Brendan Devenney's recent International Rules experience in Australia where six pointers were the primary objective was applied mercilessly to deal Louth's National League play-off chances a devastating blow in Enniskillen yesterday.
Devenney's increased obsession with goal-scoring delighted the Donegal crowd and his first-half hat-trick not only rubber stamped Donegal's Division One status, but constitutes a league record. The 25-year-old is obviously sold on the importance of netting the ball like never before since returning from his highly successful Australian displays.
"In the trials for the Ireland team, I was hitting a lot of goals and rattled in a few in the final trial when we got down there," said Devenney. His hunger for goals is obviously going to have a spin-off effect for his soccer team Finn Harps as well.
Donegal manager Micky Moran described Devenney as "superb" but added "this was essentially a team effort, great ball-handling and commitment, our forwards and midfield put them under pressure".
International Rules manager Brian McEniff also noted Devenney's hat-trick with satisfaction. The first of the three was on the sloppy side in the third minute and we had to wait until afterwards for Devenney to confirm that he got the final touch after a Noel Hegarty shot was somehow parried by Colm Nally.
Devenney added to the woes of his marker and Louth right full back Brian Philips with the second 18 minutes in when he latched on to a terrific Hegarty arcing cross to leave Philips for dead, before crashing the ball to the far corner of the net.
The St Eunan's man completed Louth's destruction with the third just on half-time, this time benefiting from a deft Adrian Sweeney cross. He also had the final say of the half by knocking over a point to give Donegal a 3-5 to 0-4 interval lead.
The Donegal crowd had to wait patiently for their usual source of inspiration, Jim McGuinness, sited at full forward, to get on the scoreboard. The bearded one missed an early goal chance and was badly off the mark for a point when well-placed.
The afternoon was beginning to be somewhat frustrating for the big fellow. He was one of three players booked by late call-up referee SΘamus Prior before coming up trumps with the most outstanding point of the match to give Donegal a 3-9 to 0-7 lead midway through the second half.
The match proved a hapless exercise for a Louth team that was inclined to be one-dimensional compared with the flair of a new-look Donegal team who were denied many regulars because of injury and holidays.
Brian Roper was the most notable absentee in the winners' attack, but only Mark Crossan and Noel McGinley of their normal defence were included. Debutant Patrick McConaghy had a fine game at right corner back.
The Louth attack lacked variation and their goal was eventually netted by David Reilly well into injury-time. Full back Derek Shevlin moved up in the closing stages to score Louth's final point.
Perhaps Colin Kelly, sent off with a second yellow card in the club championship in Augrim the previous week, should have been introduced earlier to stoke up Louth's labouring efforts up front.
Colin Goss could not cope with the sprightly leadership of Michael Hegarty and John Neary, perhaps Louth's best defender, was given the task to watch the tricky Kilcar man.
DONEGAL: G McGill; P McConaghy, M Crossan, N McGinley; B Monaghan, K Browne, R Sweeney; P McGonigle, J Gildea; A Sweeney (0-3 one free and penalty), M Hegarty (0-3), J Gallagher (0-2); J McCafferty (0-1), J McGuinness (0-1), B Devenney (3-1, point free). Subs: D Diver for Browne (at half time); C Toye (0-1) for Sweeney (60 mins); C Molloy for McCaffrey (65); S Friel for McGuinness (68).
LOUTH: C Nally; B Philips, D Shevlin (0-1), D Brennan; S Gerard, C Goss, J Neary (0-1); S O'Hanlon (0-1), C Quinn; C Grimes (0-1), M Farrelly (0-1), M Stanfield (0-1); D Reilly (1-0), O McDonnell (0-1), J P Rooney (0-1). Subs: K Lynch (0-1) for Goss (26 mins); C Kelly (0-2) for Rooney (45); C O'Hanlon for Stanfield (48); A McKenny for Philips (49).
Referee: S Prior (Leitrim)
