Donegal Masters maintain their 100 per cent record with victory in London

The Donegal panel before their clash with London in the All-Ireland Masters Football Championship on Saturday. Photos: Brendan Vaughan

placeholder image — The Donegal panel before their clash with London in the All-Ireland Masters Football Championship on Saturday. Photos: Brendan Vaughan

The side managed by Mark Cannon added to their previous successes over Cavan, Louth, Down and Sligo in London and welcome Tyrone in their last group game on Saturday week

Donegal are now five from five in the All-Ireland Masters Series following Saturday’s victory over London at St Kiernan’s at Barnet Lane.

London 1-9

Donegal 2-15

The side under the management of Mark Cannon trailed to an early London goal before finding their groove with the home side held scoreless from the 15th minute until the 45th, which meant Donegal went in at the half-time break with a decent 0-9 to 1-2 lead.

Benny Boyle from Killybegs led the charge for Donegal with six points, while St Michael’s Stephen Coyle posted four in temperatures that reached 32 celsius.

Then, in the second half, Conor McShane and Michéal Canning scored goals to give the visitors a nine-point winning margin over a London team captained by Gary Kane from St Naul’s.

With the top four from the 20 sides qualifying for the Dr Mick Loftus Cup - the premier competition - Donegal have one more group fixture to contest on Sunday week, July 23, against Tyrone at home, with the venue as yet unconfirmed.

The Red Hands are the only other side of the 20 with maximum points to date but both they and Donegal will be looking for a result to rubber-stamp their progression. There are also B, C, D and E grades so all competing sides will have a part to play in the various knock-outs.

Before Saturday, Donegal had chalked up victories over Cavan away on a 2-13 to 0-12 scoreline, before a 0-17 to 0-9 win over Louth at the Donegal Training Centre in Convoy. Down were defeated 4-8 to 0-6 in Newry before a 4-13 to 2-13 success in Collooney against Sligo.

The Donegal Masters are completely self-funded, paid for by all the players, and wish to express their gratitude to Tim Kelly from the Kelly Group from Frosses, who sponsored their polo-shirts for the trip to London. The majority of the panel travelled on Friday by bus to West of Ireland airport in Knock and from there they flew to London, where they were met by Seamus Hegarty and Marty Keown, whilst Cathal Gallagher and Martin Breslin made the tip on Saturday morning.

Donegal scorers: Benny Boyle 0-6, 2f; Stephen Coyle 0-4, 3f; Conor McShane and Michéal Canning 1-0; Gerard McBrearty, Mark Breslin, Martin Canning and Dermot Slevin, Benny Quinn 0-1.

Donegal: Cathal Gallagher (Raheny Dublin, formerly Cloughaneely); Martin Donaghy (Burt),Paddy Joe Doohan (Cloughaneely), Michael Floyd (MacCumhaill’s); Seamus Hegarty (Moville), Patrick Gallagher (Kilcar), Liam McGoarty (St Naul’s); Kerry Ryan (Aodh Ruadh), Conor McShane (Kilcar); Michéal Canning (Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin), Stephen Coyle (St Michael’s), Dermot Slevin (Aodh Ruadh); Gerard McBrearty (Four Masters), Benny Boyle (Newtownstewart, formerly Killybegs), Benny Quinn (St Naul’s). Subs: Mark Cannon (MacCumhaill’s), Mark Breslin (St Naul’s), Marty Keown (Portrush), Paul Patton (MacCumhaill’s).