Donegal open McGuinness's second spell with a simple win over youthful Amagh

January isn’t for everyone but in Donegal, following their annus horribilis in 2023, there was optimism in looking ahead to the new year since the reappointment of Jim McGuinness.

Donegal 3-16 Armagh 1-6

A healthy crowd of 3,825 they made their way to see the first steps of the second spell and would’ve made their way home content enough, although fully appreciative of where things are.

Man-of-the-match Michael Langan and Oisin Gallen hit 1-4 apiece, the latter a half-time replacement, while Kevin McGettigan was also a goalscorer against Armagh, who lined up with their U-20 side, as manager Barry O’Hagan took control with Kieran McGeeney looking ahead.

Donegal, on the other hand, has a mixture of experience and youth, with five players making their first starts for their county.

Among them was Finbarr Roarty, who was making his Donegal bow on his last night as a 17-year-old and still waiting to make a first senior appearance with his club Naomh Conaill of Glenties. Roarty was right in the mix, getting possession on the right and laying inside for Langan on the gallop to wallop home an opening goal - only 70 seconds had ticked.

Donegal added a second goal through McGettigan - another debutant - who made another off-the-shoulder run and was feb by Aaron Doherty with Jason McGee having dinked a pass in.

That made the score 2-2 to 0-2 after 22 minutes, with Joe Sheridan’s free and a fine Cianan Campbell score registered for Armagh. It got better when Joe McClelland snuck in around the back to punch a goal over Shaun Patton two minutes after McGettigan's goal.

Langan at centre-field, who missed out on a chunk of Donegal's campaign last year with a ripped hamstring, ended the first half with 1-3, following which the home side went in 2-6 to 1-3 in front.

As well as Roarty and McGettigan, Donegal’s other three starting newbies were Ciaran Moore of St Eunan’s, Na Rossa’s Oisin Caulfield and Seanan Carr from Four Masters. They would be joined by Gaoh Dobhair goalkeeper Daithí Roberts midway through the second half.

At the break, Donegal kept Armagh, who swapped Conor Lennon into goal, and referee Maggie Farrelly waiting before their XV emerged with seven changes, with Odhran Doherty, Peadar Mogan, Gallen, Stephen McMenamin, Coalan McGonagle, Jamie Brennan and Shane O’Donnell all coming in.

O’Donnell and Gallen took only 45 seconds to combine for a third goal, with St Eunan’s ball forward’s ball in and the slightest of fisted touches from the local MacCumhaill’s player.

McGonagle, the recently married Ryan McHugh and Gallen, with two scored points as Donegal hit six points on the spin, in seven second-half minutes. Langan and Odhran Doherty were also part of that streak and on 55 minutes, it was 3-13 to 1-4.

Brendan O’Hagan - the manager’s son and a former clubman of Naomh Colmcille and student of St Eunan’s College - ended up with three pointed frees before Peadar Mogan and Gallen rounded it off for Donegal.

After the pre-Christmas challenge victory over Roscommon to mark the reopening of Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon, McGuinness referred to the fact he didn’t want to see Donegal play lateral football.

The McKenna Cup in the first week of January isn’t a place where the ‘new’ Donegal were ever going to appear so it’ll take a few more weeks of evolution on the training pitches and throughout the Allianz League to see just where things are at. Before that though, there’s Tyrone at Healy Park on Sunday.

Donegal scorers: Michael Langan 1-4; Oisin Gallen 1-4, 1f; Kevin McGettigan 1-0; Patrick McBrearty 0-2, 2f; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Aaron Doherty, Caolan McGonagle, Ryan McHugh, Odhran Doherty, Peadar Mogan 0-1.

Armagh scorers: Joe McClelland 1-0; Brendan O’Hagan 0-3, 3f; Joe Sheridan 1f; Cianan Campbell, Callum O’Neill 0-1.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Kevin McGettigan; Ryan McHugh, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Ciaran Moore; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Oisin Caulfield, Ciaran Thompson, Daire Ó Baoill; Aaron Doherty, Patrick McBrearty, Seanan Carr. Subs: Odhran Doherty, Peadar Mogan, Oisin Gallen, Stephen McMenamin, Coalan McGonagle, Jamie Brennan and Shane O’Donnell on for Ó Baoill, Moore, A Doherty, McGettigan, McGee, Carr and Caulfield (half-time); John Ross Molloy and Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde for Mac Ceallabhuí and Roarty (50), Daithí Roberts and Rory O’Donnell for Patton and Langan (53)

Armagh: Rhys Stevens; Cathal Agnew, Sam McClarnon, Conor Magennis; Emmett Magee, Joe McClelland, Joe Sheridan; Tadhg Grimley, Paddy Carr; Sean Conlon, Brendan O’Hagan, Callum O’Neill; Cianan Campbell, Daniel Magee, Michael McConville. Subs: Fergal O’Brien for Carr (29), Conor Lennon for Stevens (half-time), Tomás Galvin for Campbell (46)

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan)