Rory Gallagher wants to develop strength in depth

Down 0-7 Donegal 3-15: Rory Gallagher wants Donegal’s established players to feel the heat from the next generation, and there were loads of positives for him to take from Saturday night’s emphatic league win in Newry.

The result and the performance was an encouraging for Donegal as it was embarrassing for Down, with a 17-point hammering on home ground a painful start to what will be a difficult Division One campaign.

While Michael Murphy’s dead ball striking provided Donegal with eight points, young Kilcar duo Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty fired in the second-half goals, two of which were set up by newcomer Ciaran Thompson.