THE REACTION AT the end of it showed what it meant and how much it was worth.
Donegal held on for dear life to overcome old rivals Monaghan and reach a sixth successive Ulster final last night.
The 0-17 to 2-10 win at Breffni Park is a landmark win for Donegal.
Michael Murphy, again who spent the evening with Vinny Corey resting on his seams, leapt into the arms of Christy Toye at the shrill of Maurice Deegan’s final whistle.
[adrotate group=”76″]This, make no mistake about it, was everything for a Donegal squad that has been written off quite a bit of late.
“It’s Championship football and that’s where you want to throw yourself as a footballer with the Donegal jersey on you,” said a still-pumped Murphy some time after the theatre was over.
“To do it with a squad of players and a support we had today was a very special moment.
[adrotate group=”53″]“Special and all as it is we have to go to the well again. Today’s performance will only be decent if we go out the next day and give ourselves a big performance in the final.”
Donegal threw down the gauntlet in the early moments and were five points ahead before Monagahn got off the mark.
But Rory Gallagher’s team were rocked back on their heels when they allowed Monaghan in for two goals, Shane Carey profiting from Conor McManus’ quick thinking when Donegal paused before McManus netted a penalty.
[adrotate group=”70″]Murphy said: “We got two big kicks from two mistakes. Two mistakes for a team of Monaghan’s class will always result in goals.
“The response was good. We can be happy with that and draw on the positives.
“As you go further and further, as the summer goes on, those mistakes will come to tell. The character the boys showed was huge.
“The questions were asked and the boys kept putting the hand up.”
[adrotate group=”43″]Donegal were, for the most part, comfortable and in control, but they were still thankful to see Conor McCarthy’s neat chip clip the crossbar and, with the game’s final swing, Kieran Duffy’s shot dropped short.
Murphy said: “It was a rub of the green that was welcome. Various balls were bouncing all roads, but we’ll take it.”
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/michael-murphy-after-win-v-monaghan
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