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Donegal - Derry draw in Dungiven
20.01.09
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Derry...0-13 (E. Browne 0-5 (2 frees); E. Lynn 0-3; S. Bradley 0-3 (1 free); G. McShane 0-1; P. Cartin 0-1) Donegal 0-13 (S. Griffin 0-5 (4 frees); K. McMenamin 0-3 (2 frees); D. Walsh 0-3; B. Boyle 0-1; N. Gallagher 0-1) By Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, in O’Cahan Park, Dungiven NEITHER snow nor freezing winter rain can get in the way of the McKenna Cup, it seems as Ó Cathain Park in Dungiven hosted the meeting of Donegal and Derry on Sunday, the first intercounty game at the venue in more than a decade. While the pitch itself was soft but playable, the hills and roadsides on the way to Dungiven had been dusted white with morning snow and a couple of heavy showers at half-time and in the second half made conditions extremely difficult for both sets of players. But they battled on and served up an entertaining game, albeit one where the new rule that sees yellow-carded players being replaced had a major bearing on the outcome. While Donegal had the better of the early exchanges, they didn’t make the most of the scoring chances that came their way while Derry managed to find their scores easier. The home team were well worth their 0-8 to 0-5 half-time lead, and they led by 0-11 to 0-8 midway through the second half when the entire direction of the game changed. |
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Joe Diver, Derry’s
impressive midfielder, and wing back Paul Cartin were
both yellow-carded in quick succession and left the
field of play. Donegal introduced Neil Gallagher at around the same time, and having struggled in the sector for most of the game the Glenswilly man continued his recent good form and helped Donegal dominate midfield for the remainder of the game. Donegal’s superiority in midfield was further consolidated when Derry’s other centre fielder, Patsy Bradley, saw yellow ten minutes from full-time. Donegal’s Ciaran Bonner had been yellow-carded in the first half, and was replaced by Barry Monaghan, while Kevin Rafferty saw yellow just before the end and was replaced by Malin’s Charlie Byrne. None of the yellow cards were issued for serious offences, and one can’t help but feel that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. |
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The McKenna Cup is, of
course, a pre-season competition that gives managers –
particularly new men like John Joe Doherty and Derry’s
Damian Cassidy – a chance to identify new players for
the year ahead. With Derry already out of contention,
and Donegal having already qualified for the semi-final,
these decisions – properly applied by the referee under
the rules laid out – were of little consequence in the
grand scheme of the GAA season. But the yellow-card-and-you’re-off rule will come under more scrutiny when the National Football League gets under way in a fortnight’s time, and if Gaelic football is to remain a full-blooded contact sport it will have to be rejected when it comes before Congress for approval in April. Donegal started well but failed to score from play until the 23rd minute. They had a lot of possession, but had only four points from frees – two each from Stephen Griffin and Kevin McMenamin – to show for it. Stephen Griffin played a clever ball into Ryan Bradley in the fifth minute that saw the full forward clean through on goal, but Derry keeper Shane McGuckin closed the angle and made a point blank save from the Buncrana man who otherwise got little change out of Sean Martin Lockhart. Derry seemed to find more space when they attacked, and forwards Enda Lynn, Seamus Bradley, Eoghan Browne and Gavin McShane all scored from play to see the sides tied at 0-4 apiece by the 20th minute. Stephen Griffin punched Donegal into the lead in the 23rd minute, but Derry saw out the half with points from Paul Cartin (after neat interplay with Lynn and Seamus Bradley), Seamus Bradley (2) and Lynn. They led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the break, with seven of those points coming from play as compared to just one for Donegal. Griffin opened Donegal’s scoring two minutes into the second half from yet another placed ball and McMenamin got one from play shortly after, but points from Browne and Lynn stretched Derry’s lead. Griffin converted another free for Donegal, but another point from the impressive Eoghan Browne had Derry leading by 0-11 to 0-8 in the 47th minute. But the yellow cards for Diver and Cartin, and the introduction of Neil Gallagher, changed the complexion of the game. David Walsh played a leading role as Donegal had their best spell of the game and finished strongly. The Ballintra man scored twice from play, in the 49th and 56th minutes on either side of a well-struck free from substitute Gallagher to draw Donegal level. Another substitute, Brendan Boyle, gave Donegal the lead in the 61st minute before Walsh jinked past a couple of defenders to get his third point of the half and put Donegal 0-13 to 0-11 ahead. But just when it looked like Donegal would hold on for the win, two late frees from Eoghan Browne gave Derry a share of the spoils. The result didn’t matter, as Donegal had already qualified for the McKenna Cup semi-final where they will play Armagh under floodlights in Omagh on Wednesday night. Derry: Shane McGuckin; Brian McAlary, Sean Martin Lockhart, Michael Drum; Paul Cartin, Chris McKeague, Barry McGuigan; Joe Diver, Patsy Bradley; Enda Lynn, Paul Young, Brian Mullan; Seamus Bradley, Gavin McShane, Eoghan Browne. Subs: Aidan McAlinden for Diver (yellow carded 37 mins); Michael McBride for Cartin (yellow-carded 40 mins); Paul Murphy for G. McShane (54 mins); Caolan O’Boyle for P. Bradley (yellow-carded 60 mins). Donegal: Eamon McGinley; Johnny Gallagher, Ray Sweeney, Paddy McDaid; Eamon McGee, Kevin Rafferty, Shane McGowan; Ciaran Bonner, Rory Kavanagh; Michael Doherty, David Walsh, Odhran Doherty; Kevin McMenamin, Ryan Bradley, Stephen Griffin. Subs: Barry Monaghan for Bonner (yellow carded, 31 mins); Caolan McGettigan for McGinley (half-time); Neil Gallagher for Bradley (47 mins); Conall Dunne for O. Doherty (48 mins); Brendan Boyle for Kavanagh (57 mins); Charlie Byrne for Rafferty (yellow-carded 67 mins). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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