Kieran McGeeney rues missed chances

It’s two weeks since Kieran McGeeney suggested that Donegal were not as physical a side as Dublin or Kerry and, though it seemed like an odd observation at the time, it was one that bore more than a grain of truth yesterday.

Donegal didn’t hammer Armagh — who on the day, lacked intensity and a willingness to embrace the physical side of things. Rory Gallagher’s side outthought and outplayed Armagh instead. McGeeney admitted as much afterwards.

“There were no real physical hits out there today,” he pointed out. “They are just good at those one-twos through the 65s, getting support runners off the shoulder, stretching you out. They open up the game and they are very good at it.” Dublin scored more in their opening dismissal of Longford, but this was the first real standout statement by one of the candidates for Sam against a side of more meaningful merit — even if Armagh had spent the spring in the third tier.

McGeeney wasn’t blind to the fact his team opened up Donegal’s vaunted rearguard on occasion after the break, though the contest was decided by then.

“If you look at in the cold light of day, if we can get goal chances against them — and everyone will tell us that we were poor — other better teams will create goal chances against them. If you are five or six yards out you have to be putting them away, and other teams will.” That last statement was in reference to Stefan Forker’s inability to find the right side of the net with a rebound from a Jamie Clarke shot and it was a failure symbolic of Armagh’s inability to do the simple things right.

“We were sloppy, our fist passing,” said McGeeney. “You expect a team to score seven or eight points against you in a half, but you have to score as well.”

Donegal were without Colm McFadden who had a virus, but Rory Gallagher expects the forward to be back training this week, while the hope is knocks that forced Eamonn McGee and Patrick McBrearty off will prove minor.

McBrearty was immense as the side’s one constant presence in the opposing half, his opening goal setting the tone and his ability to present himself as an outlet an invaluable cog in the tactical wheel.

“I know Patrick really well and I am just delighted,” said Gallagher. “He works so hard and it’s not just this year he has decided he is doing it. He loves playing football and I think that’s evident when you see him playing.”