One game to go now and Dun na nGall look all but assured of being promoted to Division One and contesting a League Final at Headquarters. Not a bad return at all considering how we finished up in Crossmaglen last June. This wasn’t one of our better performances but in a way it was as satisfying as the wins over Meath and Derry .
The win was built on hard work and the brilliance up front of a forward in form…….no not that man Michael Murphy but Creeslough’s Colm McFadden. He was on fire from the start, scoring three points from play and setting up a couple of others. Colm looks sharp, has obviously worked hard on his fitness this year and his brother in law Jim McGuinness is really getting the best out of him. The ability has always been there but in recent years it was overshadowed by frustration and lethargy. Now he’s looking like the youngster who burst onto the national scene with a man of the match display in 2004 in dethroning the Ulster
It was another of the old guard who helped out McFadden in the scoring stakes; Michael Hegarty contributed two points and had a very effective game doing what he does best - whoever is on the ball, Hegarty is there as an option, keeping the ball moving and placing those inviting probing kicks into the corners for his forwards to run on to.
Frank McGlynn also had a hugely influential game, particularly in the second half. He won back possession on numerous occasions, tackling and harrying well against the Antrim half forwards. He took up station in front of his full back line, allowing Kilybegs man Jason Noctor and Karl Lacey to burst forward; the latter registering a fine point near the end of the proceedings. His strike rate surely must make him one of the highest scoring defenders around – a fantasy football managers dream!
Otherwise it was essentially a complete team effort with few standout performers - good in a way because it showed that it doesn’t always have to be The Murphy Show with Donegal. The team is prepared to work hard as a unit to get results and despite not performing anywhere near their usual standard yesterday they still managed to post a score of 1-17 while still having plenty of things to work on.
Donegal raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead inside ten minutes but Antrim started to get to grips around the middle and began using the stiff Ballyshannon breeze to their advantage. In Thomas McCann they have a deadly accurate forward and he was instrumental in dragging them back into the game, aided and abetted by Terry O’Neill. That duo wreaked havoc on Donegal two years ago when Antrim staged their smash and grab championship raid in MacCumhaill Park
As Antrim got on top in midfield Michael Murphy was brought out from the square to help out and he stayed there for a lot of the game, hence is lower than usual return of 0-3. Antrim were obviously delighted at his limited contribution and no doubt they will be plotting a specific gameplan to keep it that way in the Ulster opener on May 15th.
A key target for Donegal before that game is to get Neil Gallagher match fit; he’s made a few substitute appearances in the league of late and so is only finding his feet after an injury lay-off. He’s been an excellent performer for the side over the past few years and will be needed if we’re to make an impression come the summer. He may be given a starting berth against Laois next week to help the process along.
Donegal pegged back a couple of scores before the break and were rarely troubled in the second half with the wind at their backs. Liam Bradley on the sideline cut a very frustrated figure, constantly shouting and moaning at the referee looking for decisions to go his team’s way. Granted the man in the middle was Marty Duffy, who has a unique ability to infuriate management, players and fans alike. The Sligo man also felt the wrath of Donegal’s number two, Rory Gallagher, when he changed his mind on a call after the shouts of Bradley were directed his way.
Rory Gallagher is a famous man around these Ballyshannon parts and the Fermanagh version has been a good addition to the backroom team, forging a highly intelligent tactical partnership with The Messiah. They’re quick thinkers on the line, not wasting time to send out instructions to the team via runner Maxi Curran. And most importantly the players believe in what they’re being told.
Rory Kavanagh in his post match interview felt the team lost their way in the first half because they didn’t do what they were told. They know and trust that what they are being told is the right way to do things and when they don’t, the performance suffers - the side went 17 minutes yesterday without scoring. The second half was much improved though, the side racking up 1-9 against Antrim’s 1-2.
So all that means that barring a miracle next Sunday Donegal will be promoted. Mathematically they could still miss out and there’s many a permutation floating around as to what could happen in the final shake-up. The most straight-forward of these is for Donegal to go Portlaoise and win - if that were to happen its job done.
Nobody will be getting too carried away though – it’s always been about May 15th since the panel got together. The Messiah added some more followers to his flock this week – Michael Boyle, Eoin Wade, Kevin Rafferty and Dara Gallagher all coming onto the panel to provide options and increased competition. It shows no-one is resting on their laurels, no-one is standing still. Its all about moving forward and Portlaoise on Sunday is the next step on the journey.
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