AFTER A SEASON in which they were beset by injuries, relegated in the Allianz League and lost their All-Ireland title, Donegal looked in significantly rude health early on in 2014 this afternoon.
They blitzed Laois by 13 points in their Allianz Football League Division 2 opener at O’Moore Park.
Their fitness was particularly notable for the time of year, and Laois had no answer to their tackling power and counter-attacking ability from deep.
Scores came easier for the visitors, even in an evenly-contested first half, when the difference between the teams was Odhrán Mac Niallais’ goal, set up by some slick inter-passing from deep, with Anthony Thompson providing the assist.
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Michael Murphy, who operated throughout at full-forward, scored two late points to give Donegal a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
Colm McFadden blasted a shot to the roof of the Laois net 70 seconds into the second half and it was always going to be difficult from there.
It got worse when Denis Booth was red-carded in the 44th minute for a high tackle on Mark McHugh and Donegal cruised to the final whistle, with Murphy, Colm McFadden, Martin McElhinney and Hugh McFadden kicking some wonderful points.
Laois had to wait 25 minutes to get their first score of the second half, from Ross Munnelly, and John O’Loughlin’s late goal was of very little consolation indeed.
Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-6(2fs, 2 45s); Colm McFadden 1-3(0-2fs); Odhran Mac Niallais 1-1; Martin McElhinney 0-3; Hugh McFadden 0-2; Dermot Molloy, Martin McHugh, Patrick McBrearty, Anthony Thompson 0-1 each.
Scorers for Laois: John O’Loughlin 1-1; Ross Munnelly 0-3(2fs); Donie Kingston 0-2(fs); Peter O’Leary, Evan O’Carroll, David Conway 0-1 each.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Karl Lacey, Neil McGee, Ryan McHugh; Frank McGlynn, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Rory Kavanagh, Martin McElhinney; Mark McHugh, Christy Toye; Odhran Mac Niallais; Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy, Dermot Molloy.
Subs: Declan Walsh for Lacey 43, Patrick McBrearty for Molloy 47, Hugh McFadden for Kavanagh 47, Marty O’Reilly for Toye 53, Eamonn Doherty for McGlynn 63, Stephen McGlynn for Mac Niallais 67
LAOIS: Graham Brody; Denis Booth, Mark Timmons, Peter O’Leary; Darren Strong, Padraig McMahon, Adam Ryan; Kevin Meaney, John O’Loughlin; James Finn, Donie Kingston, Billy Sheehan; Ross Munnelly, Evan O’Carroll, David Conway.
Subs: Paul Begley for McMahon 12-14, Paul Cahillane for Finn ht, Paul Begley for Ryan ht, Robert Kehoe for O’Carroll 47, Stephen Attride for Sheehan 57
Donegal get off to flying league start with comfortable win over Laois
Donegal 2-19
Laois 1-9
AFTER A SEASON in which they were beset by injuries, relegated in the Allianz League and lost their All-Ireland title, Donegal looked in significantly rude health early on in 2014 this afternoon.
They blitzed Laois by 13 points in their Allianz Football League Division 2 opener at O’Moore Park.
Their fitness was particularly notable for the time of year, and Laois had no answer to their tackling power and counter-attacking ability from deep.
Scores came easier for the visitors, even in an evenly-contested first half, when the difference between the teams was Odhrán Mac Niallais’ goal, set up by some slick inter-passing from deep, with Anthony Thompson providing the assist.
Michael Murphy, who operated throughout at full-forward, scored two late points to give Donegal a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
Colm McFadden blasted a shot to the roof of the Laois net 70 seconds into the second half and it was always going to be difficult from there.
It got worse when Denis Booth was red-carded in the 44th minute for a high tackle on Mark McHugh and Donegal cruised to the final whistle, with Murphy, Colm McFadden, Martin McElhinney and Hugh McFadden kicking some wonderful points.
Laois had to wait 25 minutes to get their first score of the second half, from Ross Munnelly, and John O’Loughlin’s late goal was of very little consolation indeed.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Karl Lacey, Neil McGee, Ryan McHugh; Frank McGlynn, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Rory Kavanagh, Martin McElhinney; Mark McHugh, Christy Toye; Odhran Mac Niallais; Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy, Dermot Molloy.
Subs: Declan Walsh for Lacey 43, Patrick McBrearty for Molloy 47, Hugh McFadden for Kavanagh 47, Marty O’Reilly for Toye 53, Eamonn Doherty for McGlynn 63, Stephen McGlynn for Mac Niallais 67
LAOIS: Graham Brody; Denis Booth, Mark Timmons, Peter O’Leary; Darren Strong, Padraig McMahon, Adam Ryan; Kevin Meaney, John O’Loughlin; James Finn, Donie Kingston, Billy Sheehan; Ross Munnelly, Evan O’Carroll, David Conway.
Subs: Paul Begley for McMahon 12-14, Paul Cahillane for Finn ht, Paul Begley for Ryan ht, Robert Kehoe for O’Carroll 47, Stephen Attride for Sheehan 57
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
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Bright Opening All-Ireland Senior HC Division 2 Jim McGuinness League Donegal Laois