Survival remains McCartan’s priority as Down nick it
Conor Garvey’s point proved the winner for the 2010 All-Ireland finalists, although Donegal missed a stoppage time 45 and then a free, through goalkeeper Paul Durcan and substitute Dermot Molloy respectively, to draw level.
McCartan’s side opened in a whirlwind to bring warmth to their support huddled at Pairc Esler. And perhaps anticipating Donegal to smother their early approaches with their trademark duvet, Down came from deep, with their half-backs scoring all but a point of their 1-3 total inside seven minutes.
Right-wing-back Aidan Brannigan scored the first point on 26 seconds before Brendan Coulter and the hugely impressive Liam Doyle added scores. With Donegal still finding their shape, scoring just a Stephen Griffin free, the hosts had posted a fine goal from Doyle.
The centre-back broke through the Donegal defence following a raking ball from Peter Turley and swept the ball high into Durcan’s top corner.
“We got off to a great start,” the Down boss said. “After all it’s our home ground but Donegal came back very strongly and we’re not going to get carried away. We won by a point but could easily have drawn or even lost by a point so we’re not getting carried away. For me, that game was 50-50.
“There’s Cork, Kerry and Dublin and everyone else is looking to avoid relegation and last year four points was enough.
“If after three or four games we’ve a few wins we can re-evaluate but at the minute it is survival we’re looking at.
“Our only other home games are Kerry and Dublin so it was vital to get out of here with the two points.
“Our resources are stretched so I have to give credit to the lads there and I’m glad we got the job done.”
Donegal, minus the injured Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden, were static but, as the half wore on, gradually started to gnaw into their arrears. Mark McHugh was pivotal to the rise in fortunes, scoring twice before Patrick McBrearty notched his first from a left-footed free.
Doyle again showed his auxiliary threat with a peach of a point as the half wound to a close but when Karl Lacey and McBrearty scored at the other end, the interval deficit was two, 1-5 to 0-6.
Martin McElhinney’s named has been bandied about of late for reasons he would rather have avoided but last night the substitute scored the goal that swung the balance in his team’s favour on 51 minutes.
McElhinney was stuck in the middle of a war of words that developed between Donegal manager Jim McGuinness and his DCU counterpart Niall Moyna two weeks ago over the availability of students in early season.
The midfielder’s goal put Donegal in front for the first time. It was well manufactured with McBrearty, substitute Martin O’Reilly and Neil Gallagher all involved before McElhinney placed the ball past Brendan McVeigh.
However, just when Donegal looked as though they might push on, the concession of the goal woke Down, who finished the strongest and points from Doyle, blood sub Brannigan and Garvey proved decisive.
“Down made the better start but I wouldn’t really put it all down to that,” McGuinness said. “We had chances in the last 15 minutes and with a bit more composure we could have got at least a draw. With five minutes to go we would have taken a draw. Even a draw would have been a good start for us. ”
Scorers for Down: L Doyle (1-4, 3f), A Brannigan (0-2), D Gordon, C Garvey, B Coulter (0-1), A Carr (0-1, 1f) Scorers for Donegal: M McElhinney (1-0), M McHugh (0-2), P McBrearty and S Griffin (0-2, 2f), K Lacey, A Thompson, D Molloy (0-1).
Subs for Down: R Brady for Miskelly (33), C Garvey for O Costello (51), N McParland and A Rodgers for Brannigan and Quinn (54), E McCartan for Poland (68).
Subs for Donegal: M McElhinney (1-0) for Classon (25) M O’Reilly for Walsh (h-t) Dermot Molloy (0-1) for Griffin (51) Adrian Hanlon for McLoone (66).
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).
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