Donegal Retain the Anglo Celt Cup

History was made in Clones yesterday, as Donegal retained the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time in their history. The scoreline may have flattered Donegal in the final, but they are certainly deserving winners of the Ulster championship.

While there were scenes of jubilation on the pitch afterwards, it was interesting that the majority of the players’ reactions were subdued. That may have been due to the comfortable manner of victory, however you get the impression that the panel are thinking bigger than an Ulster title this year.

There was a great buzz after the match with some people suggesting that this could be the year that Sam returns to the hills. Today, www.Hoganstand.com has elevated Donegal to the best team in the country in their rankngs. As a fan, who has encountered years of frustration watching the Tir Chonaill men, it’s great to see them rated so highly. But I don’t think they have earned the right to be put ahead of established teams like Cork, Kerry or Dublin yet.

Tyrone’s dismal showing in Killarney diminishes Donegal’s victory against them slightly. They were not even close to the level Kerry were at, and this raises the question, should Donegal have beaten Tyrone by more? Kerry will still have a huge say on the destination of Sam this year, and the longer Donegal avoid the men from the Kingdom, the better.

The big worry for Donegal from yesterday’s game will be how they struggled at midfield. Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King dominated the middle sector in the first half and the Down players were quicker to the breaking ball. Against a team with better forwards, the game could have been away from Donegal by half-time.

The importance of Neil Gallagher cannot be overstated. It’s remarkable that the Glenswilly man wasn’t even a regular starter in the team before last year’s Ulster final, and now he is one of Donegal’s most important players. He may not be the most athletic, but his competiveness on opposition’s kick-outs is vital. Donegal need him to be fit for the quarter-final.

When things were going against Donegal in the first half, Ryan Bradley was the man who showed the leadership required. He created Leo McLoone’s goal, with a great catch and pass. He drove at the Down defence with pace and vigour and they couldn’t contain his bursts. Despite Donegal’s defensive inclinations, he nearly always tries to move the ball forward, and he is willing to take on the responsibility of bringing Donegal up the field.

Down pierced holes through the Donegal rear-guard and they should have scored two goals in the first half. Rogers caused huge problems running through the middle, much like Tyrone did in the semi-final. If the Donegal defence keep giving away these chances, eventually they will be punished.

It was interesting that Donegal, once again, played with the wind in the second half. Donegal have played at Clones four times under Jim McGuinness and each time they have played towards the town end in the first half. Their policy is containment in the opening period. They don’t have to chase the game, they just have to ensure that they are within a point or two of their opponents at half-time.

The players slow the game down, and stop the opposition building up any momentum. They know that if they are close at half-time then their fantastic fitness levels will help them pull away in the second half and they will be able to take their scores easier as the game opens up more.

Down were poor, but Donegal’s battling qualities have to be commended. A key moment arrived as Kalum King collided with Frank McGlynn in the first half. King is a cage fighter and is twice the size of the Glenfin man, but his big hit did more damage to himself than McGlynn. The wing back’s response was emphatic. He was straight back on his feet, prepared for any physicality Down provided, and ready to give it back twice as hard.

McGlynn was fantastic again, and he should pick up the Ulster championship player of the year. He showed his class and composure to score the second goal with the outside of his right boot. Two other defenders, Anthony Thompson and Declan Walsh, could also have scored goals, and this emphasises how McGuinness has reformed Donegal. They had 11 different scorers from play, and they are not as reliant on Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden, as they used to be. All the players are expected to be able to take a score.

To score 2-18 in an Ulster final is phenomenal shooting, yet Down’s defence is poor and even though Donegal only scored 1-5 in the first half, they looked like they could cut Down open at any time. The six day turnaround may prove difficult for Down, and I wouldn’t fancy them against an in-form Tipperary.

Ultimately, Donegal can only beat what is in front of them. It is not Jim McGuinness’ fault that the standard in Ulster is not as strong as it was a few years ago. He has done a superb job to transform this panel of players, and we now head for the capital full of optimism and belief. The journey continues.

