MCSHEA'S SAY: Donegal show grit and determination to take priceless league points

Donegal showed encouraging determination and will to win when they deservedly beat Kildare in Ballybofey on Sunday, in what is arguably the toughest Allianz League Division 1 for many years.

With Kerry, Tyrone, Dublin, Armagh and Monaghan on the horizon this league looks as if it will turn into a real dogfight in the quest for survival and Sunday's points will be very valuable before the campaign ends.

The concern on Sunday were the injuries picked up by Michael Murphy, whom I was delighted to see line out at full-forward, and Jason Mc Gee, who was motoring very well.

After a less than impressive third quarter it was a tribute to Donegal’s resilience and determination that they dominated the final quarter and Kildare could have no excuse for going home empty-handed.

Kildare, with three of their best ever players now charged with managing their team - Glenn Ryan, Johnny Doyle and Anthony Rainbow - have already pumped up the adrenaline in their expectant supporters.

They’re the ultimate dreamers who have always nurtured an incurable optimism where the fortunes of their county team is concerned. This defeat will not have diminished the new Kildare dream team’s desire to succeed in any way but if they don’t find some scoring forwards to support the good work of Jimmy Hyland and Daniel Flynn then an elusive Leinster title will remain a pipe dream.

In Kildare good footballers have been in abundance down the years but some inherent flaw in the psyche coupled, with at times a lack of organisation, seems to have hampered their progress.

In a day not conducive to good football, there were a number of fine Donegal displays and a few top class performances. After Murphy’s injury. Michael Langan assumed the role of leader and he performed quite superbly, Brendan Mc Cole was again on top of his game at full-back where he won his battle with one of the games top full forwards Daniel Flynn.

Paul Brennan was most effective on Sunday and had one of his best games in the Donegal colours, while Caolan Ward continues to impress and Eoghan Ban Gallagher did well going forward.

Young Conor O’Donnell hit three vital points and is settling well to this level of football, Peadar Mogan is consistency personified, while Ryan McHugh and Patrick Mc Brearty delivered the crucial goals and both have more in the tank.

All Donegal fans will hope that the two-week break before the trip to Kerry will see the injuries clear up to give manager Declan Bonner a full hand to pick from for what will be another tough encounter.

In the GAA, memories of contests invariably draw comparisons. Players and teams are most often judged against the achievements of the past. This is not simply a matter of ability but it is also about manliness.

No generation is ever considered tougher than the one that went before. It is as if the matches played by previous generations were defined by carnage.

Yes games in the past were tougher and changed rules were a reason for a more tepid approach in modern day football but the five red cards in the Armagh v Tyrone game at the weekend were completely over the top and unjustified. In accepting that unsavoury brawls are unacceptable, how a referee could identify or single out five players when 20 players were involved
in handbag stuff is simply incredible.

In what was not a great weekend for referees, the black-carding of Dublin forward Niall Scully for something he was nowhere near in the game against Kerry under the watchful eyes of four umpires, two linesmen and a referee was another dreadful decision.