Monaghan survive by the skin of their teeth as Donegal stumble into semi-finals

ON A CURIOUS afternoon in Castleblayney, Monaghan came from seven points down to beat Donegal to avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth, as Rory Gallagher’s side made the league semi-finals.

Monaghan 1-10 Donegal 1-9

Those are the nuts and the bolts of it but despite Donegal’s progression to the last four for the second year in succession, it was the home support who left St Mary’s Park with the broader smiles on their faces with Cork’s loss to Kerry sending the Rebel County down.

Donegal got the booby prize having finished on six points – the same as relegated Cork – as they’ll be playing seven-from-seven Dublin at Croke Park next Sunday afternoon having lost four on the bounce.

In a game of musical chairs, Monaghan didn’t lead until corner-back Colin Walshe popped up in a profitable channel to plant the winning score in the third of five minutes injury time.

They led when it was most important to. When the music stopped they were sitting having had blisters from standing so long.

Photo caption: Michael Murphy of Donegal on the charge for his team against Monaghan this afternoon in the Allianz League Division 1 clash of the sides at St Mary’s Park in Castleblayney. Photo Geraldine Diver

Donegal had been in possession and trying to work an opening when Hugh McFadden was turned over in the middle of the field.

It was a disappointing conclusion for Donegal, who were in almost complete control at the beginning before losing complete control at the end.

Donegal were composed and measured in the first quarter, registering 1-4 before Monaghan got on the scoreboard and showing a variance in kick-outs to trouble the Ulster champions.

It was, at times, cagey, with both sets of teams willing to contract and expand like an accordion.

But with Monaghan’s need seemingly more than Donegal’s want, the hosts didn’t start with near enough urgency and Donegal as a consequence dictated the tone of the game.

By the 20th minute, with few sparks flying, Donegal had meandered into a fuss-free 0-4 to 0-0 lead with Michael Murphy and Patrick McBrearty scoring free-kicks either side of two well-taken points from Ryan and Eoin McHugh.

Frank McGlynn and Neil McGee were back in the Donegal starting XV for the first time since the victory against Mayo and loss in Tralee to Kerry respectively.

If there had been a somewhat pedestrian feel, the contest burst into life with two goals in the space of a minute.

First of all, it was Donegal who rattled the net with Martin McElhinney smashing past Rory Beggan in the Monaghan goal after a give-and-go with Leo McLoone.

That pushed Donegal out to seven in front and with almost 21 minutes played and with Monaghan yet to score a point, Malachy O’Rourke’s side needed something and needed it fast.

From Beggan’s kickout, they put together their first meaningful attack and a blistering move involved Neil McAdam and Dermot Malone exchanging passes before McAdam fed Daniel McKenna.

The Monaghan full-forward drew the trigger instantly and Mark Anthony McGinley, the Donegal goalkeeper, made a brave save only for the ball to break again to McKenna, who showed immaculate composure to side-foot the ball from the ground into the bottom corner.

After Odhrán MacNiallais and Murphy popped over another two points, McKenna then scored a fine point on the turn to bring considerable voice to the home support.

Monaghan almost got a second goal on 27 minutes when Darren Hughes went through but having opted for sheer power, his stinging drive was turned over the crossbar by McGinley.

Donegal had Paddy McGrath with the enviable task of man-marking Conor McManus. And a bit like his team, the Monaghan talisman took a little time simmering before coming to the boil.

McManus hit two late points in the half but McBrearty’s effort on the left foot meant Donegal were 1-7 to 1-4 in front at the break.

With the floorboards creaking beneath their feet, Monaghan could do nothing but throw the kitchen sink at Donegal.

There was a much more intense feel than in the first half and Monaghan started to play as if their lives depended on it.

McManus looked to have jarred his knee at one stage but the Monaghan skipper battled on. In the third quarter, though, Donegal were still matching what Monaghan were throwing at them.

Walshe blocked at the feet of Ryan McHugh and points from Murphy – from a 45 – and Anthony Thompson cancelled out two McManus frees. Donegal on 55 minutes, were 1-9 to 1-6 up and keeping Monaghan at arm’s length.

But in something that has become a recent facet, Donegal’s final quarter was nowhere near as good as what had preceded it. And Monaghan seized the initiative.

Ryan McAnespie and two more McManus frees brought Monaghan level with just five minutes to play.

A draw was essentially worthless and Kieran Hughes, having been pulled down by Neil McGee who was black-carded, thought he’d edged his team in front from a free kick which was waved wide.

But Monaghan were brave and they continued on the front foot and were rewarded when Walshe saved their day with a dramatic late winner.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Colin Walshe (0-1), Drew Wylie; Fintan Kelly, Neil McAdam, Karl O’Connell; Kieran Hughes, Vinny Corey; Dessie Mone, Ryan McAnespie (0-1), Darren Hughes (0-1); Dermot Malone, Daniel McKenna (1-1), Conor McManus (0-6, 5f). Subs: Thomas Kerr for Mone (48), Owen Duffy for Malone (53), Conor McCarthy for McKenna (59)

Donegal: Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn; Ryan McHugh (0-1), Anthony Thompson (0-1), Eoin McHugh (0-1); Michael Murphy (0-3, 2f, 45), Odhrán MacNiallais (0-1); Rory Kavanagh, Leo McLoone, Hugh McFadden; Martin McElhinney (1-0), Patrick McBrearty (0-2, 1f), Martin O’Reilly. Subs: Colm McFadden for E McHugh (53), Eamon McGee for O’Reilly (59), Christy Toye for McLoone (64), Stephen McBrearty for McElhinney (66), Eamonn Doherty for N McGee (69, black card), Mark McHugh for H McFadden (70+3, black card).

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)

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