IT’S THE first showdown of the day in Croke Park as the Allianz football league finals take centre stage.
Jim McGuinness takes his Donegal side into action against Malachy O’Rourke’s Monaghan.
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Hello and welcome along to a sunny Croke Park for the start of today’s double-header. Both Donegal and Monaghan are on the pitch now undergoing their warm-up’s before the start of the Division 2 decider.
Here’s the Donegal team that’ll start:
Paul Durcan; Eamonn McGee, Neil McGee, Karl Lacey; Frank McGlynn, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Rory Kavanagh, Martin McElhinney; Christy Toye, Ryan McHugh, Odhrán Mac Niallais; Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy, Patrick McBrearty.
And here’s the Monaghan team that is selected to start:
Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Fintan Kelly; Dessie Mone, Vinny Corey, Karl O’Connell; Owen Lennon, Paul Finlay; Kieran Hughes, Stephen Gollogly, Chris McGuinness; Dermot Malone, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus.
Meath’s David Gough is the referee.
Changes on both sides. Donegal bring in Luke Keaney for Leo McLoone. While Monaghan draft in Colin Walshe, Darren Hughes and Paudie McKenna for Karl O’Connell, Chris McGuinness and Jack McCarron.
We’re getting under way here.
Donegal 0-1 Monaghan 0-0: 1 mins – First blood to Donegal. Colm McFadden and Karl Lacey combine to pop the ball up for Patrick McBrearty who shoots instantly and the ball touches the post before falling over the bar.
Donegal 0-2 Monaghan 0-0: 2 mins – Donegal’s lead is doubled through a McFadden free.
Goal chance for Monaghan but Luke Keaney does brilliantly to flick the ball away from Kieran Hughes.
Donegal 0-2 Monaghan 0-1: 8 mins – Rory Beggan comes upfield to boot over the resultant ’45 for Monaghan.
Donegal 0-2 Monaghan 0-2: 9 mins – Hawkeye confirms that Monaghan have drawn level through Darren Hughes. Great turnover by Paudie McKenna on Rory Kavanagh to instigate the move that resulted in that point.
Donegal 0-3 Monaghan 0-2: 13 mins – McFadden knocks over a free to restore Donegal’s lead.
Monaghan 0-3 Donegal 0-3: 15 mins – Darren Hughes breaks through the Donegal cover for another splendid point.
Monaghan 0-4 Donegal 0-3: 16 mins – Now Monaghan go ahead after a lovely curling kick from the right wing by Paul Finlay.
Monaghan 0-5 Donegal 0-3: 18 mins – Monaghan moving well now with Conor McManus kicking them into a two-point lead.
Monaghan 0-6 Donegal 0-3: 19 mins – Great interplay by Monaghan as they prise open the Donegal rearguard and McKenna shoots over in style.
Monaghan 0-7 Donegal 0-3: 20 mins – Monaghan’s shooting has been exemplary. Dessie Mone floats over another great score.
Monaghan 0-7 Donegal 0-4: 21 mins – Donegal respond with Michael Murphy blasting over a fierce drive.
Monaghan 0-7 Donegal 0-5: 22 mins – Now Murphy points a free to cut the deficit Donegal face.
Monaghan 0-8 Donegal 0-5: 24 mins – Another Monaghan point for McKenna and another score where a Monaghan player hit the ball straight on from the outside of his right boot. It’s been excellent to watch in this first-half.
Subs: Jim McGuinness isn’t hanging around here. He’s whipped off Christy Toye and Martin McElhinney for Donegal with Mark McHugh and Neil Gallagher shunted into the action.
Monaghan 0-9 Donegal 0-5: 28 mins – Kieran Hughes fetches a long ball, turns Eamonn McGee before tearing in on goal and unleashing a rasping shot over the bar. He was certainly going for goal but had to be content with a point.
Monaghan 0-10 Donegal 0-5: 30 mins – Magnificent point by Finlay stretches Monaghan’s lead to five points.
Monaghan 0-10 Donegal 0-6: 32 mins – Belter of a point from Michael Murphy as he bangs the ball over a free from 45 yards.
Monaghan 0-10 Donegal 0-7: 34 mins – Gap is down to three now with McFadden swinging over a free.
Half-Time: Monaghan 0-10 Donegal 0-7
We’re back under way here for the second-half in Croke Park.
Sub: Dick Clerkin on for the injured Owen Lennon in the Monaghan midfield.
Monaghan 0-10 Donegal 0-8: 38 mins – Odhrán Mac Niallais has just lofted over a fine left-foot point for Donegal.
Rory Kavanagh has been sent off!
Donegal down to 14 men after Rory Kavanagh strikes Darren Hughes with his boot.
Monaghan 0-11 Donegal 0-8: 42 mins – And after that dust-up, Finlay bags a free for Monaghan.
Neil McGee was shown a yellow card as well after that altercation. It’s getting feisty between these teams.
Sub: Conor Classon is in for Donegal for Odhrán Mac Niallais.
Penalty for Donegal after foul on Ryan McHugh.
Black card for Monaghan’s Colin Walshe.
Monaghan 0-11 Donegal 1-8: 53 mins – Michael Murphy smashes the ball to the net past Rory Beggan.
Sub: Ryan Wylie is on for Walshe in the Monaghan defence.
Monaghan 0-12 Donegal 1-8: 55 mins – Important point for Monaghan as they respond to that goal. It’s captain Conor McManus who skips in from the left wing and nabs a fine score.
Goal for Monaghan from Kieran Hughes!
Monaghan 1-12 Donegal 1-8: 57 mins – Big score from Monaghan. It’s Kieran Hughes who palms the ball to the net after a move that started with Rory Beggan in goal fielding an under hit shot by Colm McFadden. Monaghan swiftly counter-attack with several players involved in a hand-passing move that featured great support play.
Subs: Changes on both sides with Darach O’Connor on for Ryan McHugh on the Donegal team while Chris McGuinness replaces Darach O’Connor on the Monaghan side.
Monaghan 1-12 Donegal 1-9: 60 mins – Donegal not going away with McFadden grabbing his first point from play today.
Monaghan 1-13 Donegal 1-9: 61 mins – Dick Clerkin charges through the Donegal defence, shakes off challenges and points at ease into Hill 16.
Monaghan 1-14 Donegal 1-9: 63 mins – Great bit of work by Monaghan corner-back Fintan Kelly to keep possession near the end line and spray the ball back for Chris McGuinness who darts past a couple of Donegal defenders before pointing.
Hard not to fancy Monaghan here. Seven minutes left, five points up and with a man advantage.
Sub: Declan Walsh on for Donegal for Luke Keaney.
Yellow card for Donegal’s Eamonn McGee.
Monaghan 1-15 Donegal 1-9: 67 mins – Fintan Kelly with Monaghan’s latest point.
Sub: Shane Carey in for Monaghan for Dermot Malone.
Black card for Donegal’s Colm McFadden.
Sub: Dermot Molloy is in for Donegal for McFadden.
Four minutes of additional time to be played.
Monaghan 1-16 Donegal 1-9: 72 mins – McManus shoots over for Monaghan.
Sub: Jack McCarron in for Monaghan for Paul Finlay.
Black card for Monaghan’s Darren Hughes with Karl O’Connell coming on for him.
Monaghan 1-16 Donegal 1-10: 73 mins – Murphy smacks over a free for Donegal.
Full-Time: Monaghan 1-16 Donegal 1-10
