty and Odhran MacNiallais
to wow the crowd with their sumptuous shooting.
McBrearty was in outstanding form in last year’s league
but niggling injuries kept him from reaching his best in the Summer. If he can
stay fit he will torment many a corner back over the coming months. There are
few better in the country at getting shots away in limited space; once he
wriggles free from his marker and sees a half a yard of daylight, his
radar-like left peg usually finds the target.
There’s something different yet very special about seeing
a player firing a booming point over the bar off his ciotog. From our own Colm McFadden
to past figures like Jarlath Fallon or Stephen O’Neill, the technique of these greats
is wonderful to witness. McBrearty and MacNiallais are certainly keeping up the
trend with aplomb.
Odhran grabbed all the headlines yesterday with his 1-4
tally from his roving midfield/half forward role. Time and again he drifted in
and out of moves, taking and giving hand passes, keeping the ball in transit and then whenever
he arrives at the end of a move in space he lets fly with that languid motion.
While the aforementioned duo led the scoring stats, the
man who had the most influence on proceedings was Eoin McHugh. He had an
excellent match last week but lifted his game to another level yesterday. He
was involved in so many of Donegal’s scores, often initiating attacks with his
direct running. Despite the modern game being analysed to the nth degree, there
is one thing that can never be coached – pace. At times the Cork defence simply could
not keep up with McHugh. One example was McBrearty’s point that started at the other end of the pitch with a
brilliant goal-saving touch from Neil McGee. The ball was fed to McHugh on the
touchline who accelerated away, leaving two Cork defenders trailing in his wake trying in vain to
catch him.
McHugh has great maturity and awareness of what is around
him at any given time and an innate understanding of the game. As he surveyed
his options in the lead up to the second goal yesterday, he was well
within his rights to tap over a simple point. Instead he sensed a goal opportunity
and worked the ball across to McGee who fed MacNiallais to drill to the net. Goals
are more important than ever before in Gaelic football; a breach of a well
organised defence is worth as much in the psychological stakes as the green
flag that follows.
There is no let-up for defenders against this current Donegal setup; anytime Eoin needs
a breather, up steps his cousin Ryan. With a McHugh stationed on either wing,
Donegal’s running threat never ceases and if the lads are in full flow, it is
close to being undefendable.
Eoin played a big part in the game’s opening goal,
finding space on the 21 before returning Martin O’Reilly’s pass and the Mac Cumhaills
man did the rest. Following his sojourn at half back against Down, O’Reilly returned
to an inside attacking role this week and displayed all his killer instincts in
finishing low past O’Connell.
It was another flowing, short passing move much like two
of the majors plundered in Newry. These types of precise attacks replete with one-twos,
give and go’s and quick hands are much easier to execute since the advent of the black
card and in particular the penalty for the illegal block after a player has
played a pass.
The other black card category offences remain contentious,
Ciaran Thompson was the latest to fall foul of the ambiguity of implementation.
He was sent to the line for a late shoulder on an opponent yet despite being
floored with an even later hit after delivering his pass in the build up to the
second goal, McHugh’s aggressor stayed on the field. These aren’t majorly defining
match incidents when the margin of victory reaches double figures but come
Championship these could be the difference between winning and losing.
Up until then Thompson was having another good outing,
although he was outdone by his brother in the scoring stakes. As is now customary, like Scholes or Lampard in their pomp, Anthony can run the length of the
field unnoticed and suddenly appear, stealth-like, in yards of space to pop
over the simplest of scores. Twice he managed the trick in the first half and the remainder of his work was carried out with the minimum of
fuss but the greatest efficiency.
Even towards the end of the game, with stoppage time
approaching, Thompson was covering his defence, doing his job in his unassuming
way before throwing himself in front of a goal bound Cork shot.
Paddy McGrath is another who rarely seems too concerned
about his own personal safety if it’s for the good of the team. He epitomises
the collective effort of the team and in one instance in the first half was
quite happy to get a belt in the face knowing that a free was on its way. He
took the hit, put the ball down and jogged back to his wing back spot – no fuss,
just business.
That was the mantra for everyone yesterday. Even though
the lead was increasing throughout the second half, there was no slacking off
in concentration or exertion. Hugh McFadden was among the most vocal on the
field, constantly barking out orders, reminding those in front of him who to
pick up and cajoling them to expend the last drops of energy they had left in
the tank.
McGrath did a number on one of Cork’s most influential
operators, Paul Kerrigan, who was such a threat against Mayo last week. His
trademarks runs were missing yesterday as the terrier from Ardara completely
nullified his contribution.
Another of the star performers in Cork’s win over Mayo
last week, Daniel Goulding, had a similarly frustrating afternoon. With Eamonn
Doherty keeping him company, he found it almost impossible to break free from
the shackles of the Eunan’s defender, who appeared to be in cruise control. Indeed,
Goulding only managed to score from play after Doherty had been removed from
the action before the hour mark.
So as the lads escape whatever storms are heading our way
next, they head for sunnier climes in fine fettle. Five goals scored in two
games and only fifteen scores conceded means a healthy points difference and
top spot in the Division One standings.
Another win will secure safety and
anything after that will be deemed bonus territory. Our old friends Mayo are up
next and with Stephen Rochford experiencing somewhat of a baptism of fire in
the manager’s hotseat, the joust in Ballybofey in three weeks has all the makings of a feisty encounter.
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