Key-men Donegal can’t do without
Playing a team with a similar style to theirs they showed real guts, exemplified in captain Michael Murphy who came off the bench in a tremendous show of leadership as they kicked the last four points in extra-time. Despite being clearly hampered by a hamstring strain, he kicked one score from play in that period, kicked a monster free from outside the 45 and incredibly won a 50-yard sprint to win a ball along the sideline to set up Kevin Cassidy’s winning point.
Some have misinterpreted their defensive system. It’s not a swarm like Tyrone and Armagh developed, it’s a mass defence, with 12 or 13 Donegal players occupying scoring space inside their 45.
For it to work they need two key components: wing-forward Mark McHugh and midfielder Rory Kavanagh. They are athletic enough and read the game, sit in front of the full-back line and cut out a lot of the ball kicked in. They’re also good enough footballers to use that ball well.
Apart from the mass of bodies, Donegal also have some excellent defenders. Full-back Neil McGee was terrific and won his duel with Tomás O’Connor hands down, forcing an early withdrawal. Centre-back Karl Lacey gave an exhibition and got forward to kick Donegal’s only score in the opening period of extra-time.
The defence turned over numerous Kildare attacks in the second half which led to inspirational scores at the other end. It takes huge fitness to play the way they do and Kavanagh, McHugh, Lacy, Cassidy and Ryan Bradley managed to do their defensive duties and get forward to kick scores.
With the Donegal inside forwards easily contained these scores, as well as substitute Christy Toye’s goal, were vital.
Toye’s introduction was more than just a stroke of luck. He was brought in when Kildare were taking a kick out and with the defence giving options to the keeper no-one picked up Toye, leaving him unmarked when Donegal won possession.
But in defence is where Jim McGuinness deserves most credit. For their scores, Kildare managed five points from eight free kicks, four of them great efforts from long-range, because Donegal don’t concede chances.
The Lilywhites had targeted the Donegal defence when they had the ball, pressurising keeper Paul Durcan into giving away possession. They also got scores by winning some poor Donegal kick-outs and setting up quick attacks before the defence was set-up. But, crucially, they did not create a goal chance.
Kildare were the better team in the first half and showed great character to bring the match to extra-time after conceding the goal. They would have won if their goal stood but, for me, it was a fortuitous effort. They didn’t work a goal chance and it’s been a problem all season. They don’t create or score enough goals.
While that decision went against them they have had decisions in their favour this season. The Graham Geraghty and Enda Muldoon goals alone mean they can’t really crib.
Over the 90 minutes Donegal created two goal chances and Kildare had none.
John Doyle got a bad dead leg after collecting the throw-in and, although positioned in the forward line, he was unable to make his usual contribution. He didn’t kick a score from play for the third game in a row and didn’t kick a point at all for the first time in 51 consecutive championship games.
Without a big scoring input from him Kildare won’t win big championship matches. Darryl Flynn was terrific winning ball for them at midfield and Eamon Callaghan would be on my All Star team.
But today they’re picking up the pieces after a third quarter-final and one semi-final loss in four years.
They will still be a top-six team next season but they need to win some silverware, a provincial title or at least a Division Two title, and a top-class forward if they can find one.
The Tír Chonaill men have now beaten Tyrone and Kildare in very tight games, being able to get scores when the pressure was at its highest.
Dublin and Tyrone won’t enjoy the prospect of playing them. Although it is McGuinness’ first year in charge, this Donegal team, with an average age of 25, are quite seasoned. They won the McKenna Cup in 2009 and 2010 as well as this year’s Division Two league to go with their Ulster championship.
Their defeat to Laois, a game they did not need to win, is the only league or championship game they have lost this year. They have spirit in Murphy, playing through injury, Cassidy, having a go with his left foot after missing a similar effort moments earlier, and McHugh, chasing a lost cause to score an important point before half time. And with their defence, as mean as it is, they will have a chance of winning any game.
However, they lack a ball-winning midfielder and lost the kick-outs 26-11.
Darryl Flynn was the dominant midfielder, winning eight kick-outs and Durcan didn’t keep the ball away from him as much as he should.
Things to work on, but work is not something this Donegal side lack the ethic for.
