Donegal outgun Cavan for first victory in 2023 All-Ireland Masters Series

Nine points from Shaun Maguire helped Donegal to a double-score victory over Cavan in their second outing in the group stages of the All-Ireland Masters Championship.

Donegal 2-16 Cavan 1-8

Following on from a 3-14 to 0-15 loss to Derry in their season opener, Donegal hit the ground running at the GAA Centre in Convoy, with a dominant first half and goals from Aidan Duddy and Gerard McBrearty to go in 2-10 to 1-3 in front at the break.

Cavan had opened brightly with Declan Beard in decent form, although Donegal, with Maguire impressing in his debut season, were in control totally in the second quarter, where they reeled off eight points in succession. And although the Breffni County finished well, it was Donegal who were comfortable winners.

The first score of the game on just 50 seconds was a goal from Duddy, who rose to collect a Hannigan ball in and slam past Brian Clarke. Maguire then got in the groove, while Beard scored two for Cavan before, on nine minutes, McBrearty slapped home following a good break by Paddy McNulty, to make the score 2-2 to 0-3.

Cavan’s response was immediate, with a point from Keith Fannon and then a goal of their own, with Beard shooting home when he got on the end of a dinked footpass from Ryan McCormack on 11 minutes.

From then until half-time, though, it was all Donegal, with Maguire finishing the half with seven already to his name and the other scores came from Hannigan and a couple from Stephen Coyle. Donegal were 10 points in front at the break.

Maguire scored his eighth and Donegal’s ninth in succession to open part two, although the pace of the contest began to slow somewhat. Beard ended Cavan’s 27-minute scoreless streak and Coyle, Maguire and Hannigan had Donegal 2-14 to 1-4 to the good midway through the half.

Conor McShane fisted over for Donegal with Nickey McGarrigle adding his name to the scoresheet and Cavan battled on with late points from Philip Monaghan, Fannon, Michael McGovern and Ronan Kiernan.

Donegal scorers: Shaun Maguire 0-9, 2f; Stephen Coyle 0-3, 2f; Aidan Duddy and Gerard McBrearty 1-0 each; Paddy Hannigan 0-2; Conor McShane and Nickey McGarrigle 0-1 each.
Cavan scorers: Declan Beard 1-3, 2f; Keith Fannon 0-2; Philip Monaghan 0-1, 1f; Michael McGovern and Ronan Kiernan 0-1 each.

Donegal: Cathal Gallagher; Charlie Doherty, Hugh Foy, Paddy Joe Doohan, Seamus Hegarty, Patrick Gallagher, Enda Bonner; Benny Boyle, Paddy McNulty; Gerard McBrearty, Eunan Keaveny, Paddy Hannigan; Aidan Duddy, Shaun Maguire, Sean McDaid. Subs: Karl O’Brien, Benny Quinn, Gary Gillen, Gavin Kelly, Turlough McGinley, Mark Canning, Stephen Coyle, Nickey McGarrigle, Ciaran Cunningham, Conor McShane, Andrew McMorrow, Martin Rooney.
Cavan: Brian Clarke; Kevin Donohoe, StephenTighe, Patrick Mulligan; Philip Monaghan, Paul Brady, Shane Dillion; Derek Hand, Thomas Leonard; Anthony Brady, Keith Fannon, Michael McGovern; Garreth Corrigan, Declan Beard, Ryan McCormack. Subs: Cormac Nilligan, Michael Ward, Noel McPhillips, Peter Clarke, Seanie Farrelly, Tommy Maguire, Terry Smith, Ronan Kiernan.
Referee: Michael McGeehan (Derry).