Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROYALS RUMBLED Meath’s first top flight home game since ‘06 ends in misery
DONEGAL manager Declan Bonner said his team were in ‘complete control’ as they piled more misery on Meath.
The back to back Ulster champions beat the Royals three times in 2019 and won this one with the minimum of fuss.
They did slip three points behind initially as Meath capitalised on the good vibes of playing their first home game in the top flight since 2006.
But it wasn’t long before the 2019 Division 2 champions were banging in the goals with three arriving between the 28th and 39th minutes.
Odhran Mcfadden Ferry, top scorer Michael Murphy and Michael Langan all netted to break the brittle challenge.
Bonner said: “I felt after the first 15 or 20 minutes when we were a wee bit nervy, which was maybe a hangover from last Saturday evening against Mayo, that we were in complete control.
“I thought the way we moved the ball for some of the goals was top class. We probably should have had two more goals. We’ll get ready for the challenge of Galway next Sunday in Letterkenny which is a huge one now.”
It’s back to back defeats for Meath following their five-point loss to Tyrone on opening day.
They led 0-4 to 0-1 after 24 minutes in Navan but only scored three more points in the match.
Two of those came from Thomas O’reilly who was their brightest forward while Marcus Brennan did well in goals despite conceding three.
He became Meath’s third goalkeeper in just two games when he started but the 35-year-old saved a penalty from Murphy and distributed well.
He couldn’t be faulted for Mcfadden Ferry’s blast from close range in the 28th minute either though was eventually beaten by a second Murphy penalty attempt two minutes before half-time.
Jamie Brennan, who also won the first penalty, was fouled by Conor Mcgill and up stepped Murphy to shoot the same way as his earlier kick and net this time.
Mcgill was sin binned for his foul on Brennan and Donegal scored 2-1 in that period.
The goal came after a flowing move that ended with Ryan Mchugh dummying Meath’s Bryan Mcmahon and passing for Langan to palm in.
It was all Donegal as they picked off points from Hugh Mcfadden, Brennan, Langan, Niall O’donnell and Murphy.
A REMARKABLE secondhalf revival saw Fermanagh snatch a huge Division Two win over promotion favourites Roscommon in Brewster Park.
After trailing 9-3 at the break, Ciaran Corrigan hit the winner in the third minute of stoppage time, a minute after Ryan Jones landed a long-range equaliser for the gutsy home side.
“It’s down to the players, we spoke to them at half time and they came
through with
boundless character,” said boss Ryan Mcmenamin.
“We made no wild changes at half time.
“We can’t kick the ball for them, we had faith in the boys to turn it around. People tell me Fermanagh have no forwards but I’m happy. Every day at training I have 38 men who want to be there.”
The Rossies capitalised on reckless Erne fouls with Cian Mckeon and Donie Smith nailing five frees in