Youthful Donegal show glimpses in the rain in narrow loss to Monaghan

Six pointed frees from Micheál Bannigan earned Monaghan a narrow victory over an inexperienced although enthusiastic Donegal in the McKenna Cup at MacCumhaill Park.

Donegal 2-7 Monaghan 0-15

With both sides having been beaten by Down in their opening matches, the odds of a last four berth in the northern pre-season competition for either were lengthy enough, under their new management tickets headed by Paddy Carr and Vinny Corey.

The sides were level with just under two minutes to play with Luke McGlynn having scored a penalty to keep the hosts in front, only for placed balls from Bannigan and goalkeeper Rory Beggan to seal the away win.

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Just before throw-in, it was announced that Patrick McBrearty and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí would be replaced by Jamie Brennan and Joel Bradley Walsh, with the latter making a first start on his local club ground.

With that in mind, there was plenty for the locals of the Twin Towns to cheer when Bradley Walsh managed to poke home a goal in just 96 seconds. The Monaghan defence struggled to deal with a raking ball in from Odhrán Doherty and Luke McGlynn’s first shot at goal blocked.

It gave Donegal a fine start, although once the match settled it was the visitors who were dictating much of its tone. Monaghan would score five out of the next six scores with Sean Jones scoring twice, Micheál Bannigan and goalkeeper Darren McDonnell hitting over frees and Stephen O’Hanlon from play to lead 0-5 to 1-1 by the 18th minute.

Donegal, though, eked in front with Brennan, skipper for the night Daire Ó Baoill and Bradley Walsh scoring for 1-4 to 0-5, only for Monaghan to kick four on the bounce to go in ahead 0-9 to 1-4. Bannigan, with frees, and substitute Shane Carey hit two late points apiece.

After Bannigan gor the second half scoring started, on 45 minutes a free from Brennan didn’t have the legs on a heavy night at the Town End and Monaghan substitute goalkeeper Rory Beegan had a fortunate escape. He charged from his line only to be beaten to the punch by McGlynn, with the ball going wide of the post.

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At the other end, Gavin Mulreany - who played in goal for Finn Harps last season and was also a debutant - saved from O’Hanlon, with Rory Beggan putting over a 45. The second half also saw first appearances for Kealan Dunleavy of Glenswilly, Gaoth Dobhair’s Gary McFadden, Philip Doherty from Naomh Columba and, on the day of his 21st birthday, St Eunan’s Kieran Tobin.

Johnny McGroddy - who also turned 21 - hit a long-range free-kick on 51 minutes and it was Donegal’s first point in 25, making the score 0-10 to 1-5. With 14 minutes to play, Conor O’Donnell made an electric run through and his blistering shot was tipped over by Beggan.

However, Conor Dourneen, the match referee, signalled for a penalty and up stepped McGlynn - just 18 years of age - and his precise spot kick into the bottom corner just past Beggans dive levelled it at 2-5 to 0-11.

In the final 10 minutes, Monaghan hit points from Banningan - his fifth - and Jack McCarron to lead by two. And although Donegal paired it up again with McGroddy hitting over a long-ranger and then O’Donnell scoring, it was Bannigan and Beggan who got their side the win.

Donegal scorers: Joel Bradley Walsh 1-1; Luke McGlynn 1-0, pen; Johnny McGroddy 0-2, 2f; Jamie Brennan 0-1, 1f; Martin O’Reilly, Daire Ó Baoill and Conor O’Donnell 0-1.
Monaghan scorers: Micheál Bannigan 0-6, 6f; Sean Jones and Shane Carey 0-2; Rory Beggan 0-2, 45, 1f; Darren McDonnell 0-1, 1f; Stephen O’Hanlon 0-1; Jack McCarron 0-1, 1f.

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Mark Curran, Caolan Ward, John Ross Molloy; Marty O'Reilly, Brendan McCole, Odhran Doherty; Stephen McMenamin, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride; Johnny McGroddy, Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan; Luke McGlynn, Joel Bradley Walsh, Kane Barrett. Subs: Conor O’Donnell, Kealan Dunleavy and Jack McSharry for Bradley Walsh, Barrett and Mac Giolla Bhride (half-time), Jamie Grant for McSharry (40), Gary McFadden for Molloy (46), Kieran Tobin and Philip Doherty for O’Reilly and O Doherty (56).
Monaghan: Darren McDonnell; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Thomas McPhillips; Colm Lennon, Killian Lavelle, Kevin Loughran; Francie Hughes,Dessie Ward; Joel Wilson, Micheál Bannigan, Shane Slevin; Jason Irwin, Stephen O’Hanlon, Sean Jones. Subs: Shane Carey for Irwin (25), Rory Beggan, Ryan O’Toole and Jack McCarron for McDonnell, McPhillips and Jones (half-time), Fintan Kelly for Hughes (44), Fabian Beggan for Wilson (49), Kevin Sheridan for Slevin (67)
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).