Ulster SFC Semi-final: DOnegal 1-43, Derry 0-11 Donegal football has always produced sprinkles of individual brilliance to occasionally trouble Ulster's elite. Since 1992, however, it has never been enough to lay the foundations for a genuine legacy. Until now.
Brian McIver appears to have moulded this talent into a team of genuine challengers. We probably should have paid heed to the signs. The Division Two final defeat to Louth reflected a team building for high summer football. The defeat of Down was a genuine warning shot. What transpired here sends a jolt through the championship.
The isolated components that made up former Donegal teams are gone. The enigmatic Brendan Devenney grew tired of the ragtag ways of the Ulster game and decamped to soccer; Kevin Cassidy is playing ball in Boston; proven men like Adrian Sweeney and Damian Diver must be content with late cameo roles.
Even the established players who remain in the side, like captain Christy Toye, have simply become cogs in a slick-running engine. Running being the operative word.
An accomplished Derry outfit failed to cope with the game's intensity. Yes, the conquerors of All-Ireland champions Tyrone were a yard off the pace against yet another brand of football perfected in the Northern province.
For all the talk of Derry manager Paddy Crozier facilitating a team that replicates all that is good (and devilishly bad) about the Tyrone and Armagh blueprints, they were unable to stop Donegal's break out at pace tactics. This provided forwards like Rory Kavanagh and Michael Doherty with the space to wreak havoc in the final third.
In the opening 35 minutes everything flowed through the excellent Barry Dunnion. Dunnion's ability to cover effectively in front of his own full back line frustrated the life out of Derry's fearsome Bradley brothers, Paddy and Eoin.
Dunnion's vast influence was eventually curtailed in brutal fashion. In first-half injury-time the 23-year-old stymied yet another imprecise Derry attack before galloping up the wing. Derry enforcer Fergal Doherty has two stone on Dunnion and he used it with the most ferocious of shoulders. He lined him up for 40 yards. Referee Mick Monahan was correct in awarding a sideline to Derry.
Both managers became embroiled in the incident but what irked Donegal was reportedly the sound of Derry players laughing as Dunnion lay crumpled in a heap on the turf.
"When Barry Dunnion got nailed on the sideline it lifted the whole team at half-time because they laughed at him when he was down on the ground," said fellow defender Eamon Magee. "It was a big hit of motivation for Donegal. We really came together: how dare they laugh at one of our boys."
Francis McEldowney came forward soon after to kick Derry's first point from play and at 0-4 to 1-5 the tide seemed to be turning towards the more physical style. Half-time arrived at an inopportune time for Crozier's men.
The previous half hour had been forgettable. Kavanagh got Donegal off the mark with an early point from distance. He motored for the rest of the game before finishing with 0-5.
But what forced Derry to chase the contest was a fortunate goal from Doherty on seven minutes. Possession only came via a deflection off full back Kevin McCloy but he took the opportunity with some verve.
Enda Muldoon kept Derry in touch with frees from the left but the Doherty/Kavanagh combination continued to clock up scores.
Dunnion returned for the second-half but was clearly concussed and McIver eventually took him off but the arrival of Damian Diver merely lifted a sizeable Donegal following in the 17,331 rain-drenched crowd. Dunnion's contribution drew a standing ovation.
The Derry revival began when Paddy Bradley squeezed away from the relentless attention of Paddy Campbell to kick his first point on 45 minutes. Muldoon and Joe Diver both pointed to reduce the deficit to three.
McIver responded by introducing Sweeney, who proceeded to get out in front of McCloy every time. One such break allowed Kavanagh to clip an insurance score.
Eoin Bradley pulled deep in search of possession but this merely afforded his industrious marker Karl Lacey space to race forward and curl two pretty points.
Paddy Bradley was beginning to find some semblance of a rhythm but it should be noted that Campbell has already silenced Benny Coulter this summer. Two decent scalps.
When Muldoon was shown a straight red card for an incident with Campbell, off the ball, the Derry people began the slow march to the car park.
A near-perfect afternoon for Donegal was sullied in the final stages when Doherty collided with Paul Cartin while contesting a loose ball as if it was the opening minute. It was an ugly, accidental incident that forced both players from the field and a certain trip to the dentist for Doherty.
DONEGAL: 1 P Durcan; 2 N McGee, 3 P Campbell, 4 K Lacey (0-2); 5 E McGee, 6 B Monaghan, 7 B Dunnion; 8 N Gallagher, 9 B Boyle; 10 C Toye (capt), 11 M Hegarty, 12 C Bonner (0-2); 13 R Kavanagh (0-5), 14 C Dunne, 15 M Doherty (1-4, three frees). Substitutes: 18 D Diver for Dunnion (48 mins), 26 A Sweeney for Dunne (50 mins), 25 C Kelly for Boyle (59 mins), 23 S McDermott for Bonner (65 mins), 22 F McGlynn for Doherty (72 mins).
DERRY: 1 B Gillis; 2 K McGuckian, 3 K McCloy, 4 F McEldowney (0-1); 5 L Hinphey, 6 P McFlynn, 7 J O'Kane; 8 J McBride (capt), 9 J Diver (0-2); 10 M Lynch, 11 B McGoldrick, 12 F Doherty; 13 E Muldoon (0-4, three frees), 14 P Bradley (0-4, one free), 15 E Bradley. Substitutes: 21 G Donaghy for McGoldrick (half-time), 17 P Cartin for O'Kane (55 mins), 26 D McIlvar for McBride (56 mins), 22 J Kelly for Lynch (64 mins), 23 B Mullan for Cartin (72 mins).
Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).
