McKenna Cup 2024

[Shortso79]

prob omagh or enniskillen

[Mourne Rover]

What was the final score ?

[RMDrive]

D 1.14 A 2.09

[corn02]

How was McEvoy's kick-outs, I heard he made a great save and had not much chance with the goal... right or wrong?

[redcard]

Why was the penalty refused??

Does that mean the final will be in Omagh?

looks like it

[mountainboii]

Decent enough game considering the weather and the state of that dreadful pitch. Omagh have a lovely set up but that surface is horrible, it was like an ice rink with the amount of slipping and sliding tonight.

Donegal just about deserved to win but we could've nicked it at the death when the ref seemed to bottle it on a penalty call as Clarke looked to be pulled down.

For those that care this is how I thought the Armagh lads got on:

McEvoy - No chance for the goal after McClelland sold him down the river. Kick outs were OK, but just OK. No great distance and seemed to be just aimed down the middle. Did make a decent save to his credit.
Smyth - Cleaned out completely and didn't make it to half time. Will be very fortunate to see anymore action in an orange jersey this year.
Martin - Cleaned out too, didn't last 10 mins at FB. Was moved out the field were he looks more comfortable and wasn't doing too badly for the rest of the half but couldn't really complain about being withdrawn before half time.
Shannon - Was the pick of the FB line, but that's not saying much.
Rafferty - Not really that involved, lost his man too often.
McClelland - Was probably the pick of the backs until his howler gifted Donegal a goal. Played most of the game at FB where he looked a bit uncomfortable.
McDonald - See Rafferty.
Lavery - Quiet. Looks like a man that hasn't played a lot of football recently. Need plenty of league game time to bring him on.
O'Neill - Also quiet. Didn't really catch any ball or get involved enough. I thought it would've been better to leave Martin on around the middle and take O'Neill off before half time.
Martin O'Rourke - Was uncharacteristically quiet. Got yellowed for being a bit reckless with his feet. That's 2 yellows for him now, does he miss the Wexford game?
Mallon - Got more involved in the second half but I thought he was playing too deep. Seems to have the CHF position sown up.
Toal - I thought he was very good. Got stuck in plenty (he must've been reading The GAA's comments about him after the Cavan game) and knocked over his frees easily enough. This guy could be a real player if he's managed properly and gets a good run in the team.
Feeney - Was very good too. Scored 3 from play and looked lively. Looked to have picked up a nasty arm/wrist injury though, I wouldn't be surprised if he's broken something which would be a real pity cuz he'd probably miss the league then.
Clarke - Played around the forty/midfield again and it was only a partial success. Every time he get the ball out there you get the feeling that you wish he was hitting the ball into himself on the edge of the square. When he was eventually moved inside he caused Donegal lots of problems, I don't see the logic in keeping him away from the area that he'll do the most damage in.
Kevin O'Rourke - Was very lively and scored a lovely goal by lopping the keeper (not sure if he meant it though, if he did it was sublime). Also scored one of the best points of the game. Would be a tremendous prospect if there wasn't a nagging doubt over his size. Worth a run in the league anyway.

Subs:
Mackin - On for Martin. Didn't do a lot. Not the answer for our midfield troubles.
Neil O'Rourke - On for Smyth. Put himself about alright and made a few good tackles but was still a member of a very shaky defence.
Paddy McKeever - On for Feeney. Nipped in well for the rebound of Clarke's penalty, apart from that not much.
Toner - On for McDonald. Didn't really notice him.
Conor Clarke - On for Martin O'Rourke after his yellow. No time to get involved.


All in all not a bad McKenna Cup from an Armagh point of view. Don't think any of the defenders really showed up, apart from Donaghy looking the part at FB. None of the midfielders tried did much to increase their reputations either. But the area that we've struggled in most in recent years, the forward line, is also the area that a few prospects seemed to have shown up for us in the last few games. Henderson, Kevin O'Rourke, Toal and Feeney (if fit) all look like they could step up to the next level, which would be fantastic. Even if we can only bring one of these guys through over the league it will aid our chances no end by taking some of the scoring pressure away from Ronan and Stevie.

[J70]

Any of the newer Donegal lads look promising AFS?

[J70]

From the Belfast Telegraph...

Donegal 1-14 Armagh 2-9

Thursday, 22 January 2009


Donegal have qualified for the final of the McKenna Cup after with a spirited display against Armagh in Healy Park last night.

Donegal were on top in the first half but had just three points to spare at the break, 0-10 to 0-7, thanks mainly to indiscipline which saw two easy points for Armagh for frees moved on.

Donegal were 0-4 to 0-1 up after eight minutes through Stephen Griffin, who got two, Brendan Boyle and David Walsh.

Joe Feeney had the opening Armagh point and the same player had the third while Peadar Toal pointed a free.

Kevin McMenamin and Feeney traded points before Donegal took a four-point lead with three points in as many minutes from David Walsh, with a couple of scores, and Charlie Byrne with 24 minutes gone.

In the final ten minutes Donegal had two further points from Stephen Griffin, while Peadar Toal with two frees and another from Ronan Clarke kept the Armagh men in touch.

