Donegal comprehensively defeat Monaghan to seal Dr McKenna Cup final place

Donegal cruised to a place in the Dr McKenna Cup final courtesy of a victory over Monaghan at St Mary’s Park in Castleblayney.
Monaghan 0-11 Donegal 4-14

A week that started with Jim McGuinness facing a proposed eight-week ban for Donegal’s fielding of an ineligible player in the opening-round win over Armagh, ended with no suspension and a very encouraging performance.

Two goals from Oisin Gallen, one from man-of-the-match Odhrán Doherty and another in the second half from first-timer Ronan Frain. Aside from that, Donegal look sharp and in shape for this early juncture of the calendar year and will play Derry next weekend for a chance to win some silverware.

Monaghan didn’t play a full hand and their insistence in the first half or trying to press high - goalkeeper and all - certainly didn’t work out too well against a Donegal side who love to swarm then surge

Only four minutes had been played when Donegal managed the opening goal when Monaghan were turned over upfield and the visitors broke.

Doherty picked out Gallen - the most advanced player - and with Monaghan goalkeeper Darren McDonnell also having wandered, Gallen shot into the empty net from 40 metres.

Jamie Brennan, from another break, and then Gallen again put Donegal 1-2 to 0-0 in front by the eighth minute and it could’ve been more. Goalkeeper McDonnell saved from point-blank range from Ciaran Thompson and Brennan slapped home a goal but strayed inside the square before Gallen’s pass.

Monaghan were having a nightmare start, losing both Sean Jones and Conor McCarthy to injuries in the first quarter, with their best chance in that period was palmed away by Sean Patton after a piledriver from David Garland.

Vinny Corey’s side were the architects of their downfall with McDonnell constantly wandering and possession being turned. Brennan added three points in succession and then the second goal arrived on 19 minutes.

Donegal always seemed to have numbers over as they scampered at lightening pace into forward positions and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí fed Doherty, who slammed into the roof of the net to make it 2-4 to 0-1.

Shane O’Donnell, for Donegal, and Monaghan’s Stephen Mooney traded scores and Oisin Caulfield’s score made for an advantage of 2-6 to 0-2. A third Donegal goal came from Gallen from a penalty on 31 minutes, after Ryan O’Toole was penalised for touching the ball on the ground after making a courageous block from Thomspon, with Donegal in again.

Gallen added three more - a mark, a free and one on the run - before the break, by which time Donegal had built up a commanding half-time lead of 3-9 to 0-3, with Mooney hitting the hosts’ third point.

With Gallen replaced by Luke McGlynn at the break, Mooney’s free started the scoreboard ticking in the second half, with Patrick McBrearty getting his first of the day at the other end.

A couple more Mooney frees brought the score to 3-10 to 0-6 by the 45th minute, with the clouds greying and rain falling, meaning a horde towards the back of the main stand at St Mary’s Park. Letterkenny Gaels’ Frain came in to become the eighth Donegal debutant in this year’s McKenna Cup and a ninth would follow in the form of Karl Joseph Molloy from Ardara.

Gary Mohan hit a fine Monaghan point, only for it to be cancelled out instantly by Ryan McHugh before Donegal got joy from another Monaghan kick-out. McGlynn, who had pointed himself moments beforehand, laid the ball to his right and in came Frain, wth his first touch at senior level, to slap down into the net on 52 minutes.

Donegal were now 4-12 to 0-8 ahead and with subs having been rolling from the start of the second half, managed to inject some sting into things again. Mooney would finish the day with eight for Monaghan, with Ciaran McNulty also scoring late on as did Molloy twice for Donegal, although by then the sun was back out and Donegal were well on their way.

Monaghan scorers: Stephen Mooney 0-8, 6f; Barry McBennett, Gary Mohan and Ciaran McNulty 0-1.

Donegal scorers: Oisin Gallen 2-4, 1m, 1f; Jamie Brennan 0-3; Odhrán Doherty and Ronan Frain 1-0; Karl Joseph Molloy 0-2, 2f; Shane O’Donnell, Oisin Caulfield, Patrick McBrearty, Ryan McHugh, Luke McGlynn, 0-1.

Monaghan: Darren McDonnell; Ryan O’Toole, Killian Lavelle, Kevin Loughran; Kevin Sheridan, Colm Lennon, Conor McCarthy; Michéal McCarville, Gary Mohan; Barry McBennett, Stephen O’Hanlon, Joel Wilson; David Garland, Sean Jones, Jason Irwin. Subs: Stephen Mooney for Jones (2), Darragh McElarney for McCarthy (14), Darragh Treanor, Michael Hamill, Andrew Woods and Thomas McPhillips for Lennon, Wilson, Garland and O’Toole (half-time), Bobby Walker for Lavelle (46); Francis Hughes and Ciaran McNulty for Mahon and Bennett (52), Jack McCarron for O’Hanlon (56)

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí; Oisín Caulfield, Ciarán Moore; Ciarán Thompson, Odhrán Doherty, Shane O’Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan. Subs Luke McGlynn for Gallen (half-time); John Ross Molloy for McMenamin (46), Ronan Frain for O’Donnell (48), Rory O’Donnell got Doherty (42), Aaron Doherty and KJ Molloy for McBrearty and Thompson (58), Daithí Roberts for Patton (63).

Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone)