Donegal v Meath R4 NFL Mac Cumhaill Park, Ballyboyey 9/3/2014 @ 2:00pm

[thejuice]

Yeah. Surprised by Galways win. It keeps the pressure on us. Wins against Down and Laois are crucial but I don't believe we'll get all 4 points so it'll be a nervous finish to the league.

[J70]

From the Democrat... http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/donegal-get-out-of-jail-against-meath-1-5924573

Donegal get out of jail against Meath


Cruching challenge from Mickey Burke, Meath against Mark McHugh of Donegal.

Donegal got out of jail in Sean MacCumhaill Park as Michael Murphy landed the equaliser with the last kick of the game to gain a share of the spoils.

Donegal   1-12

Meath   1-12

Trailing by a point with time up, Donegal were awarded a free in some 25m from goal and close to the sideline. Up stepped Michael Murphy to hit an equaliser that they scarcely deserved

Meath dominated most of the opening half and even though they were headed when Colm McFadden won and pointed a free with 18 minutes left, they twice went back in front and it seemed when half-time substitute Graham Reilly edged them in front 1-12 to 1-11 with four minutes left, they were going to take both league points.

But then, not for the first time, Michael Murphy, became Donegal's saviour. In fairness Donegal did have the better of the chances in the second half, creating two goal chances - Murphy denied by a goalline clearance and Colm McFadden with a timely block. They also hit the upright on two occasions in the second half.

Donegal also had Ryan McHugh black carded in the 13th minute of the second half, being replaced by Karl Lacey.

POOR OPENING QUARTER

At the start it took Donegal a long time to settle with Meath completely dominating affairs in the opening quarter.

Michael Murphy had given them the first score from a free but by the 19th minute Meath were 0-6 to 0-1 ahead with midfielder Andrew Tormey (2) and corner forward Michael Newman converting two long range frees, one from outside the 45m line almost on the sideline.

It looked as if Donegal were back in the contest when Frank McGlynn lobbed Patrick O'Rourke in the 27th minute but almost immediately Meath swept forward and Newman was on the end of the move to fire low past Paul Durcan.

Before half-time Christy Toye and Michael Murphy added points to leave two adrift at the break, 1-7 to 1-5.

The final result was a wake-up call for Donegal, who have sauntered through the league so far. There was a lack of urgency in the opening half and their tactics, especially from kick-outs just wasn't working.

That they escaped with a point will be a positive to take from the game, but there were plenty of things that they need to work on.

Their finishing was poor some bad wides and their pass completion left a lot to be desired.

Donegal: Paul Durcan; Eamon McGee, Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn (1-0); R McHugh, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Rory Kavanagh, Martin McElhinney; Mark McHugh, Christy Toye (0-2), Odhran MacNiallais; Colm McFadden (0-3,2f), Michael Murphy (0-6,6f), Dermot Molloy (0-1). Subs., Neil Gallagher for Kavanagh; Darach O'Connor for Molloy, both 43; Karl Lacey for R McHugh, black card 48; David Walsh for MacNiallais 56

Meath: Patrick O'Rourke; Donal Keogan, Kevin Reilly, Mickey Burke; Sean Curran, Bryan Menton, Eoghan Harrington; Andrew Tormey (0-2), Shane O'Rourke (0-1,f); Donncha Tobin, Damien Carroll (0-1), Brian McMahon (0-1); Dalton McDonagh (0-1), Stephen Bray, Micheal Newman (1-4,3f). Subs., Graham Reilly (0-1) for Bray; Padraic Harnan for Tobin, both ht; Seamus Kenny for Curran; Eamon Wallace (0-1) for McMahon, both 51; Mark O'Sullivan for Tormey 62; D Bray for Menton 68.

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)

[donegal lad]

From the Democrat... http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/donegal-get-out-of-jail-against-meath-1-5924573

Donegal get out of jail against Meath


Cruching challenge from Mickey Burke, Meath against Mark McHugh of Donegal.

Donegal got out of jail in Sean MacCumhaill Park as Michael Murphy landed the equaliser with the last kick of the game to gain a share of the spoils.

Donegal   1-12

Meath   1-12

Trailing by a point with time up, Donegal were awarded a free in some 25m from goal and close to the sideline. Up stepped Michael Murphy to hit an equaliser that they scarcely deserved

Meath dominated most of the opening half and even though they were headed when Colm McFadden won and pointed a free with 18 minutes left, they twice went back in front and it seemed when half-time substitute Graham Reilly edged them in front 1-12 to 1-11 with four minutes left, they were going to take both league points.

But then, not for the first time, Michael Murphy, became Donegal's saviour. In fairness Donegal did have the better of the chances in the second half, creating two goal chances - Murphy denied by a goalline clearance and Colm McFadden with a timely block. They also hit the upright on two occasions in the second half.

Donegal also had Ryan McHugh black carded in the 13th minute of the second half, being replaced by Karl Lacey.

POOR OPENING QUARTER

At the start it took Donegal a long time to settle with Meath completely dominating affairs in the opening quarter.

Michael Murphy had given them the first score from a free but by the 19th minute Meath were 0-6 to 0-1 ahead with midfielder Andrew Tormey (2) and corner forward Michael Newman converting two long range frees, one from outside the 45m line almost on the sideline.

