Donegal 2-13 Derry 0-9:TURNS OUT the 'defending' Ulster champions are doing anything but these days. The latest evidence that Donegal have ditched the stifling, defensive game plan which won them an Ulster title last year came in Ballybofey on Saturday as Derry were dismantled.
The opposition was poor. But for the second championship game in a row, Donegal racked up a huge score which matched the 1-16 they hit against Cavan. Against Derry, they had nine different players on the scoresheet.
There were times last year when they didn’t even get nine points. Jim McGuinness smiled when he was reminded of it. “It’s no secret we’ve been trying to get more scorers and get more scores on the board and we’ve managed to do that in a championship match again, which is encouraging,” he said.
“At the same time, the game did peter out and it was a bit easier than expected in the end. That won’t happen the next day against Tyrone. That will be a big, big game for both sides. The next few weeks is the period which will define our season.”
A repeat of last year’s Ulster semi-final against the former kingpins is a contest most neutrals were hoping to see. Tyrone’s impressive display against Armagh suggests they are itching for another crack at Donegal.
“The Ulster title is extremely important because it’s extremely difficult to win. We haven’t won many and our players respect the competition hugely. There is a bigger picture outside of that, but we’re in a position where we are an hour away from the final again and we need to see what we can do to get back there.”
One concern for Donegal may be that they haven’t had a decent test yet. Once Leo McLoone’s goal in the 31st minute put clear daylight between the teams, helping Donegal open up a 1-6 to 0-4 lead at half-time, it was already over.
Donegal attacked in waves, completely wiping Derry out in midfield with the powerful triumvirate of Ryan Bradley, Neil Gallagher and the fit-again Michael Murphy who was, as expected, a late inclusion in the starting team.
The threats came from everywhere. Frank McGlynn was often the outlet at wing half-back. The fluidity of their attack, the movement and the speed, indicated that Donegal are adding a whole new dimension to their play.
Plaudits for them, however, must be tempered by the knowledge that Derry were truly awful. Only three points from play told its own story. Whatever the game plan, Paddy Bradley was left isolated and frustrated. Having missed the Ulster final defeat to Donegal last year, he was out to make amends, but he got little or no service. Karl Lacey was doing a man-marking job on him and with Mark McHugh also sweeping in front, at least until the game was over as a contest, the Derry captain stood no chance.
The second-half followed an inevitable path, Colm McFadden’s 44th minute goal putting Donegal 2-7 to 0-5 ahead.
Derry manager John Brennan was offering no excuses after the game. “We were outrun and outplayed. It was a poor performance. I’m not proud of it. We have trained, the players have talked, we had conditioning weekends, we had everything. There is no better talent in Derry – we came here very well prepared but we were well beaten.”
DONEGAL: P Durcan; P McGrath, K Lacey, N McGee; A Thompson (0-1), E McGee, F McGlynn (0-1); N Gallagher (0-1), R Bradley (0-1); L McLoone (1-0), M McHugh, D Walsh (0-2); C McFadden (1-2, 0-2 frees), M Murphy (0-3, frees), P McBrearty (0-2). Subs: D Molloy for McFadden (65 mins), S Griffin for McLoone (66 mins), C Toye for Bradley (68 mins), M McElhinney for Walsh (68 mins), A Hanlon for McBrearty (69 mins). Yellow cards: N Gallagher (22 mins), A Thompson (60 mins).
DERRY: B Gillis; E Scullion, C McKaigue, B McGoldrick; G O’Kane, M Craig, SL McGoldrick (0-1); J Diver, M Friel; J McCamley, M Lynch (0-1), E Lynn; C Gilligan, Paddy Bradley (0-6, 0-5 frees), E McGuckian. Subs: M Donaghy for McCamley (42 mins), Patsy Bradley for Lynn (45 mins), Eoin Bradley (0-1, 45) for Gilligan (53 mins), C Kielt for O’Kane (55 mins), Emmett Bradley for Diver (62 mins). Yellow card: J Diver (34 mins).
Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).
