Mac's View: Donegal responded well to Cavan challenge to come home with win

A win is a win. And that is the way we have to look at Sunday’s victory over Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park. We had to battle to get the two league points. Cavan put it up to us but we responded and that was the satisfying thing about the game.

We lost a few players before the start and that was unsettling. We had a new midfield pairing and it was a battle that Cavan got on top in and you could say they dominated for the entire game.

It was good, however, to  have Michael Langan back on the field and he did make a bit of a difference in the second half. When he gets up to speed and gets his workrate going then we should be okay. There are others to come back to that area too.

But overall the display was satisfactory with a good number of very good individual performances.

We had got a big win the previous week against a disappointing Cork side and the manner of that victory didn’t help us for the trip to Cavan. We had life far too easy against Cork. Going to Breffni Park was never an easy journey, no matter how good or how bad Cavan were going. They always put up a huge battle at their home ground.

But, as I say, the win over Cork was just too easy and not what you expect in a competitive Division 2 of the League.

But getting back to the individual performances, it is great to see that Ryan McHugh is back to his best. He became a dominant player in this game the more the game went on, that despite taking a very heavy hit in the first half.

Oisin Gallen was out of this world and his free near the end was a vital one as it turned out. Patrick McBrearty is also coming into form and seems to be enjoying the captaincy role. It seems to have given him a new lease of life.

Shaun Patton was back in goals and he played very well. After Gavin Mulreany played so well last week against Cork, it is great to have that bit of competition for the No 1 jersey.

Our own Jamie Brennan is working really hard at the moment but his finishing is not what it should be. There could be a case made for using him like Bundoran did last year as a half-back. He has that potential to break at pace and might be a better player with a bit of grass in front of him.

Ciaran Thompson made a very big contribution and really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second quarter. And the Buncrana man, Caolan McGonagle, is looking very good in the No 6 jersey. It could be one that he will make his own.

Stephen McMenamin was back for his first start in a while and he is worthy of a mention for his contribution. He is coming good at the right time and he gives the side a physicality that is an important ingredient. It was something that Paul Brennan offered us in the past.

It is nice to  have four points on the board, even if it was close near the end. Indeed, the referee almost made a draw out of it with a bad call in the final minutes. 

But it ended well and now we can look forward to a week’s break and it will be needed with Fermanagh up next in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1416012/injury-woes-mount-for-donegal-as-caolan-ward-faces-lengthy-spell-on-sidelines.html

I watched Fermanagh against Kildare on Saturday night on the TV and they are a good side. It would be very foolish to underestimate them. They have Ultan Kelm from  Belleek at the fulcrum of much of their work and they have the Cullen twins back in the side. They kicked a point each in the opening quarter.

It will be no walk in the park in Letterkenny. We have to keep our noses clean and be ready for them and Jim (McGuinness) will know that.

I felt sorry for Eoghan Bán Gallagher picking up an injury as he brings a lot to the table. Hopefully, he will be back soon. I’m hearing that Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Moore were not started because of minor ailments and they should be available for Fermanagh.

We have a good panel of players and some of them have only got a few minutes in games so far.

HURLERS AND LADIES

It was a good weekend also for our other teams with the hurlers and ladies both recording wins. Congratulations to Mickey McCann and the hurlers who went on a scoring spree on their long trip to Wicklow and won easily. They have a tougher assignment this Saturday when they take on neighbours Derry.

The Ladies bounced back from their defeat to Kildare  with a win in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny over Westmeath.

Finally, good luck this Sunday to Jamie Brennan and the Abbey VS, Donegal Town team in the final of the MacLarnon Cup in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh. They can become the fourth school from the county to take the cup.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell