Donegal slip down to Sligo defeat
Coverage of the grand opening in the Donegal News.
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Donegal slip down to Sligo defeat
29th May 2009
Donegal 1-13
Sligo 2-15
By Chris McNulty at Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh.
Donegal have some thinking to do in the next fortnight as their build-up to the Ulster Championship opener with Antrim on Sunday-week intensifies following this four-point defeat to Sligo in Ballyshannon on Friday night.
John Joe Doherty's men led by six points at one stage in the second-half, but once the customary sweeping changes that are part and parcel of such challenges were enforced it was Sligo who looked the most potent and the visitors were good value for their win.
For the game, which marked the opening of the brilliant new facility that is Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh, John Joe opted not to risk Neil McGee, Rory Kavanagh, Frank McGlynn or Barry Dunnion, while Christy Toye was restricted to a cameo from the bench during the second-half.
Among the few bright points on the night were the 1-4 scored by the ever-deadly Michael Murphy during the first-half and the showings of Neil Gallagher and Brendan Boyle at centrefield. Gallagher was a massive outlet in the middle, with his ball winning and drive quite evident (indeed the Glenswilly man had to leave action for a time at the end of the first-half after sustaining a bang to the head, before returning with a head bandage for part two), while Boyle worked well beside him and the pairing looks at this stage to be the favoured choice of the management for the Championship.
Kevin Cassidy looks in lean shape at the moment and will again be looked to for leadership and Karl Lacey marked his return with a solid if not polished performance in the corner.
Murphy was Donegal's main outlet in attack, but aside from three points by McFadden the others around him had a subdued evening for the most part. The Glenswilly man rattled home Donegal's goal on eight minutes. McFadden burst in on the end line on the right side of the field and he fisted across goal for Murphy, who had a mountain of time to calmly drill across the 'keeper and put Donegal into a four-point lead.
Murphy and Sean Davey had traded early points with Ciaran Bonner also on the mark for Donegal early on. Conall Dunne took a lead from Cassidy to fist over soon after the goal and a 20-metre free from Murphy put six between them.
Davey and Murphy swapped scored with Davey on target again to precede a sideline free from the accurate Adrian Marron that sailed over the black spot. McFadden restored a five-point Tir Chonaill advantage, but in a six-minute spell Sligo hit 1-4 to move two ahead by the 32nd minute.
John Scanlon and three in as many minutes from Marron moved the visitors to within a single point. The pendulum swung in their favour when Sean Davey sent the ball dangerously across the Donegal goal for David Kelly to have the simple task of applying the finish at the back post.
Frees from Murphy and McFadden drew an end to the first-half. Both teams made big changes to their sides thereafter with six switches alone on the Donegal team being made for the beginning of the second period.
Donegal reeled off three points on the spin through McFadden, Eoin Waide and Michael Hegarty to move back into the driving seat again inside ten minutes of the resumption. However, they were rocked when, after points from John McPartland and Kenneth Sweeney, their opponents struck for a second goal on 53 minutes. It was Sweeney who applied them finish when his deft flick steered the ball home after good work from Mark Brehony and Sean Davey.
While Dara Gallagher burst through to point on 58, Sligo responded immediately through Sweeney. Gallagher brought Donegal to within two again with a '45' four minutes from time, but it was Sligo who closed out the better as Kelly fired over two late points and send them home with victory under their belt.
Much pondering to do for Donegal as Championship draws nearer and the return of a few of those who watched from vantage points around the bench on Friday night will heartily be welcomed by the green and gold faithful.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Donegal Michael Boyle; Charlie Byrne, Eamon McGee, Karl Lacey; Raymond Sweeney, Kevin Cassidy, Michael Maguire; Brendan Boyle, Neil Gallagher; Ciaran Bonner (0-1), Michael Hegarty (0-1), Brian Roper; Colm McFadden (0-3, 2f), Michael Murphy (1-4, 4f), Conall Dunne (0-1). Substitutes: Paul Durcan for Boyle, Dara Gallagher (0-2, 1'45') for Dunne, David Walsh for Roper, Johnny Gallagher for Byrne, Eoin Waide (0-1) for Sweeney, Barry Monaghan for Maguire (all half-time); Christy Toye for Boyle (46 mins); Stephen Griffin for McFadden (49 mins); Adrian Hanlon for Murphy (55 mins). |
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Sligo Philip Greene; Charlie Harrison, Brendan Phillips, Ross Donovan; Michael McNamara, Noel Ewing, Paul McGovern; Eugene Mullen, Tom Colleary; Gary Gaughan, Mark Brehony, Sean Davey (0-3); David Kelly (1-2), Adrian Marron (0-4, 1f), John Scanlon (0-1). Substitutes: Alan Costello for Gaughan (25 mins); Shane Stenson for Colleary, Kenneth Sweeney (1-2) for Harrison (both half-time); Noel Maguire for McGovern, Barry Kivlehen for Scanlon (both 40 mins); John McPartland (0-1) for Marron (43 mins); Johnny Davey for McNamara (45 mins); Paul Naughton for S.Davey (53 mins); Jason Farrell for Greene (57 mins). |
| Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh). |