DONEGAL BOOKED their place in the Ulster SFC final thanks to a 0-17 to 2-10 win over Monaghan on Saturday night.
Donegal had the better of the exchanges but a Shane Carey goal and Conor McManus’ goal from a penalty kept Monaghan right in it until the final blow of Maurice Deegan’s whistle.
- Donegal make it six-in-a-row …
THAT it hasn’t been done since the great Down team of the 60s managed it says enough about Donegal’s achievement in reaching a sixth successive Ulster final.
Since 2011, Donegal have contested every Ulster final and they’re back on the familiar path to Clones on Sunday-week.
In that time, Donegal have won the Anglo Celt three times.
It is a testament to the longevity of these players and it was something that wasn’t lost on manager Rory Gallagher afterwards.
“It’s a massive achievement,” Gallagher said.
“You can’t put into words the effort that those guys put in.
“Every single one of them gave it absolutely everything. They’re a credit to Donegal.
“I have been involved with those boys five years out of six. Every day we win a Championship match it’s been a great day.”
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- … Without Neil McGee, now set for a return
PERHAPS the biggest boost of a drawn semi-final was that it means full-back Neil McGee is free to face Tyrone in next weekend’s final.
McGee was given a two-game suspension following his red card against Fermanagh last month.
Appeals to the CHC and the CAC failed, but the Gaoth Dobhair man is poised to return against Tyrone.
To have got over the line against Monaghan without the services of their number 3 in itself was impressive.
His return will give Donegal a real lift heading into the final.
Rory Gallagher has described McGee as ‘the best full-back in the country’ and missing the semi-finals is likely to have increased the desire in the player ahead of a joust with his old foes from Tyrone.
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- Martin O’Reilly comes of age
MARTIN O’Reilly is now in his fifth year on the Donegal panel, but the Sean MacCumhaills man has been an often-unheralded player.
Until now, that is.
O’Reilly has had injury trouble and has had some frustrating times of it in trying to nail down a permanent berth in the side.
In the drawn game against Monaghan, Karl O’Connell was the star of the show, but last week O’Reilly was tasked with curtailing O’Connell’s influence. Not only did he do that, but O’Reilly still managed to score two points.
“It was a great day’s work,” said an approving Rory Gallagher.
“We’re working with him for five years now and he keeps coming back for more.
“Marty has had to fight for everything he’s got. He empties the tank and keeps on smiling. In the last 18 months he has really dug in and has got himself a lot fitter. He had glandular fever one year which kept him out.
“We have found a position for him now. He played inside when we were stuck for someone inside but, whether it’s in the half-back or half-forward line he’s comfortable.”
[adrotate group=”68″]- Concentration lapses leave Donegal clinging on
SATURDAY ought to have been a much more comfortable evening for Donegal supporters at Kingspan Breffni Park, but that it wasn’t was owing to their own team’s unusual penchant for switching off at vital moments.
Donegal were five up and had seemingly put the gearbox into crusie control, but Monaghan were allowed back in when Conor McManus was allowed play off a quick free to Shane Carey, who tucked home the first Monaghan goal.
Having been so dominant, Donegal only led 0-10 to 2-2 at half-time. The moment of madness and a penalty that shouldn’t have been kept Monaghan in touch during a nervy second half.
Late in the game, Karl Lacey uncharacteristically coughed up possession, but Conor McCarthy clipped the crossbar with a delicate chip.
Relief was the order of the hour at the conclusion.
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- Changes at a minimum for Donegal
DURING 70 ferocious minutes on Saturday night, Donegal made just two substitutions.
The first of those, in the opening half, was an enforced one as Mark McHugh replaced the black-carded Anthony Thompson before Christy Toye came in for Martin McElhinney in the 54th minute.
In added time, McElhinney was brought back into the fray and there was a late cameo for Eoghan Ban Gallagher.
In the drawn game, Gallagher also appeared in added time, while McHugh and Toye were the only subs used prior to that.
Against Fermanagh, Rory Kavanagh was put back in having been withdrawn because of an earlier booking.
Changes certainly aren’t being made for the sake of it.
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