AS THEY HEAD INTO the Allianz League’s three-week hiatus, things are just how Rory Gallagher would have desired at this point.
Donegal 2-14 Cork 1-07
Donegal made it two wins from their opening two games as they overcame Cork in wintery Ballyshannon with 10 points to spare.
Donegal had blitzed the Rebels early on, spurred by Martin O’Reilly’s 13th minute goal.
Picture caption: Ciaran Thompson kicks a point for Donegal against Cork. Picture by Evan Logan.
A brief purple patch had Cork in the game, but Donegal switched on the afterburners and when Odhrán Mac Niallais added a second goal for the home side there was only a question of how wide the margin would be.
The answer was 10 points, which in no way flattered the hosts, whose fans in the 2,250 attendance will have been pretty satisfied with how their side following up an opening day 17-point win over Down.
With two wins and the team – not far off full health – still missing some of the old guard, Gallagher will take his team to Tenerife next weekend for a five-day training camp with maximum Division 1 points bagged.
For the most part they were in control and comfortable, with the exception of a five-minute spell in the first half when Donal Óg Hodnett’s goal gave Cork hope of a comeback.
Donegal had a dizzy spell during which the house of cards threatened to crumble, but they soon got their act together again and their dominance was reflected in the second half.
18 minutes into the second half, they broke for a second goal. Ryan McHugh scorched his way through and the ball made its way to Mac Niallais, who made no mistake with a crisp finish.
The writing was scrawled on the wall for Cork from an early stage.
Scored by Patrick McBrearty and Ciarán Thompson began the rout and Michael Murphy added the latest wonder score to that ever-growing portfolio beneath his oxter.
After Mac Niallais was pulled down, around 50 metres from goal, manager Gallagher beckoned captain Murphy to have a pop. Murphy nonchalantly drilled over the black spot.
Two minutes later, Donegal broke for a goal. Murphy freed O’Reilly and, after a fine give-and-go with Eoin McHugh, O’Reilly was one-on-one with Brendan O’Connell, Cork’s goalkeeper who was making his League debut.
It was still by no means a ‘gimme’ with O’Connell’s imposing frame making O’Reilly’s target a small one. The MacCumhaills man took time to pick his spot and coolly slotted home.
When Anthony Thompson boomed over, Donegal led by seven, but from somewhere Cork found a kick to make a game of it.
Dsespite Donegal having been utterly dominant in the early moments, Cork came back to within a point.
Either side of two Daniel Goulding frees, Hodnett whacked beyond Peter Boyle for a Cork goal. Mark Collins’ long arrow found Peter Kelleher before Hodnett was set up by Brian Hurley to score.
Hurley had missed two frees of the more routine variety and another Goulding free had Cork in striking distance, but Donegal steadied the ship again and hit the final five points of the first stanza.
McBrearty splendidly curled over with an effort that checked all the notches of the protractor on the way around while two brilliant Mac Niallais points helped push Donegal clear.
At the short whistle, Donegal were six in front, although there had been two heart-in-mouth moments.
Ruairi Deane’s ball across goal invited a goal for Hurley, but he failed to make contact when he tried to palm home; and Boyle was down well to save a free from Paul Kerrigan, who tried to catch Donegal out with a swiftly-taken free.
Donegal started their League programme with a lopsided 3-15 to 0-7 win over Down last Saturday night in Newry, but Cork’s 1-18 to 0-12 victory against Mayo meant they headed for Ballyshannon in high spirits.
New boss Peadar Healy made four switches to his team from last weekend with ‘keeper O’Connell – a former Republic of Ireland amateur international – joining Hodnett, Kevin Crowley and Kevin O’Driscoll in coming into the XV.
They scored 1-3 in six minutes from the 17th minute, but they wouldn’t score again for 39 minutes and the goal by Hodnett was their only score from play until seven minutes from time.
Donegal made the win save when Mac Niallais cracked past O’Connell in the 53rd minute after Ryan McHugh’s searing pace took him deep into Cork territory.
The game was over as a contest at that stage, but Donegal twice came close to a third goal in the dying minutes.
McBrearty fired against the crossbar and O’Connell saved well from Mac Niallais and Donegal will board the plane next Sunday after the perfect opening to their League campaign.
Donegal: Peter Boyle; Eamonn Doherty, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Paddy McGrath, Anthony Thompson (0-2), Ryan McHugh; Hugh McFadden, Michael Murphy (0-1, 1f); Eoin McHugh, Frank McGlynn (0-1), Ciarán Thompson (0-1); Odhrán Mac Niallais (1-4), Patrick McBrearty (0-4, 2f), Martin O’Reilly (1-1). Subs: Rory Kavanagh for C.Thompson (37, black card), Leo McLoone for O’Reilly (53), Martin McElhinney for N.McGee (57), Eoghan Ban Gallagher for Doherty (58), Neil Gallagher for McFadden (64), Micheál Carroll for E.McHugh (65)
Cork: Brendan O’Connell; Colm O’Driscoll, Jamie O’Sullivan, Kevin Crowley; Mark Collins (0-1), Brian O’Driscoll (0-1), Tomas Clancy; Ian Maguire, Andrew O’Sullivan; Ruairi Deane, Donal Óg Hodnett (1-0), Paul Kerrigan; Daniel Goulding (0-5, 3f), Peter Kelleher, Brian Hurley. Subs: Bart Daly for Crowley (half-time), Donncha O’Connor for Deane (49), Killian O’Hanlon for Hodnett (57), Colm O’Neill for Hurley (64).
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).
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