It looked as if Donegal were back in the contest when Frank McGlynn lobbed Patrick O'Rourke in the 27th minute but almost immediately Meath swept forward and Newman was on the end of the move to fire low past Paul Durcan.

Before half-time Christy Toye and Michael Murphy added points to leave two adrift at the break, 1-7 to 1-5.

The final result was a wake-up call for Donegal, who have sauntered through the league so far. There was a lack of urgency in the opening half and their tactics, especially from kick-outs just wasn't working.

That they escaped with a point will be a positive to take from the game, but there were plenty of things that they need to work on.

Their finishing was poor some bad wides and their pass completion left a lot to be desired.

Donegal: Paul Durcan; Eamon McGee, Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn (1-0); R McHugh, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Rory Kavanagh, Martin McElhinney; Mark McHugh, Christy Toye (0-2), Odhran MacNiallais; Colm McFadden (0-3,2f), Michael Murphy (0-6,6f), Dermot Molloy (0-1). Subs., Neil Gallagher for Kavanagh; Darach O'Connor for Molloy, both 43; Karl Lacey for R McHugh, black card 48; David Walsh for MacNiallais 56

Meath: Patrick O'Rourke; Donal Keogan, Kevin Reilly, Mickey Burke; Sean Curran, Bryan Menton, Eoghan Harrington; Andrew Tormey (0-2), Shane O'Rourke (0-1,f); Donncha Tobin, Damien Carroll (0-1), Brian McMahon (0-1); Dalton McDonagh (0-1), Stephen Bray, Micheal Newman (1-4,3f). Subs., Graham Reilly (0-1) for Bray; Padraic Harnan for Tobin, both ht; Seamus Kenny for Curran; Eamon Wallace (0-1) for McMahon, both 51; Mark O'Sullivan for Tormey 62; D Bray for Menton 68.

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)

Harsh enough report IMO to say donegal scarcely deserved a draw is wrong over the course of the whole game donegal probably payed better. They werent up to the high standards they were at last few weeks but still payed some good football at times. Kick outs were an issue in the first half but not as much once Neil Gallagher came on. They hav some issues to work on but stay top of the league and IMO are well on their way to promotion

[Main Street]

25m from goal, close to the sideline, last kick of the game, that's what you call a pressure kick.
That's getting out of jail in style.

[donegal lad]

25m from goal, close to the sideline, last kick of the game, that's what you call a pressure kick.
That's getting out of jail in style.

It was a great score I was in the stand directly in line with it. He had missed 1 from similar position earlier in the half which he took from the ground, he took this 1 from the hands. He is 1 of a few great players ATM that you would want in that position taking that kick. And he hadn't 1 of his better games today which he admitted himself after the game

[Jinxy]

Lads I wasn't in BalleyBofey so I'd appreciate any first hand opinions of how Shane O'Rourke and our midfield in general played.
My main hope for Shane is that he can play his way back to full fitness.

[Hardy]

I'd also be interested in hearing how our defence played and whether we deployed any of our half forwards in defence.

[Jinxy]

I think Carroll picked up Mark McHugh but that was probably a roving commission.

[donegal lad]

Your midfield were totally on top on the 1st half jinky. We were trying out different tactics at kick outs and none were working. When Neil Gallagher came on we got a bit of a upper hand. All in all your midfield performed well but might of been different if Gallagher was on from the start

Not sure if yous had any forwards playing in defence hardy but yous played a defensive ganeplan yesterday getting loads of bodies behind the ball. When we ran directly at yous and moved the ball quickly yous struggled a bit but we didn't do this enough imo

All in all it was good enough game considering was played on a very heavy pitch, we had more than enough chances to win it (hit woodwork twice in 2nd half) we left happy with the point considering the kick it took to get the draw

[Jinxy]

McGlynn got a bit of a flukey goal as well though in fairness (so I was told anyway).

[donegal lad]

McGlynn got a bit of a flukey goal as well though in fairness (so I was told anyway).

Yeah only frank be able to tell us if he meant it or not  a draw was a fair result but would say we were the applied of the 2 sides at the end, was a stupid free yous gave away right at the end which murphy scored from although it was far from easy to score from

[Hardy]

Thanks for the info, men.

[StephenC]

McGlynn got a bit of a flukey goal as well though in fairness (so I was told anyway).

You mean when he delicately floated the ball over the keeper from a tight angle with his left foot?  Nothing flukey about that!
That left foot has now scored 1-01 for Donegal - the point against Cork in 2012 being a bit more important in fairness.

[donegal lad]

McGlynn got a bit of a flukey goal as well though in fairness (so I was told anyway).

You mean when he delicately floated the ball over the keeper from a tight angle with his left foot?  Nothing flukey about that!
That left foot has now scored 1-01 for Donegal - the point against Cork in 2012 being a bit more important in fairness.

Was it with his left or right he scored the goal in the ulster final. Here is a link to see the free murphy scored yesterday to secure the draw
http://www.joe.ie/gaa/gaa-news/video-michael-murphy-kicked-an-almost-impossible-point-to-salvage-a-draw-for-donegal-yesterday/

[Hardy]

I hear we scored another of our speciality bouncing points yesterday too.