Donegal fail to measure up after heavy loss against Kildare
Donegal's early season house of cards came crashing down in Newbridge on Sunday afternoon as Kildare ended their seven-game unbeaten run with a convincing and comprehensive victory.
On the tight confines of St Conleth's Park, and on a perfect day for football the home team made John Joe Doherty's men look very ordinary. In truth Donegal were a pale shadow of the team that retained the Dr McKenna with five unbeaten games before putting up big scores against Westmeath and Laois in their opening two league outings.
In fairness to Kildare they were probably are good bit better than all others (apart from Tyrone) put to the sword by Donegal so far in 2010.
Certainly if this tie is a yardstick, Kildare are streets ahead of their provincial neighbours Laois and Westmeath. At times on Sunday they looked like world beaters as they pinned Donegal back in their own half and kicked points with considerable ease.
The midfield dominance of Dermot Earley and Daryl Flynn apart, they were stronger on the ball and in the tackle and their forwards moved with great purpose and to great effect to carve the openings.
Despite getting the ball rolling with the game's opening score from Michael Murphy inside a minute the first half was not a good one for Donegal. Kildare were by the superior side and they went in six points to the good 1-8 to 1-2.
Murphy, who was watched once again by Australian Rules coach Ricky Nixon, got the visitors off the mark when he converted from 20 metres after he was fouled himself inside a minute. But it was all Kildare for the next 22 minutes as they hit 1-5 without reply courtesy of points from Ken Donnelly, and two each from John Doyle and Karl Ennis, with both of Ennis strikes from frees.
Gary White sank the dagger in with the Kildare goal on 20 minutes. The centre back was picked out by Karl Ennis in front of the posts and from the edge of the rectangle he beat Michael Boyle despite the best efforts of Neil Gallagher.
Leading 1-5 to 0-1, Kildare were rampant and playing with a swagger. And indeed but for a good block and interception from James Keaney, Padraig O'Neill could have netted a second Kildare three pointer minutes later.
Just when it seemed the locals were going to run away with it Donegal were thrown a lifeline when Fergal McNulty and David Walsh combined for a goal to bring their side right back into the game.
On 23 minutes a McNulty attempt for a point dropped short and Walsh following up, claimed afterwards that he got a touch as keeper Thomas Corley was guilty of taking his eye off the ball and it ended up in the back of the net.
When Leo McLoone, with his first touch, kicked Donegal's second point five minutes later the margin was back to a manageable four points. But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Ken Donnelly and Padraig O'Neill pointed in injury time to send in the Lilywhites in 1-8 to 1-2 up.
As in the first half Donegal were first out of the blocks with the first point of the second half with Colm McFadden scored a good point within a minute of the restart. However, the signs began to look ominous as Michael Boyle made a good save to deny the raiding Dermot Earley from close range.
And with Earley and Doyle continuing to torment, they both added points to extend the Kildare advantage to seven points 1-10 to 1-3 by the 44 minutes mark. David Walsh and Murphy from a free made it a five point game again 1-10 to 1-5. Walsh pointed after a good turnover from Neil McGee, now moved to wing back to curb the threat of Doyle.
But five points without reply from Doyle, Padraig O'Neill, Flynn and two from Donnelly finally put an end to any slim hope there may have been of a Donegal revival.
In front 1-15 to 1-5, Kildare added two more points from Willie Heffernan and Hugh Lynch to once each from Colm McFadden substitute Damien Hanlon and two from Michael Murphy.
Donegal: Michael Boyle; James Keaney, Neil McGee, Karl Lacey; Anthony Thompson, Frank McGlynn, Kevin Cassidy; Neil Gallagher, Barry Monaghan; Fergal McNulty, David Walsh (1-1), Stephen Griffin; Colm McFadden (0-2,1f), Michael Murphy (0-4,3f), Conall Dunne. Subs: Leo McLoone (0-1) for F. McNulty (24 mins); Eoin Waide for J. Keaney (46 mins); Adrian Hanlon (0-1) for D. Walsh (54 mins); Barry Dunnion for F.McGlynn
Kildare: Thomas Corley; Hugh McGrillen, Damien Hendry, Emmett Bolton; Keith Cribbin, Gary White (1-0), Mark Scanlon; Daryl Flynn (0-1), Dermot Earley(0-1); David White, Padraig O'Neill (0-2), John Doyle (0-6,2f); Ken Donnelly (0-3), James Kavanagh, Karl Ennis (0-2f). Subs: Billy Heffernan (0-1) for K. Ennis(57 mins); Hugh Lynch (0-1) for David White; Ronan Sweeney for D. Earley (61 mins); Killian Brennan for J. Doyle (63 mins)
Referee: Michael Collins (Cork).
