Mac's View: Refreshing display from Donegal to overcome Tyrone

Tyrone is the only place to start this week. It was a great performance in the second half as well as the five minutes before the half-time whistle. It looked bleak at one stage when we were four points down and Tyrone were playing with us.

Even before the match was played, you had the feeling that Tyrone felt it was only a matter of playing us. But we rolled up the sleeves in the second half and took the game to them and we got the result we deserved. It was also great to see so many players step up to the plate on the night.

That performance from Conor O'Donnell was quite something. He was everywhere and involved in everything. Then you had the MacCumhaill's man, Oisin Gallen, coming in during the second half and even though only there for a short time, made a great contribution with his point and his run and pass for the second goal.

Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí was on the end of that move and also made a great contribution to the Donegal success. My big man from Cloughaneely, Jason McGee, also had quite a good hour. His physical presence was important and he kicked a great point from distance.

Shane O'Donnell from St Eunan's also had a big involvement at wing half-forward; his brother Niall just doesn't look fit and must be carrying an injury.

Odhran McFadden Ferry had his best game yet and by and large the full-back line did their job while Shaun Patton had a great game in goals. His ability to fire kick-outs over the midfield is a major plus and it is much easier to get on the front foot in the opposition 45m line.

Patrick McBrearty did very well for the first goal. It was a nice bit of work on his behalf and it's another sling to his bow. I know from being a defender, when a forward has a number of moves, it makes him much more difficult to mark. If you have just the one trick, it is much easier. That's what makes it exciting and there is more to come.

Ryan McHugh was positioned up front but will need much better quality ball in to him. Hoofing high ball in to McHugh is no good. There is much more in him and with the weather improving I'm sure we will see that. He will get better.
Big Hugh McFadden did his best on his return but he has to find full fitness yet.

Overall it was a great performance, but not perfect. We were standing off in the first half, but then we took the game to them on the turnover.

Monaghan will be coming to Ballybofey on Sunday week needing league points. They won't be easy. What we must watch is that we are not opened up for goals as in the last couple of matches against them. We were done by men coming from deep.
The Tyrone corner back Michael McKernan kicked two points and could have had a goal. We have to plug those gaps.
Two league points against Monaghan would leave us safe, and winning is a good habit.

I watched the Kildare-Dublin game on the TV on Sunday and fair play to Kildare, they made the home advantage count. The goal made the difference. Dublin are flat at the moment and the new players aren't filling the void. There is some talk that the full-forward Con O'Callaghan is not coming back and that he might concentrate on hurling. The week's break will do no harm to Donegal and hopefully we will get some of the other injured players back.

Bundoran manager
I woke on Sunday morning to hear good news here in Bundoran that Peter McIntyre was taking the club manager job. He has plenty of experience playing for Donegal at minor and U-21 level and I remember his brother, Eunan, being part of Donegal senior squad back in the 1980s and but for going away for a period, would have had a long Donegal career.

Peter is married to my niece, Elizabeth and they run the Allingham Arms Hotel. We would call him one of our own now. He is very much involved in the GAA club and did a lot of work in the past at underage and schools level with Master John Campbell.

Sympathies
My sympathies this week to the Naomh Muire club and the connections of Tony Doherty, who was a true GAA man from that part of Donegal.

Also to the Gallagher family Kilcar and Ardara on the death of James Gallagher. I would have had many contests with Seamus in particular at club and county level. I believe James was in his 100th year.
May both rest in peace

Congress
I see that the Green Proposal to change the All-Ireland GAA Championship from next year was passed at Congress at the weekend. I suppose it is worth a try but I was not as convinced as others about the move. There will now be 16 teams not playing for Sam Maguire and that's what is sad.

The club league fixtures have also been revealed this week with competition starting on the first weekend of April. We are at home to Ballyshannon but that doesn't come until near the end of the league. I'm making a prediction that it will be an important game for both teams!

Good luck this weekend to the Donegal teams in action. The minors make their debut against Fermanagh while the U-20s need a draw at home to Mayo to make the final of the Leo Murphy Cup.

The hurlers are going great guns, three wins from three, after their victory last week away to Wicklow and they have Derry in O'Donnell Park on Sunday. The Ladies have a tough game away to Mayo and that game is now in the Connacht Centre of Excellence in Ballyhaunis. The best of luck to all four teams.