Donegal ease through the gears to sail past Louth and seal last-eight spot

Donegal's Ciarán Thompson celebrates a goal. Pic: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho

All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final: Donegal 2-22 Louth 0-12 

Donegal eased through the gears on rally weekend to seal their place in the last-eight of the All-Ireland SFC.

Conor O’Donnell’s goal from a thundering Shaun Patton kick-out two minutes before the break against Louth gave Donegal a 1-6 to 0-7 lead at half-time.

And although Louth would’ve been content enough with their first half, Jim McGuinness’ hosts clicked in the second and Ciaran Thompson slammed home a second goal on 50 minutes.

In their seventh championship outing of the year so far, Michael Murphy was withdrawn a minute later with his return to Croke Park in mind.

The Ulster champions settled well and manufactured a lead of 0-5 to 0-1 by the 16th minute.

Peadar Mogan, Conor O’Donnell, a Michael Murphy free, Oisin Gallen and a fine Finnbarr Roarty point from distance did the damage, and all seemed routine enough. 

Louth’s only score in that first quarter came from Paul Matthews Ger Brennan’s Louth were well-structured and, as they blocked the channels for Donegal to run into, picked away at their disadvantage, with four successive points to level, with Ryan Burns personally responsible for three of those, while Craig Lennon was also on a mark.

At 0-5 to 0-5 amnd with Donegal looking jittery, Sam Mulroy had the chance to put Louth ahead, only to miss the free from in front of the terrace wide at the near side. 

And when Gallen restored Donegal’s lead with their first score in 16 minutes, Dara McDonnell soon equalised.

O’Donnell’s goal gave Donegal some breathing space, although Burns’ fourth of the half meant there was just the two in it at the changing of ends.

Although Mulroy took Louth back to just one down with a free, at 1-6 to 0-9, from the 41st minute on, Donegal outscored the Leinster winners 1-16 to 0-4.

Two-pointers from Murphy and then Michael Langan helped stretched the fap between the sides, as Gallen took his tally for the day up to five, with Daire Ó Baoill and Finnbarr Roarty ending up with two.

Scorers for Donegal: Oisin Gallen 0-5; Conor O’Donnell 1-2; Ciaran Thompson 1-0; Michael Langan 0-3, 1tp; Michael Murphy 0-3, 1tp 1f; Finnbarr Roarty, Daire Ó Baoill 0-2; Peadar Mogan, Shane O’Donnell, Niall O’Donnell, Caolan McColgan, Hugh McFadden 0-1.

Scorers for Louth: Ryan Burns 0-4; Sam Mulroy 0-3, 1f; Paul Matthews, Craig Lennon, Dara McDonnell, Peter Lynch, Ciaran Downey 0-1.

Donegal: Shaun Patton, Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Caolan McColgan; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Ciaran Moore, Ciarán Thompson, Shane O'Donnell; Conor O'Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisín Gallen. 

Subs: Hugh McFadden for McGee (half-time), Dare Ó Baoill for McHugh (49), Patrick McBrearty for Murphy (51), Niall O’Donnell and Odhrán McFadden Ferry for C O’Donnell and Gallagher (54).

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Daire Nally, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Emmet Carolan, Peter Craig, Craig Lennon; Tommy Durnin, Dara McDonnell; Conall McKeever, Ciaran Downey, Paul Matthews; Dan Corcoran, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns. 

Subs: Conor Grimes for Carolan (half-time), Seán Callaghan for Durnin (48), Ryan Walsh for Matthews (51), Kieran McArdle for Lennon (53), Ciaran Byrne for R Burns (56).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).