Dara Ó Cinneide: Lamenting artists Michael Murphy and Conor McManus go artisan to survive

One of the most impressive passages of attacking play so far this year came in Round 3 of this year’s Allianz National Football League in Ballybofey in February.

On a day when Ódhrán Mac Niallais and Ryan McHugh scored a couple of points of the kind that are fast becoming their stock in trade, Leo McLoone’s goal in the 57th minute for Donegal against Mayo was a flashback to what Donegal used to be about a few years back and a hint of what they might yet become this summer under Rory Gallagher. Having dispossessed Donal Vaughan, a battalion of Donegal players attacked Mayo’s central column giving options both left and right to the man in possession before McLoone applied the deft touch to finish the move.

We may yet have to review McLoone’s goal in light of Mayo’s ineptitude last Saturday, but it was a striking passage of play nonetheless.