Donegal's total in the opening half all came from play apart from the final pointed free from Griffin.

But both sides found scores much harder to come by in the second half and by the 40th minute Donegal were four clear with Walsh and McMenamin to a Ronan Clarke free.

Armagh, though, got themselves right back in the game when Kevin O'Rourke chipped Paul Durcan for a goal on 50 minutes.

David Walsh then had a great goal chance for Donegal a couple of minutes later but Brendan Boyle restored the two-point advantage with a well-taken score of his own.

There were then two goals in four minutes. David Walsh availed of a slip in the Armagh defence to put Donegal four clear but then

Ronan Clarke won a penalty and even though his kick was saved, Paddy McKeever followed up to score.

Michael Doherty then landed a '45' and Donegal held on to just about deserve the win.

Donegal have not had McKenna Cup success since 1991 when the Armagh-born Charlie Mulgrew was captain.

Scorers: Donegal - David Walsh 1-4; Stephen Griffin 0-4,1f; Brendan Boyle 0-2; Kevin McMenamin 0-2; Charlie Byrne, Michael Doherty 45 0-1each.

Armagh; Kevin O'Rourke 1-1; Joe Feeney 0-3; Paddy McKeever 1-0; Peadar Toal 0-3,3f; Ronan Clarke 0-2,2f.

Donegal: P Durcan; J Gallagher, R Sweeney, P McDaid; C Byrne, BMonaghan, E McGee; N Gallagher, B Boyle; C Bonner, C Dunne, R Kavanagh; K McMenamin, S Byrne, D Walsh. Subs. M Doherty for C Bonner; L Thompson for Walsh

(S. Byrne is presumably Stephen Griffin!)

Armagh: P McEvoy; G Smyth, V Martin, B Shannon; C Rafferty, T McClelland, B McDonald; J Lavery, S O'Neill; M O'Rourke, B Mallon, P Toal; J Feeney, R Clarke, K O'Rourke. Subs.M Mackin for Martin; N O'Rourke for Smyth; P McKeever for J Feeney; B Toner for B McDonald; C Clarke for M O'Rourke (yellow)

Referee: A McAlynn (Derry)

Don't know many of the Armagh lads, so it looks like maybe Donegal had a bit more experience out there, although that is very, very far from a first choice side and many of the familiar names have only been fringe players. Hopefully lads like Paddy McDaid, Stephen Griffin, Johnny Gallagher and David Walsh (all of whom got a taste last year in the championship under McIvor) will have good leagues and be pushing for a championship place. Don't know about the likes of Conal Dunne, Kevin McMenamin and Michael Doherty - they've been given chances before but haven't been good enough to nail down places, except the 2006 season in the case of Dunne and Doherty, when McFadden and Devenney opted out. If Griffin could take a bit of pressure off McFadden and Murphy, with Walsh also capable of taking scores, along with Rory Kavanagh, from the half-forward line, we might be in a bit better shape this year. Hopefully Brendan Boyle will make the midfield vacancy his, but he's been out injured for a few years, so who knows.

[J70]

The Donegal county board must be a bit hard up after all the managerial shenanigans. The team has reverted back to their old gear for the McKenna Cup matches.

[Goats Do Shave]

That's a fair assessment AFS. I'd agree with most of that.

[Off The Fence]

2 Questions for Armagh Posters-

Why has Henderson not featured since the Queens game?

Is Ronan Austin injured and could he be a "solution" to Armagh's midfield problems?

[Goats Do Shave]

2 Questions for Armagh Posters-

Why has Henderson not featured since the Queens game?

Is Ronan Austin injured and could he be a "solution" to Armagh's midfield problems?

Armagh squad is carrying a lot of injuries... Henderson, Toner, McKeever, Donaghy, Finn Mo, Andy Mallon...

Austie isn't the answer in my opinion. It'll be Paul McGrane again, with either Lavery, Toner or McKenna, with Charlie Vernon as a 3rd i would reckon.

[corn02]

Thanks for the summary AFS.

[el_cuervo_fc]

http://www.irishnews.com/irishnews/597/5776/2009/1/22/608265_369986309226Donegalra.html

Donegal rain supreme

Dr McKenna Cup semi-final Armagh 2-9 Donegal 1-14


John Joe Doherty is closing in on his first trophy as Donegal manager, but the attacking class of Stephen Griffin and David Walsh would have counted for nothing had corner-back Paddy McDaid not taken centre stage as the late, late hero at Healy Park last night.

Ronan Clarke looked odds-on to blast home what would have been a match-winning goal in a dramatic

finish, but McDaid's stoppage-time block saved the day, and sent Tir Chonaill through to the Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup final.

There were calls for a penalty from the Armagh players and fans, but Derry referee Aidan McAlynn got the call spot on, and this was the final act in a dramatic and generously

entertaining encounter played in atrocious conditions.

A more experienced Donegal side always looked capable of holding sway, but their failure to turn periods of dominance into significant blocks of scores almost cost them dearly, after Armagh struck for second half goals through Kevin O'Rourke and substitute Paddy McKeever.

