Mac's View: Donegal’s result against Galway was a fair one in the end

What a great game we had in the Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon on Sunday despite the difficult conditions and the result at the end was probably a fair enough one.

The first half was average enough and Galway recovered well after Conor O’Donnell scored one of the goals of the season at the Mart End of the ground. He showed the Galway players a clean pair of heels from midfield and then fired with his right to the net. He is becoming a real talent and is so powerful and with two scoring feet, something that is rare enough in the GAA.

It was the highlight of an opening half that didn’t really come to life, but we were treated to something really special in the second half and I suppose that came about because when Donegal went a man down and six points down, they were asked a serious question.

The response from Donegal was excellent and their impressive unbeaten record at the Fr Tierney Park, going back 17 years to 2009, remains intact thanks to the efforts. It was no surprise that the turnaround was helped by the introduction of three regulars at the break, Michael Murphy, Peadar Mogan and Finnbarr Roarty.

Murphy showed great leadership and helped put a bit of shape on the Donegal side. His strength and control in tight situations was a joy to watch and helped lift his teammates and the Donegal support.

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I’ve been a great admirer of Peadar Mogan for a long time now and the skill he showed to fire over the two pointer at the end was a joy to watch. He is probably more of a half-back than a full-back and he has a great ability to finish with that left peg.

As for Finnbarr Roarty, again what a special talent. If we could manufacture a few Roartys every couple of years we would be in a good place in Donegal. He is special to watch and is another one of those players that lifts his own team and the supporters.

We had a good number of young players again given game time on Sunday and they will learn more about what is needed and the difference between playing minor and U-20 and senior. Young Paul O’Hare did really well on Sunday and he will be very happy with his first league start.  And what about our goalkeeper, Gavin Mulreany. Once again he covered himself in glory with a number of very good stops, keeping a clean sheet, and scoring one two pointer from a long distance out, into the wind.

The Galway team stayed in Bundoran on Saturday night and I got a good look at them. They are a really big, physical team and I would say they will be in the Top Four in Ireland come the summer. I would be thinking that we would be in the Top Two at the moment.

The result means we have nine points from our five games and barring a major fall-off we will be in the league final on the last Sunday in March. It is a weekend I’m really looking forward to as the Donegal Association in Dublin are having their big night that weekend also with Packie Keeney being installed as the Donegal Person of the Year.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a double celebration? We have only one Division 1 League title and that was 19 years ago now in 2007. We are due another one.

Next up for Donegal is a trip to Roscommon on Sunday week and the Rossies didn’t do too well against Dublin at the weekend in Dr Hyde Park, which was a bit of a surprise. Still, they are not a bad side and Donegal need to be fully prepared for that trip.

But overall things are going very well for Jim McGuinness and Donegal. Since the All-Ireland defeat to Kerry last July, they have now played eight, won seven and drawn one. There has been no hangover whatsoever and they are playing some good football.

It was a good weekend for the hurlers and ladies as well at the weekend with wins over Louth and Mayo respectively. The hurlers are out again this weekend with a home game against Wicklow and like the footballers, they are unbeaten so far and looking good for promotion.

The Donegal Minors are also wished well this weekend as they begin their competitive season in the Ulster Minor League away to Antrim.

SYMPATHY

My sympathies this week go to the Harvey and Murray families of Donegal Town and Ballyshannon on the recent deaths of Eamon Harvey and Alan Murray.

I have known Eamon Harvey for a long, long time and he was well-known as a coach of many sports. He made a huge contribution to athletics but also to the GAA, having trained county teams at all levels.

My sympathies also to the Murray family, Ballyshannon on the untimely death of Alan Murray, brother of All-Ireland winner Brian and Val. Alan was a very talented footballer in his own right and played at underage for Donegal and for Aodh Ruadh.

Ar dheis Dé ar a  n-anamacha.

Brian McEniff in conversation with Peter Campbell