McGuinness's Donegal get off to winning start against Roscommon

Jim McGuinness's second term as Donegal manager got off to the perfect start with a six point victory over Roscommon in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.

Donegal 2-12 Roscommon 2-6

The wind and rain was a factor in the outcome with Donegal having it at their backs in the opening half, but they also played very well against the elements.

Roscommon did get two second half goals to make a contest of it while Donegal closed it out with a second goal of their own with the last attack.

Oisin Gallen was very impressive for Donegal in the opening half while Peadar Mogan also impressed. There were three players making their debut - Oisin Caulfield, Kevin McGettigan and Ciaran Moore while Ronan Frain, Sean Martin and Seanán Carr came in during the second half. 

Donegal had the advantage of the strong breeze in the opening half and Oisin Gallen had the scoreboard ticking on two minutes, Oisin Gallen firing over a '45'.

Diarmuid Murtagh should have equalised but his effort from 20m came back off a post. Donegal added the second when Gallen set up Shane O'Donnell.

Diarmuid Murtagh did get Roscommon's first point on 10 minutes but it was mostly the Donegal show in the opening half. Oisin Gallen fired over from a mark and Dáire Ó Baoill found the range with a great score from near the sideline.

Donegal had a goal chance on 17 minutes when Jamie Brennan worked a turnover but it was a case of too many cooks. Diarmuid Murtagh had the only other Roscommon score of the half from another free on 25 minutes.

Donegal finished the half strongly with Oisin Gallen hitting the point of the half with his left after a peach of a pass from Peadar Mogan. They should have had a goal a minute later when Eoghan Bán Gallagher powered through the middle and sold a dummy but his effort for goal was saved by Conor Carroll. The rebound fell to Peadar Mogan to point.

Oisin Gallen added further points from frees while Aaron Doherty had the final score of the half from a mark on 37 minutes.
Half-time: Donegal 0-9, Roscommon 0-2.

Conor Cox (free) and Aaron Caulfield traded early second half points before Roscommon found the net with Conor Cox finishing on 11 minutes. But immediately Donegal replied with Oisin Gallen putting Jamie Brennan through to finish well and leave it 1-10 to 1-4 after 47 minutes.

Shane O'Donnell finished a good move with Donegal still taking the game to Roscommon, despite the wind.

Diarmuid Murtagh found the range from close to the sideline. Conor Cox had a free but Peadar Mogan replied for Donegal.
Roscommon got back in the game with four mintues left when Adam McDermott was fouled while shooting and Donie Smith fired home from the penalty spot.

There was a really exciting last play as Donegal turned the ball over in midfield and Ronan Frain was through on goal with the keeper absence. Frain tried to make sure taking the ball to the 13m line and his effort hit the post but went to the net.

Donegal scorers: Oisin Gallen 0-5,2f,m,'45'; Ronan Frain, Jamie Brennan 1-0 each; Peadar Mogan 0-2, Shane O'Donnell 0-2; Oisin Caulfield, Dáire Ó Baoill, Aaron Doherty (mark) 0-1 each

Roscommon scorers: Conor Cox 1-2,2f; Diarmuid Murtagh 0-4,2f; Donie Smith 1-0, pen

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Kevin McGettigan; Peadar Mogan, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Ciaran Moore; Oisin Caulfield, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Odhrán Doherty, Dáire Ó Baoill; Aaron Doherty, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan.
Subs: Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui and Ronan Frain for Odhran Doherty and Aaron Doherty (46); Sean Martin for D O Baoill (50); Seanán Carr for J Brennan (58); John Ross Molloy for K McGettigan (60); Rory O'Donnell for Caulfield (61); Philip Doherty for Mogan (66)

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; David Murray, Evan Flynn, Niall Higgins; Niall Daly, Conor Hussey, Senan Lambe; Dylan Ruane, Eoin McCormack; Daire Cregg, Ciaran Lennon, James Fitzpatrick; Cian Connolly, Conor Cox, Diarmuid Murtagh.
Subs: Keith Doyle for Lambe (ht); Adam McDermott for Fitzpatrick (41); Colin Walsh for N Daly (49); Donie Smith for Connolly (51); Patrick Gavin for Higgins (54); Ronan Daly for Lennon (54); Luke Glennon for D Murray (60); Niall Higgins for D Murray (68)

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)