DONEGAL WENT down 1-19 to 0-17 against Roscommon at O’Donnell Park on Sunday for their second Allianz League defeat in a row. After losing to Kerry 1-13 to 1-8 in Tralee the previous week, Donegal were disappointing for long periods in Letterkenny. They fought back from six points down to within touching distance, but Odhrán Mac Niallais’ sending off and Cathal Cregg’s goal helped Roscommon get over the line.
Picture caption: Christy Toye carries the fight to Roscommon during Sunday’s game. Picture by Evan Logan
- Donegal’s lack of cover in full-back line
NEIL McGee’s absence from the Donegal team on Sunday laid bare the difficulties facing them when it comes to cover in the full-back line.
McGee had a one-match suspension proposed by the Central Competitions Controls Committee last week. Donegal appealed it, but a broken nose sustained in Tralee meant that McGee couldn’t line out.
Without McGee, Donegal looked vulnerable and the rearguard began to look even more porous when Eamon McGee was taken off in the 32nd minute having picked up a yellow card.
At one stage, the full-back lined comprised Eamonn Doherty, Karl Lacey and Ryan McHugh, who was sent back to cover Cian Connolly at an early stage.
The brothers McGee are obviously vital to Donegal, something that was particularly evident in their absence on Sunday.
“There is no doubt that our full-back line was in bother,” Rory Gallagher admitted afterwards.
“We didn’t have a lot of protection there.”
- Toye remains a player of real importance
CHRISTY Toye made his 154th Donegal appearance as a substitute in Sunday’s game. After coming on for Neil Gallagher at half-time, Toye was one of those to lead Donegal’s revival.
The St Michael’s man scored a good point and was at the nerve centre of much of what was good about Donegal’s play in the second half.
Toye’s career looked over a couple of times due to injuries, but he has consistently defied the odds and remains an integral part of the side. His power and direct style gives Donegal an edge that few players can match. He’ll have a big part to play during the summer months.
- Murphy leads the way – again
HAVING been well shackled in the first half by Roscommon full-back Neil Collins, Murphy roared into action in the second half. There were times when Roscommon must have felt as if they were facing Murphy and Murphy alone, such was the venom with which the Glenswilly man was operating.
As is so often the case, Murphy led the Donegal fightback with an inspired display.
Murphy began the game around the middle of the field, but once he went inside he caused immediate panic and score 0-2, while he came close to creating a goal chance when he got on the end of another soaring ball inside.
Murphy’s charging from deep gave Donegal a real platform and he acts as quarter-back and quartermaster all at once.
- Donegal still out of Letterkenny luck
WHEN inter-county football returned to O’Donnell Park in the spring of 2007, Donegal sparkled in a 1-15 to 0-13 win. It was their first game at the venue in 30 years and Kevin Cassidy’s goal and six masterful scores by Brendan Devenney got Donegal the win.
Since then, Donegal’s luck has been down in Letterkenny. Only once in the subsequent 12 games have Donegal won at the venue with Monaghan beaten in the 2014 League with Odhrán Mac Niallais and Colm McFadden netting in a 2-11 to 0-10 win.
Donegal have let good leads slip at O’Donnell Park before, notably in 2009 when Mayo came from nine down to draw and in 2011 when Kildare scored 1-1 in the dying minutes to earn a share of the spoils.
The curiously poor record in Letterkenny is now just two wins in their last 13 games.
- Roscommon rightly dining at the top table
WHEN Roscommon won Connacht in 2010, it was to be the dawning of a new era, but the Primrose County – even with two appearances in All-Ireland Under-21 finals – haven’t been able to build on that triumph.
There is no doubt that Roscommon – even with Donie Shine a long-term injury absentee – are on an upward curve now.
This month two years ago they were facing Offaly in Division 3, but they left Letterkenny adding the name of Donegal to a list of scalps that already contained Kerry, Cork and Down.
It wasn’t so much their victory on Sunday that impressed, but the manner of it was notable. They bossed Donegal from early on and laid the marker down in the early moments.
At 0-7 to 0-1 ahead, Roscommon were looking as if they were going to hand Donegal a hammering and they almost did, with Peter Boyle saving Donegal’s blushes.
For Roscommon, it was another sign of their rapid improvement and further proof, if it were needed, that they belong on the top rung, even if Kevin McStay – their joint manager – was keen to stress that judgement, as he knows well from his time as an RTÉ pundit, will arrive in summer.
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