Donegal 0-12
Down 0-7
MICHAEL MURPHY ROUNDED off a week of scintillating attacking displays as Donegal swept to success against Down in Ballybofey tonight.
Jim McGuinness watched his All-Ireland winning side claim their first victory in Division 1 of the league as they bounced back from last week’s loss to Kildare.
And captain Murphy, who shot 0-9 for Donegal last Saturday and 0-9 for DCU in the Sigerson Cup during the week, struck 0-6 in tonight’s game.
The result consigned Down to their second successive loss and their new coach Niall Moyna, who is also the DCU manager, watched on as his prized third-level asset helped lead the way in a strong second-half display from Donegal.
In a dour first-half Down had scrapped well and were 0-5 to 0-2 to the good approaching the interval with Donal O’Hare striking four of their points.
But Donegal grabbed two points before the break from Murphy and Colm McFadden to cut the deficit to the minimum.
And just like last summer’s Ulster final, Donegal stepped up the intensity after the break to power ahead.
Murphy, Rory Kavanagh, Leo McLoone and Declan Walsh were amongst their point-scorers as they sprinted into a 0-11 to 0-5 lead.
It was not until the finale that Down raised a white flag courtesy of O’Hare and while Kevin McKernan added another point, it was a point from substitute Daniel McLaughlin that sealed Donegal’s triumph.
Scoring
Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-6 (0-4f), Rory Kavanagh, Ross Wherity, Colm McFadden (0-1f), Leo McLoone, Declan Walsh, Daniel McLaughlin 0-1 each.Down: Donal O’Hare 0-5 (0-3f), Kevin McKernan 0-2 (0-1f)
Donegal team: Paul Durcan; Ryan McHugh, Neil McGee, Eamonn McGee; Declan Walsh, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Rory Kavanagh, Martin McElhinney; Mark McHugh, Michael Murphy, Ryan Bradley; Colm McFadden, Ross Wherity, Patrick McBrearty.
Down team: Michael Cunningham; Damian Turley, Daniel McCartan, Ryan Boyle; Ryan Mallon, Aidan Carr, Brendan McArdle; Kalum King, Kevin McKernan; Keith Quinn, Mark Poland, Paul McComiskey; Conor Laverty, Connaire Harrison, Donal O’Hare.
Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo)
