Murphy puts boot in Cork

The importance of Michael Murphy to Donegal’s cause was displayed in devastating fashion within 12 seconds of the first whistle in Ballybofey yesterday.

The Donegal captain was making his first county appearance of the year having recovered from a groin operation and within moments of the throw-in out-jumped full-back Eoin O’Mahony from Karl Lacey’s ball before thumping past Ken O’Halloran for a lightning fast opening goal.

And although Cork came back from that initial setback to get their noses in front in the opening stages of the second half, the hosts finished impressively to seal a four-point win, and their first win of the campaign after defeats to both Down and Laois.