Monaghan send Donegal tumbling as long unbeaten Ballybofey record ends

Monaghan inflicted a first home defeat on Donegal in the Allianz League in Ballybofey since 2010 to boost their chances of avoiding the drop from Division 1.

Donegal 0-10
Monaghan 1-12

During that 21-match unbeaten run, Donegal have scraped results when it didn’t look likely and having been down by seven points today, cut their deficit to two with 15 minutes from time and looked in with a shout.

Monaghan, though, steadied and managed to score vital breakaway points from Michael Bannigan, Kieran Duffy, Fintan Kelly and a Conor McManus mark to seal the deal.

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A 13th minute goal from Andrew Woods, who out-jumped Aaron Doherty and steered past Shaun Patton, came when an effort for a point from McManus danced unpredictably in the wind.

That put the visitors 1-3 to 0-1 in front and they were value for every cent of it. Donegal already without midfielders Caolan McGonagle, Michael Langan and Hugh McFadden, then saw Ciaran Thompson pull up. There was only one thing for it - on came Michael Murphy.

The Donegal captain scored a point within minutes, although his side were still 1-7 to 0-4 behind at the break. With their first win of the campaign, Seamus McEnaney’s side have given themselves every chance, with Kildare and Dublin to play, while Declan Bonner’s team visit Croke Park next Sunday prior to Armagh coming to Letterkenny.

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Donegal travails when playing with the wind have been well-documented since their loss in Killarney last month and that trend was evident again as Monaghan dominated the first half. In the second they improved, with Aaron Doherty, Patrick McBrearty and Jason McGee pointing.

Last year when the leagues were spliced, Division 1 North as it was known, saw Donegal scrape a point from nine down against Monaghan. Then, in January in Omagh, Seamus McEnaney’s team were 1-10 to 0-4 up 13 minutes into the second half, with the Ulster Council officials thinking of placing the blue and white ribbons on the Dr McKenna Cup. Donegal rallied, only to fall short by a point, 1-11 to 0-13.

Late on in Ballybofey, those memories were fresh for all. The visitors used their bench well and pressed on the accelerator just when it was needed. However, with Patton in the Donegal goal making a vital save from Gary Mohan, it looked like the hosts - although skating in thin ice - might’ve been in a position to grasp something.

Just when they looked like they were wilting, Monaghan held firm.

Donegal scorers: Patrick McBrearty (0-5, 4f), Michael Murphy (0-3, 2f), Aaron Doherty (0-1) Jason McGee (0-1, 1m).
Monaghan scorers: Conor McManus (0-4, 3f, 1m), Andrew Woods (1-1, 1f), Kieran Duffy (0-2), Rory Beggan (0-1, 1f), Conor McCarthy, Dessie Ward, Michael Bannigan, Fintan Kelly (0-1).

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Caolan Ward, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Odhrán McFadden-Ferry; Ciaran Thompson, Jason McGee; Aaron Doherty, Peadar Mogan, Daire Ó Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Charles McGuinness, Conor O’Donnell. Subs: Michael Murphy for Thompson (28), Ethan O’Donnell for McGuinness (half-time), Eunan Doherty for Ó Baoill (41), Jamie Brennan for McHugh (51), Paul Brennan for McFadden-Ferry (67).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie; Ryan McAnespie, Killian Lavelle, Dessie Ward; Darren Hughes, Gary Mohan; Conor McCarthy, Michael Bannigan, Shane Carey; Andrew Woods, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus. Subs: Niall Kearns and Colin Walshe for D Hughes and Ward (61), Fintan Kelly for Lavelle (61, blood), Lavelle for K Hughes (67), Karl O’Connell for McAnespie (70), Sean Jones for Woods (70+3).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).