Doherty is happy to have another game ahead of the NFL, but in his post-match musings, he appeared more concerned with the big League opener against Kerry on Sunday week than with this Saturday's McKenna Cup decider against either Down or Queen's.

"Kerry is going to be a very, very tough opener, and we'll know more about our team coming back from Kerry than we will anytime up to then," said the 1992 All-Ireland-winning corner-back.

"Where else would be better to play football than down in Kerry, so we're looking forward to it."

Three games unbeaten in 2009,

Doherty is encouraged by the way his team is shaping up, with a handful of newcomers making their mark.

"I'm happy in so far as the marker has been laid down, the hard work will have to be done. It's encouraging so far," he added.

"There's a lot of injured players who will be coming back into the set-up over the next couple of weeks."

A constant drizzle left the Healy Park surface greasy, and difficult for the players to hold their footing, but Donegal made light of the conditions to perform with some poise in a first half that saw them shoot 10 points, all but one of them from play.

The elusive Kevin McMenamin was a constant thorn in the side of the Orchard defence, always out in front to claim possession and offload to effect.

David Walsh was the chief beneficiary of 'Wappa's' impact, hitting three points, with full-forward Stephen Griffin also claiming three from play and tagging on a free as well.

Armagh had their own opportunist in Joe Feeney, who twice capitalised on slack defending to hit two of his three first half scores from play.

It was Donegal, with Neil Gallagher and Brendan Boyle making an impact in midfield, who had the better of the opening 25 minutes' action, building up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead.

But some uncertainty at the back allowed Peadar Toal to keep Peter McDonnell's side in touch from frees.

Barry Monaghan, on a milestone evening which saw him make his 100th Donegal appearance, can count himself somewhat fortunate to escape a yellow card for a couple of rash challenges on roving Orchard playmaker Ronan Clarke.

Two Griffin points late in the half maintained Donegal's four points advantage, but a Clarke free narrowed the gap to three, the men from Tir Chonaill ahead by 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.

Clarke reverted to his accustomed full-forward role after Feeney went off with an injury, and provided the decoy run which allowed Kevin O'Rourke to drift in and lob a delightful goal which left just a point between the sides with 50 minutes played.

Donegal had a goal chance moments later when Griffin slipped a clever pass to Walsh, but Philip McEvoy was quickly off his line to smother the Naomh Brid man's shot.

John Joe Doherty's men did net in the 57th minute when Walsh picked up a wayward clearance to cut in from the right and rifle the ball home. Moments later, however, his game was over as he hobbled off with a leg injury.

There was more drama at the other end when Clarke was hauled down going for goal. He took the penalty himself, but saw his shot saved by Paul Durcan, with substitute Paddy McKeever in like a flash to net from the rebound.

But corner-back McDaid emerged as the match-winner with a superb block on Clarke as he bore down on goal in the dying moments.

MATCH STATS

Donegal: P Durcan; J Gallagher, R Sweeney, P McDaid; C Byrne (0-1), B Monaghan,

E McGee; N Gallagher, B Boyle (0-2);

C Bonner, C Dunne, R Kavanagh;

K McMenamin (0-2, 0-1 free), S Griffin

(0-4, 0-1 free), D Walsh (1-4).

Subs: M Doherty (0-1, '45') for Bonner (52), L Thompson for Walsh (59)

Armagh: P McEvoy; G Smyth, V Martin,

B Shannon; C Rafferty, T McClelland,

B McDonald; J Lavery, S O'Neill;

M O'Rourke, B Mallon; P Toal (0-3, 0-3 frees); J Feeney (0-3), R Clarke (0-2, 0-2 frees), K O'Rourke (1-1).

Subs: M Mackin for Martin (33), N O'Rourke for Smyth (33), P McKeever (1-0) for Feeney (51), B Toner for McDonald (50)

Referee: A McAlynn (Derry)

[bennydorano]

Went to Omagh myself last night, pleasantly surprised as the game was very entertaining.  Strange game as both sets of forwards played well whereas defences and MF's on both sides were pretty poor.

Thought maybe only Chris Rafferty and Shannon looked like they might have a future in county football although I doubt either will be troubling McDonnell come the summer.  I thought McClelland was awful, might have made one or two decent interceptions but he was cleaned by and large.  Mal Mackin seemed to play CHB when brought on and he had another shocker, I seriously doubt if he'll ever kick another ball for the county.  A definite second best in MF, Lavery's first game in a year, so I'd say there's more to come from him, O'Neill did some dirty work but I doubt he has a future at this level.

The forwards seemed to function pretty well despite the same oul sh1te tactics, nearly everyone contributed.  Feeney took 3 good points in the first half (although he should have passed for a goal chance on one) and went off with a shoulder injury.  Peadar had an excellent first half, contributed less in the second but was still good.  Kevin O'Rourke's goal was sublime and I think he got a good point as well, having watched O'Rourke a fair bit before, he could be the one to make a breakthrough.  Clarke worked like a dog the whole game – very good.

Have to say I thought it was a blatant penalty at the end.  The Irish News said a well timed tackle, to me it looked like it was a tackle from behind and secondly as Clarke was about to pull the trigger the Donegal man kicked the ball from his hand.  Maybe I was seeing things.