Donegal work hard for win over Meath

Meath 0-09 Donegal 0-15

Donegal recorded their second win in Division 2 with a workmanlike display against Meath in Navan.

They were 0-07 to 0-04 to the good at half-time, with Ryan Bradley accounting for three points. Brian Meade was on target twice for Meath who struggled to use the wind to their advantage.

Mark McHugh, Rory Kavanagh and the excellent Michael Murphy gave Donegal’s lead some added cushion, and the Royals’ woes were compounded by a straight red card for Terry Skelly.

The result maintains Donegal's unbeaten run in this season's Allianz Football League, while Seamus McEnaney's Meath side have slid to sixth in the table.

Murphy and Kavanagh got the Tir Chonaill men up and running with early points. Meath, who had the wind at their backs, responded through Shane O'Rourke and Meade.

But the visitors looked disjointed and coughed up a number of balls, allowing Donegal to forage into a 0-07 to 0-02 lead coming up to the half hour mark.

Bradley launched over a trio of scores, two off his left boot and one with his right, and Dermot Molloy and Colm McFadden (free) also chipped in with scores.

Meath rallied late in the half with points from Meade and Brian Sheridan (free), closing the gap to three for the break.

By the eighth minute of the second half, Donegal's advantage was out to 0-10 to 0-04. McHugh, Kavanagh and Murphy kept Jim McGuinness' outfit on a firm footing.

Kavanagh might have plundered the game's first goal, having been put through by a clever pass from wing back Anthony Thompson. But he opted to take his point instead.

Frees from Sheridan and substitute Brian Farrell kept Meath competitive. However, they needed a goal to provide a jolt and the Donegal defence was giving very little away.

Young forward Murphy added a brilliant fifth point of the afternoon before Skelly received his marching orders for a wild challenge on David Walsh.