Déjà vu as Donegal miss their moment

Donegal 0-14, Galway1-11

And like their match with Dublin last year, there is a sense that the Ulster team missed their opportunity.

With moments remaining, John Haran had the chance to tap over an insurance point for Donegal. He elected to pass. Only three minutes earlier, Haran had kicked a more difficult chance between the posts. That had put Donegal into the lead for the first time in the second half. Galway were faltering.

Step forward Kevin Walsh. Inspirational scores are a trademark of the Galway skipper. Earlier in the half, as the balance of the match began to sway, Walsh drove the ball between the posts.

That was early in the second period, when Galway still led by virtue of Micheal Meehan’s first half goal. In the dying seconds, Galway’s championship was about to implode.

Players strung the ball across the pitch, 40 yards from the Donegal posts. Nobody wanted the responsibility of shooting for an equaliser. Walsh marched forward, grabbed the ball and initiative and brought this game into a second act in Castlebar next weekend.

Walsh was one of the few steadying influences in a patchy Galway performance. They seemed to suffer from the ring-rust John O’Mahony had warned about. But for a long time in the second half, it looked like they were going to grind out a result.

Donegal confined their best football to the opening and closing 15 minutes of this game. Traditionally this summer, they have finished stronger than their opponents in matches, a legacy of starting training later than any other side.

It was the same yesterday. Galway managed to maintain their advantage of the goal for most of the second half, which must have rankled the Donegal players. Although Meehan’s finish was sublime, the effort was created by the Donegal defence’s insistence on playing the short game.

Mark Crossan, Niall McCready and John Gildea were contriving to work the ball slowly from defence. Gildea’s short pass missed its intended target and fell into the hands of Derek Savage. Meehan picked his spot and blasted the ball home.

There were 26 minutes gone and the teams were level. Donegal had lost the composure that saw them sprint into 0-7 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes.

Galway just needed Padraig Joyce to tap over a 33rd minute free to put his side ahead, 1-5 to 0-7 at the interval.

The goal derailed Donegal’s momentum. They played their best football of the summer in the opening quarter of the game, with the returning Paul McGonigle and Toye getting through a mountain of industry around the middle.

It was fitting that McGonigle got their equaliser in the 66th minute, concluding a lovely flowing move that began with Kevin Cassidy.

McGonigle had also levelled the teams directly after the re-start, with a beautiful curling point off his left boot. Adrian Sweeney had said earlier in the week that Donegal would need to match Galway’s work ethic. They did that and more yesterday.

Galway found it difficult to shake off lingering lethargy from their long lay-off.

Their attack played below themselves.

It was their defence that emerged on top.

Kevin Brady proved himself a worthy replacement for Sean Óg De Paor, Gary Fahey kept Sweeney quiet, Richie did likewise to Micheal Hegarty.

Joyce was accurate from frees, and Galway got a few, but Raymie Sweeney played him well. Indeed, Sweeney was Donegal’s saviour towards the end when Joe Bergin’s fisted shot came off the upright. Donegal’s defence, also maligned and likely to cause grey hairs, had an exceptional day.

Ja Fallon and Tommy Joyce both came off the bench for Galway, but to no great effect. John O’Mahony must hope this was a game Galway needed to get out of their system.

But Donnellan’s ineffectual performance must be a cause for concern.

Scorers: Donegal: B Devanney(0-5, 2frees) A Sweeney (0-3, 2 frees), P McGonigle(0-2), B Roper, K Cassidy, M Hegarty, J Haran (0-1 each) Galway: P Joyce(0-4, all frees), M Meehan(1-1), P Clancy, K Walsh(0-2 each), D Meehan, D Savage(0-1 each)

DONEGAL: T Blake; N McCready, R Sweeney, M Crossan, S Carr, B Monaghan, K Cassidy; J Gildea, S McDermott; C Toye, M Hegarty, P McGonigle, B Roper, A Sweeney, B Devanney Subs J McGuinness for McDermott(h-t), D Diver for Crossan(42 mins), B Boyle for Hegarty(56 mins), C McFadden for Roper(65 mins), J Haran for McGuinness(62 mins)

GALWAY: B Donoghue; K Fitzgerald, G Fahey, M Comer, D Meehan, R Fahey, K Brady; K Walsh, Joe Bergin; P Clancy, M Clancy, M Donnellan, D Savage, P Joyce, M Meehan Subs J Fallon for M Clancy(52 mins), T Joyce for M Meehan(55 mins), N Joyce for Donnellan(68 mins)

Ref: M Collins (Cork)