Sport

McDaid finds way to block out Armagh

DR McKENNA CUP SEMI-FINAL : Donegal 1-14 Armagh 2-9 DONEGAL MANAGER John Joe Doherty extended his unbeaten run to four games…

Thu Jan 22 2009 - 00:00

DR McKENNA CUP SEMI-FINAL: Donegal 1-14 Armagh 2-9DONEGAL MANAGER John Joe Doherty extended his unbeaten run to four games when his side qualified for the Dr McKenna Cup final in a thrilling finish at Healy Park last night. Corner back Paddy McDaid emerged the hero, with a block on Ronan Clarke as the former All Star went for a goal in the dying moments.

A weakened Armagh plundered second-half goals through Kevin O’Rourke and substitute Paddy McKeever, but a David Walsh strike proved decisive for Donegal.

Stephen Griffin and David Walsh accounted for seven first-half scores, thanks chiefly to the creativity of Kevin McMenamin. Armagh’s Joe Feeney capitalised on slackness in the defence to hit three first-half scores from play.

Donegal had the better of the opening 25 minutes, building up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead as Peadar Toal kept Armagh in touch from frees.

READ MORE

Barry Monaghan, making his 100th Donegal appearance, was tasked with shackling Clarke, who was again deployed as a playmaker ahead of the midfield. Two Griffin points late in the half maintained Donegal’s four-point lead, but a Clarke free narrowed the gap to three, 0-10 to 0-7, at the break.

Clarke reverted to his full-forward role when Feeney went off injured, and provided the decoy run which allowed O’Rourke to lob a goal which left a point between the sides with 50 minutes played.

Donegal had a goal chance moments later when Griffin slipped a pass to Walsh but Philip McEvoy smothered the shot. Walsh netted in the 57th minute but then went off with a leg injury.

At the other end Clarke was hauled down going for goal. He took the penalty but saw his shot saved by Paul Durcan, though McKeever netted the rebound. And McDaid emerged as the match-winner with the block on Clarke.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; J Gallagher, R Sweeney, P McDaid; C Byrne (0-1), B Monaghan, E McGee; N Gallagher, B Boyle (0-2); C Bonner, C Dunne, R Kavanagh; K McMenamin (0-2, one free), S Griffin (0-4, one free), D Walsh (1-4). Subs: M Doherty (0-1, from 45) for Bonner (52 mins), L Thompson for Walsh (59 mins).

ARMAGH: P McEvoy; G Smyth, V Martin, B Shannon; C Rafferty, T McClelland, B McDonald; J Lavery, S O'Neill; M O'Rourke, B Mallon, P Toal (0-3, frees); J Feeney (0-3), R Clarke (0-2, frees), K O'Rourke (1-1). Subs: M Mackin for Martin (33 mins), N O'Rourke for Smyth (33 mins), P McKeever (1-0) for Feeney (51 mins), B Toner for McDonald (50 mins).

Referee: A McAlynn (Derry).