Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
McSTAY & GO AS MURPHY MAKES ROSSIES SUFFER
DONEGAL showed their craft and experience as Michael Murphy kicked them to an impressive Super 8 win away to Roscommon yesterday.
Nine points from the Donegal captain were crucial in this victory as Kevin McStay’s side fell away in the second period.
McStay was asked to leave the sideline at half-time following an incident with an official after the halftime whistle, but the win for Donegal sees them right back in the fight to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals.
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 efforts had them two points ahead after four minutes.
Two Donegal 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 following a super save from Colm Lavin.
Roscommon continued to kick points from range as Ciaráin Murtagh and
Brian Stack split the posts, but after the first 15 minutes it was Donegal who 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 bossed the encounter and scored seven points without reply – although Shaun Patton had to be sharp to deny Stack a goal following a great run from John McManus.
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 from distance, although Michael Langan’s effort put Donegal 0-10 to 0-5 up at half-time.
The first half ended with a fiery incident that involved several players (below), but it was McStay who was asked to leave the field following an altercation with one of the officials.
Roscommon did come out with a bright start to the second period and Stack flicked over the bar, but Mac Niallais and Murphy soon reclaimed control for Donegal with good scores.
Enda Smith kicked his first score of the game after 48 minutes, but when Murphy led a run of three in a row for his side they were well out of sight.