Roscommon weather the storm to inflict first defeat of the season on Donegal

Donegal couldn’t mount a second-half comeback as Roscommon goals helped them to the win in Division 1 in a wet and extremely windy King & Moffat Dr Hyde Park on Sunday.

In terribly windy conditions, the Rossies led by 1-13 to 0-5 at the break thanks to a Diarmuid Murtagh goal and two pointers from Enda Smith (2), Keith Doyle and Murtagh.

Thirteen behind at one stage, it still looked like Donegal could make a comeback as Jason McGee, Shea Malone and Michael Langan hit two pointers, leaving three in it with 20 to play.

They got back to within a point with less than ten minutes left, but missed goal chances made a difference and as Murtagh set up Conor Hand, he punched in for the vital score as Donegal lost their first league match in six games.

Jim McGuinnness gave a first start to Max Campbell, while Michael Murphy set the new Donegal record, making his 195th appearance, surpassing Neil McGee.

But from the throw-in, it was evident the breeze in favour of the hosts was going to be a huge factor, with Enda Smith kicking a two-pointer inside 25 seconds.

Conor McCahill quickly responded after a good run by Finnbarr Roarty, and the Four Masters man was played in on goal by Campbell, with his shot beating Conor Carroll, although Senan Lambe was on the line to deny him.

From that, Smith kicked a second two-pointer, while Conor O’Donnell replied with one from a tight angle on the left.

A sweeping move from back to front from the hosts saw Lambe find Patrick Gavin, who got to the ball before Gavin Mulreany to lay off to Daire Cregg on the end line, and he played the ball back to Murtagh to fire in from close range.

Mulreany made saves from Dylan Ruane and Smith, while Murtagh kicked a free.

Donegal then had a penalty shout as Conor O’Donnell was taken down by Eoin Ward, but Kerry referee Brendan Griffin wasn’t interested, as Roscommon went up the other end and Keith Doyle kicked over from outside the arc.

Michael Murphy replied with a free from 21 metres, but the Rossies dominated the next five minutes, Lambe pointing from play and a two-point free from Murtagh as Donegal committed an offensive breach.

And the hosts won the next three kick outs, Robert Heneghan pointing before two in-a-row from Colm Neary gave them a thirteen-point lead.

Donegal ended the half strongly and could have had a goal, but Jason McGee fired wide, and McCahill had his shot saved, although Gavin Mulreany kicked an impressive ‘45 into the breeze.

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And Murphy ended the scoring for the half as Donegal trailed by 1-13 to 0-5, but plenty to play for with that strong breeze in their favour.

And they quickly made use of it, half-time substitute Shea Malone and Eoghan Bán Gallagher pointing early before a two-pointer from Jason McGee.

Less than a minute later, Malone kicked over from outside the arc, while McGee’s attempt from distance just hit off the post.

Doyle got a sole Roscommon point in this spell of domination, but Michael Langan quickly responded with another effort from well outside the arc.

McGee made it a three-point game, but after an O’Donnell point, Conor Hand, just on the pitch, got one back for Roscommon, and Smith got his fifth of the match.

Murtagh landed another free, but Donegal rallied again with a Finnbarr Roarty two-pointer, followed by a fisted effort from Mogan and a strike inside the arc from McGee, leaving a point in it with twelve to play.

Lambe got another for the hosts, and Donegal had a huge chance as Murphy played in Jamie Brennan, and despite having Mogan for company, the Bundoran man went for goal himself and dragged his effort wide.

Brennan made up for that with a point, but Smith fisted over with five to play.

And as O’Donnell tried to level with a two-point attempt, it dropped short, and the hosts countered, with Shane Cunnane picking out Murtagh, who got ahead of Brendan McCole and played it across to Conor Hand to palm in.

That sealed the victory for the home side, who were buoyed by the goal, and Murtagh pointed from a free as Roscommon move to eight points, just one behind Donegal with one game to play.

Roscommon scorers: Diarmuid Murtagh 1-5, tpf, 3f; Enda Smith 0-6, 2 tp; Conor Hand 1-1; Keith Doyle 0-3, tp; Colm Neary and Senan Lambe 0-2; Robert Heneghan 0-1

Donegal scorers: Jason McGee 0-4, tp;  Shea Malone 0-3, tp;  Conor O’Donnell 0-2;  Michael Murphy 0-2, 1f; Michael Langan and Finnbarr Roarty 0-2, tp; Gavin Mulreany 0-1, 45; Conor McCahill, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Peadar Mogan and Jamie Brennan 0-1. 

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Patrick Gavin, Niall Higgins, Colm Neary; Eoin Ward, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe; Keith Doyle, Conor Ryan; Dylan Ruane, Enda Smith, Eoin McCormack; Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg, Robert Heneghan.

Subs: Shane Cunnane for Ryan (43), Ruaidhrí Fallon and Conor Hand for Neary and Cregg (49), Caelim Keogh for Fallon (59), Robbie Dolan for Heneghan (63).

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Finnbarr Roarty; Hugh McFadden, Jason McGee; Michael Langan; Peadar Mogan, Michael Langan, Max Campbell; Conor McCahill, Michael Murphy, Conor O’Donnell.

Subs: Shea Malone and Caolan McColgan for Campbell and McCahill (ht), Jamie Brennan for McHugh (57).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)