Donegal blow as Murphy set for spell on sidelines
The captain, a student at DCU, is ineligible for the Dr McKenna Cup but after Donegal’s 1-14 to 2-8 loss against Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park yesterday manager Jim McGuinness confirmed the rumours.
“If he is out for the whole league or just two or three games, his rehab plan will be based on getting Michael Murphy back to full fitness,” McGuinness said.
An experimental Donegal led by a single point at the break yesterday, 1-7 to 0-9. Stephen Griffin was on target for the visitors’ goal but a strong second half from Cavan turned things around.
Val Andrews’ team held Donegal scoreless for 25 minutes of the second half, by which time they had established a lead thanks to a penalty from Raymond Galligan and four points from play from midfielder Gearoid McKiernan. Although Patrick McBrearty scored a late goal, it was merely consolation for Donegal.
Derry lead Section C as a consequence of their second win from two. Having disposed of Cavan in their opening game, John Brennan’s team got the better of UUJ, 1-16 to 0-14, on Saturday night.
In Section A, new Fermanagh manager Peter Canavan and his home county Tyrone will go head-to-head in their final fixture.
Seamus Quigley was in excellent form for the Erne men in their 2-14 to 0-10 victory over Queen’s at Brewster Park, scoring 1-9.
Tyrone came away from Casement Park in Belfast with the points courtesy of a 1-12 to 0-10 success against Antrim. Stephen O’Neill put the issue beyond doubt with a goal in the 67th minute, while Cathal McCarron was also on the mark.
Section B went along predicted lines although Down’s hammering of Monaghan in Clones will prove ominous. The 2010 All-Ireland finalists were in fine shooting form to post an easier than anticipated 4-12 to 0-11 win.
Kalum King scored two first half goals and another from Dan Gordon gave James McCartan’s team a 12-point lead at the break, 3-6 to 0-3. Benny Coulter added a fourth as Down were sauntering toward a comfortable win.
Monaghan rallied with Paul Finlay slinging over eight points but it did little to mask a very poor performance.
Armagh posted their first win of the New Year over St Mary’s and like neighbours Down made most of their hay in the first 35 minutes, going in 1-11 to 0-3 ahead with Ryan Rafferty their goalscorer. The second period was more evenly contested but the Orchard County won 1-18 to 0-10.
