The Alternative View: Sun out in Ballyshannon; five point win so why is there always a ‘but’?

The new look Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon (or Fr Lynch Park according to RTÉ’s Darren Frehill on  Monday’s Morning Ireland) was blessed in summer sunshine on Sunday as Donegal maintained their 100% record against Louth at the venue - played five, won five and with five points to spare at the final whistle.

Referee Paddy Neilan had six points between the teams. It seems he forgot to mark down one of Louth’s second half points and it caused confusion for all concerned in the final quarter.

Thankfully, by that stage Donegal were comfortably ahead, well maybe comfortably is not the right word. A trio of late points from Oisin Gallen (2) and Michael Langan left the final scoreline of 1-17 to 0-15 a bit on the flattering side.

Referee Neilan looked at odds with the rules at times and seemed to have a love of blowing for over carrying. One call against Louth in the second half came after a Louth player had taken two steps at most.

It was the biggest losing margin by some distance that Louth had suffered in the league this year and they must have gone back down the road scratching their heads at the final result. They felt a little aggrieved at the  Donegal goal and on viewing it again on TG4 on Monday night it was very difficult to come to a conclusion either way. 

Was Hugh McFadden in the ‘square’ when Dáire Ó Baoill went for one of his trademark points? Did he legally nudge his opponent out of the way? Trying to judge whether a player is in the square before Ó Baoill took his shot would be almost impossible for officials to decide. Was McFadden’s pass a legitimate hand pass? Again, from the one angle that was available on TV, almost impossible to make a decision on.

Indeed, at the time my first impression was that McFadden’s pass went all the way to the net and I thought it was going to be ruled out. Then Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí emerged from the ground and claimed the goal.

The goal stood and the timing was perfect.  In the end it  put enough daylight between the teams to allow Donegal to get to the finish line without further discomfort.

The positioning of McFadden on the edge of the square could be something that Donegal might work on going forward as he has the physical attributes to create problems in there.

Donegal upporters had watched their side in the most pleasant March weather imaginable, winning by five and then hearing that Armagh had only defeated Fermanagh by four points, meant that Donegal were sitting on top of Division 2. The sides have the same score difference but Donegal’s scoring tally (90) is seven points better than the Orchard men.

So why was much of the talk from supporters centred around sluggish Donegal play in the opening half, turnovers by the minute and on many occasions Louth looked the more likely side?

This is what makes sport so wonderful and at the same time frustrating. It just seems natural that people look for the negatives.
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1442004/this-abbey-team-is-probably-the-most-dominant-team-ive-seen-in-our-area-carr.html

When you listen to Jim McGuinness in his after-match interviews, he is always drawing on the positives and that is what he is registering with his players.

After five rounds of the league, just one point dropped, and there have been hurdles to overcome in regard to players being missing at the start and during the campaign with injuries. Sunday was no different. The news about Brendan McCole’s absence was floating around on Saturday and we were expecting that Stephen McMenamin would be the obvious replacement.

We were in for a shock with McMenamin also absent from the starting line up and the flame-haired Ciaran Moore walking back to the No 3 position, where he was lining up against Louth’s talisman Sam Mulroy.

It was a big call by Jim McGuinness in the circumstances but we needn’t have worried. Moore is growing into the Donegal jersey in double quick time and he is one of those modern footballers who can play in any line. Apart from his football ability, Moore has the one asset that is so vital in making a difference in the modern game, pace.

So what of Donegal with two rounds of the league to go. One thing’s for sure, their destiny is in their own hands. A win against Kildare in Carlow on the eve of St Patrick would guarantee them promotion and a Division 2 League final.

On Sunday last there was something of a rush in the Campbell household post match as tickets had been booked prior to Christmas for an Ónoir concert in the  Millennium Theatre in Derry. It was a trip that was well worth the effort, not least to  hear Tom McHugh perform The Town I Loved So  Well in front of the Derry public. The group are riding the crest of a wave at the moment with ‘Ski’ McGee’s young fella, Diarmuid, fronting the group with his droll Ballintra humour.

There was a good smattering of Donegal folk at the concert and afterwards in the foyer I met former Cloughaneely manager Michael Lynch and the chat soon turned to football and Donegal.

The sea-change from March 2024 to March 2023 is obvious but I got thinking afterwards and a question came to mind. How would the present group (minus Patrick McBrearty and Ryan McHugh, as they were last year) fare in Division 1 at the moment?

It is one of those questions that just cannot be answered. The only real difference is the Jim  McGuinness factor. Confidence and belief are probably the only difference and that will always be foremost when McGuinness is involved.

We will have to wait 12 months to get the real answer and come St Patrick’s Day in 2025 we will have found out a lot more about  the ‘where are Donegal?’ question.

Getting a settled side is the biggest target for McGuinness and his backroom team ahead of that big date on 20 April in Celtic Park when Donegal travel to take on Derry in the opening round of the championship.

There will always be a reliance on Patrick McBrearty and Oisin Gallen for scores but it would be great to see Conor O’Donnell and Niall O’Donnell back on the field before the league ends.

The health of Eoghan Bán Gallagher and Brendan McCole will also be watched with some apprehension. Jason McGee will need game time also if he is to be a factor.

The positives are there also with the arrival of Ciaran Moore and Mark Curran is beginning to bring something else to the party. Gavin Mulreany has already showcased that he can take over if anything happens Shaun Patton.

Aaron Doherty again got game time and again got on the scoreboard and must have put himself in line for a start in at least one of the two remaining games.

With longer evenings just around the corner, getting players to the pinnacle of fitness and sharpness will be the major target. Sunday’s performance would be some way off that but seven weeks gives plenty of time to tidy things up.

Match Stats

Donegal 1-17

Louth 0-15

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Ciaran Moore, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle (0-01), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí (1-00); Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan (0-01); Shane O’Donnell (0-02), Dáire Ó Baoill, Odhrán Doherty; Patrick McBrearty (0-08,0-07f), Oisin Gallen (0-04),  Jamie Brennan.

Subs: Aaron Doherty (0-01) and Hugh McFadden for O Doherty and J Brennan (both 48); Luke McGlynn for O Baoill (59); Stephen McMenamin for Mac Ceallabhui (70); Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride for McGonagle (70+3)

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny (0-01), Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Leonard Grey, Anthony Williams, Conall McKeever; Conor Early (0-01), Tommy Durnin; Paul Mathews, Ciaran Keenan (0-01), Conor Grimes (0-02); Ryan Burns (0-02), Sam Mulroy (0-0

7,0-03f, 1m,1’45’), Tom Jackson.

Subs: Liam Jackson (0-01) for Mathews (40); Kyle McElroy for Burns (54); Sean Marry and Niall Sharkey for T Jackson and Williams  (both 65); Jay Hughes for C Keenan (70)

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)