DONEGAL AND MAYO have had more frequent impacts on one another’s seasons in recent years and although 2016 is only taking shape, today’s result will have its implications.
Donegal 1-14 Mayo 1-12
Glorious springtime sunshine and a huge crowd of 11,000 for an Allianz League Division 1 fixture gave the contest a championship feel before the month of February is even out.
After steamrolling Down 3-15 to 1-7 and easily overcoming Cork on a 2-14 to 1-7 scoreline, this afternoon was a different type of victory altogether against a ravenous Mayo side.
Photo caption: Leo McLoone scores the all-important goal for Donegal in their Allianz League Division 1 win over Mayo at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey this afternoon. Photo: Geraldine Diver
The way Rory Gallagher’s side came through it was perhaps even more satisfying. It’s just the league – of course – but with a cushion that pretty much guarantees survival, the Donegal manager can continue to mix and match his youthful yet experienced panel.
On the other hand, Stephen Rochford’s Mayo, who contributed hugely to the afternoon’s fare, have still to gather a point this term and will now be scrambling over the next four fixtures.
In the first half, a fine individual score from an unlikely source, Mayo corner-back Brendan Harrison, gave the five-in-a-row Connacht champions a slender 0-8 to 0-7 half-time lead.
Since they’d never led, Donegal couldn’t complain about that state of play as Mayo had shaded a first half that was entertaining to watch.
In a contest of the tit-for-tat variety, there were never more than two points between the teams till late on with Mayo, more often than not, pushing the case.
Ryan and Eoin McHugh darting runs were piercing the occasional hole in the Mayo defence and Martin McElhinney passed up on the best goal chance of the opening period.
The substitute was only on the pitch a minute and was still finding his coordinates when he was freed by the excellent Ryan McHugh and blazed wide when in on Rob Hennelly.
Both teams scored eye-catching scores, with Mayo goalkeeper Hennelly placing over a superb long-range free of over 50 metres from an angle following fine efforts from wing-backs Shane Nally and Lee Keegan.
For Donegal, Rory Kavanagh pointed on his first start since coming out of retirement and Ryan McHugh scored a nonchalant score with the outside of the right boot.
There was the occasional spark, which added to the occasion.
Conor O’Shea and Lee Keegan caught Eamon McGee and Ryan McHugh with high challenges – respectively – within a minute. Neil McGee’s personal joust with Aidan O’Shea after a switch was typically engrossing.
Ryan McHugh levelled it up right after the restart and although the quality of the first half probably wasn’t as evident in part two, the temperature certainly rose. Donegal would end up with seven yellow cards and Mayo three.
On the 40th minute, one of those typical Odhrán MacNiallais floaters edged Donegal in front for the first time. But Mayo didn’t take it lying down.
Evan Regan skipped inside of an otherwise flawless Paddy McGrath and was taken down by Donegal goalkeeper Peter Boyle.
The protestations – more so over whether the Mayo forward was over the end line when he skipped inside than the actual award – rolled into a fifth minute.
At one stage, Diarmuid O’Connor thought he was good to go and sent Boyle the wrong way. But referee Barry Cassidy wasn’t ready and O’Connor had to re-spot the ball.
Right then, he was something of a rarity as the only composed man on the pitch and at the second time of asking, rolled the penalty past Boyle – who went the right way – into the bottom corner. Forty-five minutes had been played and Mayo were 1-10 to 0-10 in front.
Neil Gallagher had been brought on to shore up midfield but was making a beeline to the touchline inside of a minute having been black-carded for a foot trip. Those who might’ve deemed the glass half-empty would’ve been concerned for Donegal then.
Michael Murphy, again flawless from set-pieces, and Patrick McBrearty got Donegal back to within a single score before the game-breaker.
Leo McLoone finished of a move of verve and precision, ramming past Hennelly to conclude a move that saw Anthony Thompson, Christy Toye and Rory Kavanagh as its architects.
The Mayo goalkeeper pulled one back on the hour-mark from another dead ball and nobody was heading towards the exit with Donegal 1-12 to 1-11 ahead.
Murphy scored a quite extraordinary score, with the ball taking an eternity to drop as he swung whilst losing his balance and McBrearty put over his third free. Seamus O’Shea replied but Donegal had done enough to come out on top.
Donegal: Peter Boyle; Eamon McGee, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath; Ryan McHugh (0-2), Frank McGlynn, Eamonn Doherty; Odhrán MacNiallais (0-2), Hugh McFadden; Michael Carroll, Rory Kavanagh (0-1), Eoin McHugh; Patrick McBrearty (0-4, 3f), Michael Murphy (0-5, 2f, 2 ‘45’), Martin O’Reilly. Subs: Martin McElhinney for Carroll (19), Anthony Thompson for Doherty (half-time), Neil Gallagher for McFadden (45), Christy Toye for Gallagher (46 black card), Leo McLoone (1-0) for E McGee (51), Caolan Ward for O’Reilly (69)
Mayo: Robert Hennelly (0-2, 1f, 45); Brendan Harrison (0-1), Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan(0-1), Colm Boyle, Shane Nally (0-1); Tom Parsons, Jason Gibbons; Diarmuid O’Connor (1-0, pen), Aidan O’Shea (0-1), Conor O’Shea; Evan Regan (0-4, 4f), Jason Doherty, Mickey Sweeney. Subs: Conor Loftus (0-1) for Higgins (24), Andy Moran for Regan (49), Donal Vaughan for Nally (54), Chris Barrett for Hall (60), Seamus O’Shea (0-1) for Gibbons (63), Jason Doherty O’Connor (68).
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
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