Donegal to down the Mourne Men

Donegal and Down go into battle next Sunday, with the prestigious Anglo Celt cup the prize for the victor. Down haven’t won an Ulster title since 1994, while Donegal go in search of back-to back titles for the first time.

The sides met in the Ulster Championship in 2010, and after a titanic tussle, Down edged through in extra-time. Down went on to reach the All-Ireland final that year, while Donegal departed in the next round to Armagh. Although many of the players are the same, Donegal are now a different team. They are fitter and faster and they haven’t lost in the Ulster championship since that defeat to Down two years ago.

The Down team is much changed from the side that lost the All-Ireland decider to Cork. In the Ulster semi-final they only had seven of those players starting. The impressive full-forward line of the Clarke brothers, Martin and John, and Benny Coulter led the way in 2010 with a number of highly impressive performances. However, the Clarke brothers are no longer available to James McCartan, while Benny Coulter only entered the fray in the semi-final in the last ten minutes.

Down have been completely written off for this game. The media don’t rate them and Donegal folk have been quick to dismiss Down’s chances. The bookies have placed them at an incredible 4/1 to win the game. However, it is worth remembering that they beat Donegal at the start of the season and finished third overall in the league. They have beaten Fermanagh and have a lot of momentum following their super comeback against Monaghan. With important players to come back into their team, they are not the easy proposition that some people have been making them out to be.

A remarkable aspect of this year’s Ulster Championship is that there hasn’t been one surprise result. Unlike in previous years, the fancied team has come out on top in each tie. Down will take note of Galway’s superb victory over the supposedly untouchable Kilkenny hurling team two weeks ago. Antrim and Tipperary have also recorded shock victories in the qualifiers. Complacency has been the breaking of many good teams in the past, and Donegal must be wary.  One thing for certain, is that Jim McGuinness and the Donegal panel will not underestimate Down.

James McCartan named his team last night, but it is little more than a shadow team. Danny Hughes, one of their best forwards is named in defence, with Kevin McKiernan at midfield and Dan Gordon at number six. Kalum King has been dropped to the bench, which I find particularly surprising. He struggled against Monaghan in the first half, but his second half performance was one of the main factors in their revival. He caught two clean balls and picked up four breaking balls, as Down got to grips with Dick Clerkin and Eoin Lennon. I’d expect him to play and I find it very hard to believe that Down will line out as selected.

Unsurprisingly, Dan Gordon has been picked to start the final. He missed the Monaghan game through injury, but he has been a big player during James McCartan’s reign. His versatility can see him line out in any position. It is at full back that he has played his best football in recent years. He has marked full-forwards of the calibre of Kieran Donaghy in the past and he could be assigned to mark Michael Murphy on Sunday.

Neil Gallagher has been ruled out for Donegal and this weakens the midfield significantly. He has been arguably Donegal’s best player so far this season and his competitiveness on the opposition’s kick-outs will be sorely missed. Down’s midfield partnership of Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King are the best midfield Donegal will have faced this year.

Ryan Bradley is likely to go to midfield alongside Rory Kavanagh with Leo McLoone, coming into the half-forward line. The Glenties clubman was unlucky to lose out against Tyrone. He has played well so far this year, and his ball carrying capabilities will be a big asset against Down. He can also play at full-forward and this may allow Michael Murphy to drift out the field and act as a playmaker.

Down relied heavily on frees against Monaghan, and this will suit Donegal. Significantly, 1-7 of Down’s 1-14 tally against the Farney men came from placed balls. In Donal O’Hare and Aidan Carr they have efficient free-takers who will take advantage of any unnecessary fouling. Down’s forwards are light and have the craft to earn frees. However, this will play into Donegal’s hands. Their tackling is rigid and disciplined, and they will not give away soft frees like Monaghan did.

Much will depend on the fitness of Benny Coulter. Two years ago, when they met in the Ulster Championship, Coulter was immense. He scored four points, despite the close attention of Karl Lacey and Neil McGee. He is a leader for Down and has a knack of scoring crucial goals. When introduced as a second half substitute against Monaghan, he kicked a point immediately and acted as a much needed focal point for the Down attack. He is an integral part of Down’s team, and his inclusion in the starting fifteen is a major boost to their chances.

