The Alternative View: Glorious Castlebar and not a Mayo jersey in sight

The road to and especially home from Castlebar on Saturday last was a joyous one for Donegal supporters as their footballers did the business on the McHale Park pitch, completely outplaying a Clare team that looked like they had been hit by a runaway bus.

Ahead by thirteen points at half-time, the Donegal fans were more occupied by their phones than what was happening on the pitch in the second half.  The other game in the group was in Tullamore with Donegal needing Tyrone to do them a favour and defeat Cork.

Cork were ahead for most of  the opening half but the news started to turn in Donegal’s favour early in the second period. A Cork black card for Chris Óg Jones was a big turning point and a goal from Ben Cullen and suddenly it looked good for Donegal to top the table.

Jim McGuinness’s side would tag on another 1-12 in the second half in Castlebar with some wonderful scores and 11 different marksmen, but all that mattered was the result from Tullamore. Prayers were being offered; fingers were crossed and eventually came the result that Tyrone had won by four. It was the perfect result for Donegal who had a much superior score difference to finish top of the group. For the first time Donegal followers had nice things to say about the Red Hand brigade. Christmas cards could well be exchanged.

After a perfect afternoon for football, the rain arrived at the final whistle to spoil it for the throngs of young Donegal supporters who rushed the field to get some autographs and pictures with their favourite players. Most of the older generation stayed under the cover of a magnificent stand at McHale Park.

Earlier on Ocean FM Paddy McGill had announced that it was the only all-seater GAA stadium in Ireland. As a venue it is close to perfect for spectators.

The public address announced that the attendance was 5,137. Obviously that is just the number of ticket holders who presented at the turnstiles but when you factor in the throngs of underage players (including the Donegal U-15 squad who made their way to Castlebar via a match in Cavan) the figure must have been closer to 10,000. Most of those were from Donegal with very few Clare jerseys on view.

It was an enjoyable experience for the throngs of Donegal people who travelled with every town along the way dotted with green and gold colours. The Londis store close to the Castlebar grounds was filled to the brim with queues for the hot food counter, the tills and the toilets.

The buzz around the team has a smile on every face. The game itself, after a slightly nervy opening, was over well before half-time. Clare had their chances but their inside forwards butchered the first two openings and when Ryan McHugh thumped home Donegal’s opening score, the writing was on the wall.

From there to the break the Donegal forwards gave an exhibition of shooting with McHugh adding two of the points. A couple of weeks earlier in Cork the Kilcar man was left stranded as the last man standing on a couple of occasions but this time around he was on the end of moves rather than at the start and he was clinical. His display should be a blueprint for young footballers in one aspect of the game - the ability to fire over points first time, no need to be soloing or hopping when gaining possession.

And it wasn’t just the fluidity of the team in picking scores, there were other positives too,  not least the return to the Donegal colours of Carndonagh’s Conor O’Donnell. He announced his return with two points and has put his hat firmly in the ring to book a starting place in the quarter-final in Croke Park.

The other major plus from the win was that by topping the group, Donegal get the benefit of a two-week break before that quarter-final. They will not know their opponents until the draw is made on Monday morning next, but already the permutations are being talked about by the supporters.

They will avoid Tyrone if the Red Hand men overcome Roscommon and Cork (if the Rebels defeat Louth). But definitely in the mix are Mayo/Derry or Galway/Monaghan. Getting a handy game is not on the cards at this stage.

Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea, their all-time championship appearance record holder, was seen about the Castlebar grounds and no doubt there was an interest in Mayo in the Donegal revival and the chance to see McGuinness’s team at close quarters.

Judging the Donegal performance on the back of a woeful Clare display would be very difficult, even for Donegal folk. The Banner side folded the tent very early and their stats of having just two scorers and just one of their five points from play speaks for itself.

The 24 point win was the biggest margin of victory by a Donegal side ever in championship football and their 2-23 total was the second highest ever, just a couple of points shy of their tally against Down in 2021.

You had to feel for the Clare goalkeeper, Tristan O'Callaghan, who had more than 30 kick-outs and then in the second half he was whistled by referee Derek O’Mahony for taking too long over one of them. Even the Donegal supporters were feeling his pain at that stage. Common sense should be high on the list for referees; showing a little pity might also help at times.

Even the scoreboard operator at McHale Park was sore on Clare, only recording four points for them at the end.

Apart from the return of Conor O’Donnell, there was a welcome return also of Hugh McFadden and Jim McGuinness added further to the good news story when speaking to the press afterwards that he is very hopeful that big Jason McGee will be back for the quarter-finals.

In his absence on Sunday, Ciaran Moore filled in admirably, gaining experience in a central role and looking like one of those great all-rounders who is comfortable on any part of the pitch.

After the long trek back from Cork a couple of weeks earlier, it was a much more enjoyable and shorter trip home on Saturday for the players and supporters and all ears will be on Radio 1 at 8.35 on Monday next.

The real championship begins now. The new President, Jarlath Burns, hinted that there might be changes to the format next year with a need for greater jeopardy. Imagine if Mayo beat Derry on Saturday next in the preliminary quarter-final, it will be the fourth championship defeat suffered by the Oak Leaf boys in the same season. It’s a long way removed from what the championship used to look like.

All the back doors have been closed now. After next weekend, there will be just eight left standing. To have Donegal included in that eight is a major achievement and no matter what happens from here on in,  the pride in the Donegal jersey has returned in some style.

Clare's Ikem Ugweru signing autographs for young Donegal followers at the end of the game Picture: Sportsfile

Donegal v Clare stats

Scorers for Donegal: Oisin Gallen 1-4, 2 '45; Ryan McHugh 1-4; Patrick McBrearty 0-5, 1f; Conor O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson 0-2 each; Peadar Mogan, Mark Curran, Ciaran Moore, Dáire Ó Baoill, Michael Langan, Shane O'Donnell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Emmet McMahon 0-4,3f; Diarmuid O'Donnell 0-1,f.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Ciaran Moore, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Odhran Doherty; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Niall O'Donnell. 

Subs: Conor O'Donnell for Curran (half-time), Dáire Ó Baoill for Doherty (half-time), Stephen McMenamin for Gallagher (42), Hugh McFadden for Langan (50), Kevin McGettigan for Mogan (57).

Clare: Tristan O'Callaghan; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Alan Sweeney, Cillian Rouine, Ikem Ugweru; Brian McNamara, Micheal Garry; Daniel Walsh, Dermot Coughlan, Gavin Murray; Ciaran Downes, Aaron Griffin, Emmet McMahon. 

Subs: Diarmuid O'Donnell for Downes (half-time), Darren Nagle for Murray (41), James Curran for Walsh (49), Shane Griffin for A.Griffin (54), Cian Burke for Ugweru (65).

Referee: Derek O'Mahony (Tipperary)