Donegal dispense of Longford challenge

Donegal 1-17 Longford 1-11

Donegal resurrected their All-Ireland challenge with a Qualifers win over Longford at Ballybofey, but serious questions remain over their championship credentials.

Thrills aplenty, superb scores, and delightful flowing football from both sides, but this was a game sadly lacking in the passion and fervour so essential to championship football.

That said, Donegal manager Brian McEniff will have been delighted to see his side emerge from the state of lethargy by which they were gripped at Brewster Park a week ago.

Brian Roper's vision created a textbook goal in the fourth minute, his superb ball over the top sending Stephen McDermott through to smash to the net from close range.

But the Leinster men were unruffled, and took the game fearlessly to their opponents.

They responded with three wonderful points from midfielder Liam Keenan, three from elusive corner man Padraic Davis and brilliant effort from Paul Barden, whose strong running was a constant source of torment to the Donegal defence.

But a fast, free-flowing game also favoured the Tir Chonaill attackers, with Adrian Sweeney swinging over three gems, and Michael Hegarty twice in target.

It was Longford, however, who looked the more potent force, and but for some excellent defending from Niall McCreadie and Noel McGinley, they could have eased ahead.

Goalkeeper Tony Blake had to be at his brilliant best to keep out a Barden screamer, and Donegal survived, not for the first time, to sneak back into the lead, 1-6 to 0-8 at the break, after the sides had been level five times in the first half.

Longford were able to cut through a porous Donegal defence almost at will, first Barden smashing a shot against a post, before Trevor Smullen brought another stunning save from the inspired Blake.

Crucially, However, Donegal were able to take their scores, Sweeney twice on target again, before Colm McFadden converted three frees.

But they were rocked in the 56th minute when Longford's burly full forward sent a rocket to the net to narrow the gap to two points.

Donegal duly recovered, their survival assured by Sweeney's deadly finishing.

Donegal: T Blake, N McCready, N McGinley, D Diver, R Sweeney, S Carr, B Monaghan, J Gildea, S McDermott (1-1), K Rafferty, M Hegarty (0-2, 1f), J Haran, C McFadden (0-4, 1f), A Sweeney (0-7, 1f), B Roper (0-2).

Subs: J McGuinness for Haran, J McCaffrey (0-1,f) for Hegarty, C Toye for Rafferty

Longford: G Tonra, D Brady, J Kenny, F Coyle, M Mulleady, E Ledwith, A O'Connor, J O'Callaghan, L Keenan (0-4), T Smullen (0-1), P Barden (0-1), M Lennon, J Martin, N Sheridan (1-0), P Davis (0-5, 3f).

Subs: P Shanley for Lennon, Lennon for O'Callaghan, C Hannify for Martin, M Kelly for Shanley

Referee: D Joyce (Galway)

Yellow cards:

Donegal: None

Longford: D Brady, L Keenan, M Lennon

Red cards: None

Wides: Donegal 9, Longford 3

Attendance: 3,500

Man of the match: Tony Blake (Donegal)