Man of the Match
Dermot Earley may have only scored one point but he put in a towering performance at midfield where he reigned supreme.
He gets the vote ahead of John Doyle with Ken Donnelly also in the shake up.
McGee was, by a good stretch, Donegal's man of the match.
He turned in a solid display at full-back and did well also at wing back to do a direct marking job on Doyle in the second half.
Turning Point
It came pretty early with Kildare posting five points without response after Michael Murphy had got Donegal off the mark inside a minute. And in truth the Lilywhites had the look of winners about them long before Gary White struck for their goal on 20 minutes.
Ref Watch
The early free count favoured the home team and Michael Collins could have been accused of being a little hometown. But in fairness to the Cork official this may be more down to their early dominance than any great bias by him.
It may also be down to the Lilywhites great strength on the ball and in the tackle that saw them win at times what seemed easy frees while at the same time Donegal struggled to find favour with the official because of their inability to break the tackle. However, as the game opened up the free count seemed to balance out.
The Marksman
Michael Boyle: Not a return that Michael would have wanted. While he could not be faulted for Gary White's goal as it snuck in at the post, he did not have a good day with his kick outs as he kicked one out over the sideline and gave away a late point for another as well as struggling to avoid Dermot Earley in midfield. On the plus side he did deny Dermot Earley for what looked a certain goal. 6
James Keaney: James denied Kildare a second goal with a good block and interception but otherwise he found the going tough and was replaced towards the end of the third quarter. 5
Neil McGee: Another good display from the Gaoth Dobhair man who stood on the bridge for long periods when all around him were struggling. He also played well when switched to half-back to curb the threat of John Doyle. 8
Karl Lacey: He was given a torrid time in the opening exchanges by Ken Donnelly and it did not get any better for him when moved to follow the roving James Kavanagh. 5
Anthony Thompson: He turned in a solid if not spectacular display and had a very good first half on David White before being consigned to duty in the full-back line in the second half. 6
Frank McGlynn: He found the going tough against the Kildare early onslaught though in fairness to him he did drive forward a number of times to lift the siege. 5
Kevin Cassidy: After his club colleague Neil McGee, captain Cassidy was Donegal's next best performer. He was the one man that seemed to have the power and strength to match the Kildare men and won a fair share of ball both in the loose and in the air. 6
Neil Gallagher: He simply had no answer to Dermot Earley and was on the back foot from the word go and seemed to also allow a number of referee Michael Collins' early decisions get to him. And while he soldiered to the finish he was well below his best. 5
Barry Monaghan: Like Neil Gallagher struggled for most of the game even if he did battle against the odds and the more powerful Kildare pairing in the middle. 5
Fergal McNulty: Fergal kicked in the ball that led to the Donegal goal and after an otherwise quiet opening he was called ashore after 24 minutes and replaced by Leo McLoone. 5
David Walsh: He claimed the goal and certainly his presence in close proximity to keeper Thomas Corley meant the keeper was distracted as the ball dropped in the danger area. He also kicked a point in the second half before being replaced by Adrian Hanlon on 49 minutes. 6
Stephen Griffin: He won a fair amount of ball but was guilty of some wayward shooting and taking wrong options when others were in better positions. 5
Colm McFadden: He kicked two points, but overall found the going tough against Hugh McGrillen and was also guilty of being a little selfish at times. 5
Michael Murphy: He kicked four points - three from frees - and despite a well below performance from play he carried his team's biggest threat up front. 6
Conall Dunne: He worked hard throughout in his roving roll got little change from is marker Emmett Bolton and did not get on as much ball as usual. 5
Leo McLoone: Kicked a point with his first touch after replacing Fergal McNulty on 24 minutes. He did some good work up along the left wing for the remainder off the half but was not as effective in the second period. 5
Eoin Waide: The writing was already on the wall and with Kildare leading 1-10 to 1-3 when Eoin was introduced on the three quarter mark and it was not the type of game it was easy going to make an impact. 5
Adrian Hanlon: He replaced David Walsh for the closing 18 minutes and did win a good deal of ball in that time and kicked a point and also found Leo McLoone with a good pass that set up a goal chance. 5
Barry Dunnion: Barry made his first appearance since last summer when replacing Frank McGlynn and had little time to impress. 5
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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