Donegal 2-16
Fermanagh 0-12
LEO McLOONE says Donegal tails are up and that going into the second half of the season as Ulster champions means they’ll fear no one.
The Naomh Conaill man, coaxed back in from the cold by Declan Bonner this term, was again superb at the weekend.
We were told that Fermanagh would look to suffocate Donegal, make it hard, tight. But truth be told, they simply just didn’t have the answer for the expansive brand of football the men from the Hills brought to Clones on Sunday.
To be brutally honest, Fermanagh probably weren’t good enough to go for the jugular and Donegal knew that.
Bonner’s men, after a claustrophobic enough opening, soon navigated around the blockades and picked the Erne men off at ease. The sword they lived by in wins over Armagh and Monaghan, was the same blade that ultimately helped gut them here.
At the midpoint it was 2-6 to 0-5. But Donegal were still in second gear. Both teams traded scores after that stage through Paul Brennan and Seamus Quigley. Indeed, a first direct ball in towards the Quigleys almost resulted in a goal. But it was an outlet that they just didn’t hit soon enough or often enough.
Such was Tir Chonaill’s ease in the second period, even Paddy McGrath was up palming into the net. The effort was stroked out but it was perhaps the most emphatic example in the whole of this game of just how tough an ask this was for Fermanagh.
Jamie Brennan evades the attention of his marker as Donegal power to their ninth Ulster SFC (photo: Michael O'Donnell)On 48 minutes, Barry Muldone did manage to make it 2-9 to 0-8. However, you never got the sense that Fermanagh had the belief or, more importantly, the idea of how to get back into this contest.
‘Take the goals out of it and we weren’t far away’ one in denial Erne supporter said as he made his way towards the turnstiles. In truth, Donegal – after weighing up the opposition – simply spent as much energy as was needed.
The foot was taken off the gas at certain stages and reapplied when needed. But Donegal looked like they enjoyed themselves. Things seemed to tail off towards the end of the third quarter but with the likes of Ciaran Thompson, with a number of super swings, keeping the scoreboard ticking over, 2-12 played 0-9 as the contest entered the final 10 minutes.
Home and hosed, Bonner appeased the green and gold faithful even further with the decision to spring veteran Anthony Thompson into the mix – his first appearance of the season. The injury-jinxed Darach O’Connor was also a popular introduction. McGrath, denied a perfectly good goal earlier, also got his name on the score sheet.
As the game entered its twilight, it was great to see Rory Gallagher and Declan Bonner cross palms. A number of Donegal players also embraced their former coach at the end. It was a nice touch. Regardless, of what some in the Hills like to think, Donegal owe Gallagher so much. And it was hard not to feel a degree of sympathy for the downed Belleek man afterwards.
Peering at the woods though the trees, Fermanagh have made huge strides this season and they’ll have a say of sorts during the remainder of the summer. But this was Donegal’s day. And it’s they who will march on.
Captain Michael Murphy lifts the Anglo Celt for Donegal (photo: Michael O'Donnell)Just how much of a dent they can make at the business end of the campaign will garner much debate. One thing is for certain, they’ll enter the Super 8s brimming with confidence. Dublin won’t phase them. But that battle will certainly reveal a lot more about their credentials than the race for the Anglo Celt ever did.
With the dust settling over a deserted St. Tiernach’s Park, McLoone was quick to turn attention towards the Super 8s and that mouth-watering clash with Dublin at Croke Park.
Speaking to The Irish Post, he said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling today. It’s hard to explain. Everyone is really just enjoying the set-up. We’re improving together. Today it just all came together. A few years ago we were winning them and people thought it was a given. This year people have realised it takes so much to actually get up those steps as winners.
“We hold our hands up for that too. But I think it showed today how much it means to everyone.”
Donegal will now have a spring in their step. Taking on the reigning All-Ireland champions in their own back yard holds no fear.
“Definitely not,” he added. “We weren’t looking past Fermanagh at all. There is a bit of pressure off now. There are three games now in the group and it hopefully will be an enjoyable thing. It’s new for everyone but it’s a change.
“I think it gives us the opportunity to express ourselves – and to continue to play the type of football that has got us this far.”
