McKenna Cup 2024

[never kickt a ball]

Derry 0-13
Donegal 0-13
Two superbly taken frees from Eoghan Brown in the closing minutes earned Derry a deserved draw in an at times entertaining game in testing conditions at O'Cahan Park, Dungiven yesterday afternoon. The game was in doubt until a hour before the throw in, the blanket of snow that covered the pitch in the morning melting away to allow the game to go ahead after a couple of pitch inspections. With nothing much at stake-Derry already gone from the competition, Donegal safely through to a semi final meeting with Armagh-the game lacked the intensity normally associated with these North-West rivals.
Yet Antrim referee Gregory Walsh still saw fit to issue five 'yellow' cards, three against Derry in a crucial twenty minute spell in the second half, one in each half against the visitors.His decision-making in 'card selection' was confusing and perplexing at times, 'black cards' issued where 'yellow' looked more appropriate, no cards flourished on two or three for off the ball holding by defenders. Still the small band of hardy fans saw some excellent finishing from both teams, from frees and open play.
Donegal centre half forward David Walsh picked off three superb scores in the second half, while the free taking of Stephen Griffin and Kevin McMenamin in the first half contributed to four of their five points. Enda Lynn and Seamus Bradley were to the fore for Derry in the scoring stakes in the first half as the sides traded points for 0-05 each before Derry pulled away in the final minutes of the half to lead 0-08 to 0-05 at the break. The introduction of Conal Dunne and Neil Gallagher ten minutes into the second half, the switch of Barry Monaghan to the heart of the defence, allied to the loss of Joe Diver and Paul Cartin to yellow cards, turned the game inexorably at 0-11 to 0-08, five unanswered points putting Donegal in control with seven minutes to go.
However the home side showed commendable determination in deteriorating conditions to pressurise the Donegal defence into errors, and the concession of a couple of frees that Brown pointed. After two minutes Sean martin Lockhart was penalised for touching the ball on the ground and Kevin McMenamin pointed. Enda Lynn then swept past Kevin Rafferty to dissect the posts, Seamus Bradley putting Derry 0-02 to 0-01 ahead in the 11th minute from a Paul Young pass.
Stephen Griffin levelled from a free, Enda Lynn edging Derry 0-03 to 0-02 ahead before Griffin and McMenamin landed free for a 0-04 to 0-03 Donegal lead midway through the half. Gavan McShane and Paul Cartin had points either side a fisted score from Griffin, Bradley free, Lynn and Eoghan Brown on target as Derry took a 0-08 to 0-03 advantage to the break. Ciaran Bonner was yellow carded three minutes from half time.
Within five minutes of the restart Derry had extended the lead to 0-11 to 0-06, Brown and Lynn responding to a third minute pointed free from Griffin.
McMenamin and Griffin from a free cut the lead, Derry's Joe Diver and Paul Cartin yellow carded either side of these scores. Seamus Bradley restored Derry's three point lead in the 47th minute but three well taken points from David Walsh and one each from substitutes Neil Gallagher and Brendan Boyle put Donegal in control, especially as Patsy Bradley who had a fine game as a defensive midfielder, was shown a yellow card in the 53rd minute.
However Eoghan Brown scored two fine pointed frees in the gathering gloom, honours even at the final whistle.

The Derry scorers were Enda Lynn 0-03, Seamus Bradley 0-04, 0-01 free, Eoghan Brown 0-04, 0-02 frees, Gavan McShane and Paul Cartin 0-01 each
The Donegal scorers were Stephen Griffin 0-05, 0-04 frees, Kevin McMenamin 0-03, 0-02 frees, David Walsh 0-03, Neil Gallagher and Brendan Boyle 0-01 each

Derry
Shane McGuckin; Brian Og McAlary, Sean Martin Lockhart, Michael Drumm; Paul Cartin, Chris McKaigue, Barry McGuigan; Joe Diver, Patsy Bradley; Enda Lynn, Paul Young, Brian Mullan; Seamus Bradley, Gavan McShane, Eoghan Brown
-Aidan McAlynn for Joe Diver 45 mins Yellow
-Mickey McBride for Paul Cartin 49 mins Yellow
-Paul Murphy for Gavan McShane 52 mins
-Caolan O'Boyle for Patsy Bradley 53 mins Yellow
-Kevin O'Connor for Paul Young 65 mins

Donegal
Eunan McGinley; Johnny Gallagher, Raymond Sweeney, Paddy McDaid; Eamon McGee, Kevin Rafferty, Shane McGowan; Ciaran Bonner, Rory Kavanagh; Michael Doherty, David Walsh, Odhran Doherty; Kevin McMenamin, Ryan Bradley, Stephen Griffin
-Barry Monaghan for Ciaran Bonner 32 mins Yellow
-Caolan McGettigan for Eunan McGinley H-T
-Conal Dunne for Odhran Doherty 44 mins
-Neil Gallagher for Ryan Bradley 44 mins
-Brendan Boyle for Rory Kavanagh 55 mins
-Charlie Byrne for Kevin Rafferty 70 mins Yellow
Referee Gregory Walsh Antrim

http://www.derrygaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=56

[Our Nail Loney]

Paddy Power odds:

Donegal 10-11 Armagh 6-5

Down 10-11 QUB 11-10

[Goats Do Shave]

Many going to Omagh tonight?

Much snow up there?

[Flex]

Are any of the radio stations providing Live coverage of the Armagh v Donegal game ?

[bigfrank]

Many going to Omagh tonight?

Much snow up there?

No snow at the minute Goat,mild day for a change compared to yesterday!! Omagh very heavy goin at weekend,expect the same 2nite which i think favours Donegal a bit,because all the fields in Donegal are heavy on the legs!!

[drici]

Are any of the radio stations providing Live coverage of the Armagh v Donegal game ?

Should be a whack of it on Highland Radio.
They have a wee GAA show on Wednesdays anyway.

[bennydorano]

Any word Teams?  Heard Peadar Toal is starting for Armagh.

[RMDrive]

Are any of the radio stations providing Live coverage of the Armagh v Donegal game ?

Should be a whack of it on Highland Radio.
They have a wee GAA show on Wednesdays anyway.

Nothing on Highland at the moment. Anyone know another station that might be broadcasting it??

[Shortso79]

2nd Half on Highland

Donegal 0-7

Armagh 0-4

Latest

[Shortso79]

half time

donegal 0-10

armagh 0-7

[Skiddybadoo]

Half time Don 10 - Armagh 7.

[RMDrive]

Hould on a second. It is clear that the Donegal team has been stolen and replaced with other players. 10 points in a half and 9 of them from play? 

[armaghniac]

from Highland,  Donegal 12 - 8 Armagh
Paddy McKeever on for Joe Feeney, who had been playing well.
Ronan to full forward, having played on the 40.
Malachy Mackin hits wide 

[laoisgaa]

Teams and scorers so far - Donegal 0-12 Armagh 0-8 9mins into second half
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, 3f); J Feeney (0-3), R Clarke (0-2, 2f), K O'Rourke. Subs: M Mackin for Martin (34); N O'Rourke for Smyth (34);P McKeever for Feeney (41);

DONEGAL: P Durcan; J Gallagher, R Sweeney, P McDaid; C Byrne (0-1), B Monaghan, E McGee; N Gallagher, B Boyle (0-1); C Bonner, C Dunne, R Kavanagh; K McMenamin (0-2, 1f), S Griffin (0-4, 1f), D Walsh (0-4).

[Shortso79]

goal  for armagh !