Monaghan identified some weaknesses in the Down defence and Donegal will try to exploit this. Conor McManus and Kieran Hughes were able to get out in front of their markers and catch clean ball. This will suit Murphy, Paddy McBrearty and Colm McFadden, who should have a physical advantage against their direct opponents.

Donegal should be too powerful for Down. Down will be resilient and won’t simply stand aside. However, doubts remain about how their forward line will function with limited ball and they may grow frustrated with Donegal’s tactics. They are traditionalists and like to play an attacking game. Yet, Donegal will dictate which way the game develops and this will pose many difficulties for Down. I’d expect Donegal to be celebrating two Ulster titles in a row on Sunday and perhaps more importantly, a trip to Croke Park on the August Bank holiday weekend.

Donegal through to another Ulster Final

Donegal are through to an Ulster final against Down, after a hard fought victory over Tyrone in Clones. A strong second half display put them four points up with ten minutes remaining, but a mini Tyrone revival could have seen them win the game at the death.

In last week’s Gaelic Life, Tyrone player Brian McGuigan talked about their need for patience and perseverance against Donegal’s defensive system. Tyrone did this in the first half with their slow, patient build up. Owen Mulligan and Mark Donnelly were getting bottled up when the ball was kicked in, so Tyrone hand-passed the ball at speed from deep, waiting to find a man in space to kick it over the bar.

The wind was strong in the first half, and Tyrone used the elements well. Joe McMahon, Conor Clarke and Sean O’Neill were able to kick long-range points. I was delighted to see us go in at half-time only one point down. The wind was strong and worth more than a one point advantage, and with the Donegal panel’s fitness levels so high, I was confident that we would still be victorious at the final whistle.

It was worrying that we gave away two goal scoring opportunities in the first ten minutes. Mark Donnelly and Joe McMahon both got in behind the defence and could have found the net. Donnelly took his point, while McMahon failed with his goal attempt. Jarlath Burns, on commentary for the BBC, said that McMahon should have gone for a point too. But against Donegal, opposition teams simply have to take goal chances when they arise.

Donegal don’t leak goals. They have only conceded two in the nine championship games under Jim McGuinness. And while there was some nervous moments in the dying seconds of the match, the panic button will almost always be pushed in those circumstances. If Tyrone teach Down anything, it will be that you must score goals when given the opportunity.

A 20 minute spell in the second half was the catalyst for the victory. Perhaps, it was the extra seven minutes they took at half-time which left them reinvigorated. Rory Kavanagh and Ryan Bradley drove at the Tyrone defence, and Mickey Harte’s side simply couldn’t handle Donegal’s pace and power.

Second half spells of dominance have become a recurring theme under McGuinness. They did it against Derry and Kildare last year, and I get the impression that the Donegal players know that despite their defensive tactics, they can still pull away from the opposition at any moment.

Tyrone looked lacklustre in the second period. Perhaps the intensity of the first half took too much energy from them. Their big players, Penrose, Peter Harte and Stephen O’Neill were subdued, and the Donegal defence coped with them with ease.

I thought Colm McFadden had a good second half. Yes, his petulance and stupidity saw him see red, yet he stood up and was counted when it really mattered. Conor Gormley has in previous years had somewhat of an indian sign over McFadden, but in the second half he really struggled to get to grips with the St Michaels man.

Eamon McGee, in the absence of his brother, impressed me, while Frank McGlynn had another solid outing. Michael Murphy and Karl Lacey did not have brilliant games by their illustrious high standards, but they still do the basics so well. Count how many times they give the ball away in a match. It rarely happens.

Paul Durcan pulled off a fantastic save to deny Penrose at the death. He has taken a lot of unfair criticism over the years, and it is only two years ago since he was hauled off at half time against Clare in the qualifiers. He now appears more confident, and with Donegal’s kick-outs so important to the manner in which they play, he has become a vital player for the green and gold.

Donegal were impressive, although they can still improve significantly. They can look forward to another Ulster final, and now have the opportunity be the first Donegal team ever to retain the Anglo Celt Cup.