Murphy masterclass helps Donegal ease past Roscommon
WE SAW the best of Michael Murphy in the Donegal fullforward line as the Ulster champions picked up their first win of the Super 8s in stylish fashion at Dr Hyde Park.
Murphy was supreme for his side and kicked nine points, while Odhran Mac Niallais weighed in with four points in a brilliant second-half performance.
For the second week in a row Roscommon were second best against Division 1 opponents, and when their manager Kevin McStay was asked to leave the sideline at half time following an incident with an official, their hopes weren’t helped much either.
But ultimately it was Murphy that ran the show for Donegal and he made the most of his free role to kick his side to victory.
Lining up with a sparsely populated full-forward line from the off Roscommon would have been thrilled to see their long range shooting operating well in the early stages and Ciaráin Murtagh and Diarmuid Murtagh points had them two points ahead after four minutes.
Despite leading by five at the break, Declan Bonner would have been disappointed with his side’s return from the opening 35 minutes though. They kicked ten points and seven wides, missed a good goal chance when Jamie Brennan was denied by a smart Colm Lavin save, while two more shots on goal dropped well short of their target.
Two of those wides arrived from Jamie Brennan and Ciarán Thompson before they registered a score, but Brennan hit their first after six minutes, which was added to soon after when Michael Murphy slotted the 45 that came from Lavin’s super save.
Roscommon continued to kick points from range as Ciaráin Murtagh and Brian Stack split the posts, but after the first 15 minutes Donegal took control.
Murphy started at midfield, but drifted in to full-forward on occasion, and it was from that berth that he kicked his fourth and fifth scores of the half.
Between the 14th and 34th minute Donegal scored seven without reply – although Shaun Patton had to be sharp to deny Stack a goal.
Cathal Compton was guilty of conceding a few frees in defence, but he broke the Donegal scoring run a minute from the break with a fine score, but Michael Langan’s effort put Donegal 0-10 to 0-5 up at half-time.
The first half ended with a fiery incident involving players, but McStay was asked to leave the field when he seemed to throw the ball at one of the officials.
Roscommon made a bright start to the second period and Brian Stack flicked over the bar from close range, but Mac Niallais and Murphy soon reclaimed control for Donegal with good scores.
Enda Smith kicked his first score after 48 minutes, but when Murphy led a run of three in a row for his side there were well out of sight and 0-16 to 0-8 in the ascendancy with 12 minutes remaining.
A great Patton save kept Roscommon at bay when Stack took aim with ten minutes remaining, but at the other end Mac Niallais came even closer when he rattled a shot off the base of the post.
Diarmuid Murtagh pointed for Roscommon to give them some hope, and a remarkable point from Donie Smith put two goals between the sides, while a Ciarain Murtagh free gave renewed hope.
As expected Murphy was the man to stop the rot with a 65thminute free, while Mac Niallais, Leo McLoone and Martin Reilly also got in on the act as Donegal pulled well clear in the final minutes. DoneGAl: S Patton; P McGrath, P Brennan (D O Baoill 62), S McMenamin; E Doherty, F McGlynn (A Thompson 56), E Ban Gallagher (N McGee 18); H McFadden, M Murphy; C Thompson (M McHugh 62), M Langan (M Reilly 68), L McLoone; O Mac Niallais, J Brennan (N O’Donnell 53), R McHugh.
Scorers: M Murphy 0-9 (3f, 1’45); O Mac Niallais 0-4, C Thompson 0-2 (1f), M Langan, L McLoone; J Brennan, M Reilly, R McHugh 0-1.
roSCoMMon: C Lavin; D Murray, N McInerney, J McManus; Fintan Cregg (I Kilbride 62), S McDermott (Finbar Cregg 48), C Devaney (c); T O’Rourke, C Compton (C Lennon HT); C Murtagh, N Kilroy (S Killoran 68), E Smith; D Murtagh, B Stack (P Kelly 59), C Cregg (D Smith 45). Scorers: C Murtagh 0-5 (3f); D Murtagh, C Lennon, B Stack 0-2; E Smith, C Compton 0-1. referee: C Brannagan (Down).