New Donegal leaders stood up against Clare in Ennis says Anthony Molloy

Donegal recovered from a poor start on Saturday last to defeat Clare in the opening game in the All-Ireland series and it was their first win since their opening league game in MacCumhaill Park against Kerry on the last Sunday in January.

The welcome boost came thanks to a magnificent second half display as they came from 0-6 to 0-3 down at half-time to win convincingly by 0-14 to 0-9.

There was just a small band of Donegal supporters present to witness the win and among them was former All-Ireland winning captain, Anthony Molloy.

“It was great to be there and it was always a great venue. Some of the same people were around the gates from my playing time. It was a great feeling to get the win. There was a great ‘oul buzz around the town,” said Molloy,  who had a personal reason for the trip with his nephew, John Ross Molloy, starting his first championship game for the county.

“It was great for John Ross and I thought he did well.”

With three players making their first championship starts, the Donegal team was again short because of injuries.

“We had a starting 15 that had very little confidence and there were a lot of simple things going wrong (in the first half). But listen, they played very, very well in the second half, it was a good watch.”

The Ardara man agreed that the win will mean an awful lot to the young squad, many of whom were experiencing it for the first time. “Without a doubt, the win was huge, especially for the younger players. It will give the lads a great boost, confidence wise. We have a whole new team here, to be fair. All our experienced men, and our 2012 men are all gone now.

“We have a completely new young side now.”

Three-in-a-row chasing Donegal Masters face Cavan

Having lost their opening fixture away to Derry the side now turns its attention to the visit of the Breffni men, at the GAA Training Centre in Convoy (throw-in, 1.30pm)

The game saw a number of the regulars come to the fore. “Exactly and I thought from the few lads, we call them now the older lads, Hugh McFadden, Ciaran Thompson, Eoghan Bán and Jason (McGee) when he came in, they led the line and they grasped the nettle, which was great to see.”

For some of those playing on Saturday, it was the first time that they left the field in a Donegal jersey with a win and Molloy feels that was a major boost.

“We ran out fairly convincing winners. We have lads there who have absolutely no championship experience.  And as you know, it’s different to National League or whatever. I was very happy and I was happy for the lads to get a win under their belts.”

Molloy feels that there is plenty of talent and with all the injuries, it is a great opportunity for others. “Our capitano is injured, Paddy, who would be the most experienced of all, he’s out; Ryan McHugh is injured, Michael Langan, (Peadar) Mogan and McMenamin.

“We all had to start somewhere and we all had the same dreams. We have to row in behind them. We haven’t become a bad plant overnight. We still have loads and loads of talent there and loads of young talent as well.

“I don’t think it’s that bad. I just think these lads, their confidence was at an all-time low. With the amount of defeats that they had and a poor run in the National League; it’s amazing what a win can do to a team. It’s all about confidence and what goes with it.”

Molloy says that we can build on Saturday’s success as it gives us space and more games: “I think we will make it to the last 12 now; I think we are nearly guaranteed that. It’s very hard to see Clare getting a result against Derry or Monaghan.  And that will give us more games and it’s all about getting game time and championship football into these lads now. It’s about getting the taste for it and knowing what to expect as well.

“I’m looking forward now to the Derry game; it’s a home game for us and if we go out with the right attitude, who knows?”

He feels it is all about building confidence and he isn’t worried that we are in Division 2 next year.

“Okay, we are in Division 2 next year, but Dublin and all these great teams went to Division 2 and they bounced back.  I don’t see it as a crisis going to Division 2, but it is important going forward that we maintain Division 2.  People will not be expecting us to do much as regards the All-Ireland. I think the pressure is off these lads now and I think they might start enjoying their football.

“I would just hope to see all the negativity surrounding Donegal football for the last couple of months. Let’s get  out now and support and be there in numbers in Ballybofey on Sunday week to support this young team,” said Molloy, who said what had happened in the last six months or so reflected the great loss that Michael Murphy was to the side.

“His leadership on the field and leadership at training is missing and I think we see that. We can’t replace the likes of players like that overnight so we need time and patience.

“It was great to see the older lads showing on Saturday and them lads have to keep doing that. They have to grasp the nettle and let the young lads follow them. Those mentioned along with Brendan McCole and Caolan McGonagle and Oisin Gallen up front.

“There were a lot of positives coming out of the Clare game because I often saw us going down there and getting tough games,” he said, adding that the new management team also needs time.

“It takes time to build trust between the management and the group of players.  So there are a lot of things there that people don’t realise, that has to be got right. And that doesn’t happen overnight. To be fair the management there hasn’t had that much time.

“That’s why I have to say it is not all doom and gloom for Donegal. Hopefully, we will go out and we’ll take the game to Derry playing at home.”