Flynn eases Donegal into final

DAVIN FLYNN turned in a five-star display as Donegal cruised to a Croke Park meeting with Warwickshire with this 21-point hammering of Monaghan in Owenbeg.

Flynn scored Donegal’s first goal after only two minutes; their second arrived on seven minutes when Kevin Campbell netted.

After goalkeeper Patrick Bermingham was forced off, the Farney replied with a brilliant solo goal in the 12th minute from Mark Treanor.

Flynn then took a grasp of the contest, clipping over points for fun, finishing the opening half with 1-7 as Donegal led 2-12 to 1-3.

Monaghan scored the first three points of the second half, but Flynn soon slammed home from close range.

Donegal sub Caolan McDermott rifled in a fourth goal before the dismissals of Kevin Crawley and sub Cormac McNally left Monaghan to finish with 13 men.

SCORERS — Donegal: D Flynn 2-11 (0-6fs), D Coulter (1f) 0-5, Caolan McDermott, K Campbell 1-0, D Cullen 0-2, G Gilmore, J Donnelly, Christopher McDermott, C Matthewson 0-1 each. Monaghan: F Rafter 0-5fs, M Treanor 1-0, M Murphy, P Finnegan, B McGuigan, N Garland, C Flynn 0-1 each

DONEGAL: P Burns 7; P Doherty 7, Christopher McDermott 7, S Gillespie 7; G Browne, S McVeigh 7, J Donnelly 7; C Mathewson 7, D Cullen 8; B Lafferty 6, D Coulter 8, E McDermott 7; K Campbell 7, G Gilmore 6, D Flynn 9. Subs: C Flynn 6 for Lafferty (50), L Henderson 6 for McDermott (40), Caolan McDermott 7 for Campbell (60), M Callaghan 6 for Donnelly (63), J Boyle 6 for Cullen (67) MONAGHAN: P Bermingham 5; J Guinan 6, K Crawley 5, B Flanagan 6; M Murphy 6, P Treanor 6, P Finnegan 6; Mark Treanor 7, A Kenny 6; F Rafter 7, B McGuigan 6, C Boyle 5; N Garland 6, E Collins 6, T Campbell 6. Subs: N Butler 6 for Bermingham (9), C Flynn 6 for Boyle (35), C McNally 5 for Collins (49), C Power 6 for Campbell (54), S McNally 5 for Garland (61).

REF— C Mooney (Dublin).