Gallagher says last year's final defeat is irrelevant as Dungloe win again

With a win in Burt in the bank from weekend one, Dungloe manager Dessie Gallagher said he was pleased with the progress of his young charges as they eventually quenched the challenge of Gaeil Fhánada at Rosses Park in the IFC.

Goals from Darren Curran, Oisin Bonner and Christy Greene in a 3-9 to 2-5 home win at Rosses Park mean that last year’s defeated finalists to Cloughaneely have made a fine start this season.

Gaeil Fhánada had shown their pedigree a week beforehand to muster a draw from an uncompromising six-point deficit with 50 minutes played against Termon to earn a share of the spoils in a 1-11 to 0-14 draw. Therefore, Dungloe were forced to endure some choppy moments before finally putting their stamp on matters late on on Saturday.

“We got a big goal before half-time which gave us a good platform before the break, but they came out and hit us with a quick 1-1,” Gallagher said in reference to a Patrick Carr goal for the visitors after Curran’s opener.

“Fair play to the boys as they went up and kicked two points right away and kept us in front. It was hard work out there in that heat and our boys kept running and showed it at the finish when they got those two goals.

With 6-19 in just two outings in the IFC, Dungloe have shown their cutting edge and the speed of their attacks is not something that has just happened by chance.

“This is a young pacey team, and they are working on that all year,” Gallagher added, before saying last year’s replayed final loss is not a case of unfinished business for the Rosses club.

“That is a question that is asked but it is not really,” Gallagher added. “We are not going down that road. This is a young team, and they had a good run last year and they are hoping for another one this year.

“We had a lot of injuries in the league which did not help us and now we have Oisin Bonner who is coming back well and I thought we made good use of the space opening up when Fanad came forward. It was a quick counter- attack and we did that well and it is good to get the goals.”

Although Malin finished top of the Division 2 standings this year, they were pipped by Downings in the league final on a 1-16 to 1-15 scoreline and the hangover of that defeat leaves them teetering on the brink in the Donegal IFC, following losses to Naomh Muire and Burt. Gallagher is expecting a string in the tail when his side travel to Connolly Park in round three.

“We have Malin away next week and as they lost to Burt this week, they will be very keen for points so it will be a really tough test,” he said.