All-Ireland SFC: Donegal cruise to victory

All-Ireland SFC Semi-Final

Donegal 3-26 (3-1-24) Meath 0-15 (0-2-11)

This was a dynamic display from Donegal. Jim McGuinness' charges will now face Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC in a fortnight. What a match that promises to be at GAA headquarters.

Goals from Oisín Gallen, Ciarán Moore, and Conor O'Donnell decorated a brilliant performance from Donegal, who dominated after the restart.

Meath weren't sufficiently clinical initially as they only managed to register two from seven two point efforts and Donegal took complete control in the second period.

Donegal departed 0-13 to 0-8 ahead at the turnaround. When the action recommenced Donegal were very much in the ascendancy as Meath struggled.

At the outset, Donegal were very slick converting chances as they landed seven points from six shots in the first quarter.

Unsurprisingly, Michael Murphy was an influential figure in that spell, while Michael Langan and Hugh McFadden were both key figures.

Meath's cause was hindered by Bryan Menton's unfortunate injury enforced departure as Donegal were securing plenty of possession.

Donegal were 0-7 to 0-6 ahead following a 15th minute Keith Curtis point, but then Meath endured a significant spell without registering a score.

While Meath endured that 17 minute barren run, Donegal reeled off four without reply courtesy of Langan, Murphy, Oisín Gallen, and Ciarán Thompson.

Curtis narrowed the deficit, but Donegal were denied goals from Conor O'Donnell and Hugh McFadden attempts by blocks from Donal Keogan and Billy Hogan.

Jordan Morris rifled over a sweet point for Meath, trimming the deficit to three, but Gallen and Murphy supplied points ensuring Donegal led by five at the break.

Meath struck two of the first three scores in the third quarter, but Donegal then pounced for a 42nd minute goal. Gallen netted following sharp work by Caolan McColgan.

Seven minutes later the splendid Moore added a second major as Donegal moved 2-16 to 0-11 clear. Goalkeeper Shaun Patton slotted a 45 before Conor Duke and Eoghan Frayne briefly interrupted with Meath points.

McGuinness' team simply responded with an unanswered 1-6, including a 58th minute Conor O'Donnell goal. Donegal substitutes Paddy McBrearty and Daire Ó Baoill contributed scores in the closing stages as Donegal closed the deal with the minimum of fuss.

Scorers for Donegal: Conor O'Donnell 1-3, Michael Murphy 0-6 (1 2ptf, 1f), Oisín Gallen 1-2, Ciarán Moore 1-1, Michael Langan 0-4, Paddy McBrearty 0-3, Ciarán Thompson 0-2, Ryan McHugh, Peadar Mogan, Daire Ó Baoill, Shane O'Donnell, and Shaun Patton (45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: Eoghan Frayne 0-5 (1 2pt, 1f), Keith Curtis and Ruairi Kinsella (1 2pt) 0-3 each, Jordan Morris, Conor Duke, Seán Rafferty, and Mathew Costello (f) 0-1 each.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McColgan; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Ciaran Moore; Conor O'Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.

Subs: Paddy McBrearty for Murphy (45), Jason McGee for McFadden (50), Caolan McGonagle for McColgan (52), Daire Ó Baoill for McHugh (55), Odhran McFadden-Ferry for Mogan (58).

Meath: Billy Hogan; Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Ronan Ryan; Donal Keogan, Sean Coffey, Ciaran Caulfield; Bryan Menton, Adam O'Neill; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, Keith Curtis; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Eoghan Frayne.

Subs: Conor Gray for Menton (20), Eoin Harkin for O'Neill (46), James McEntee for Lavin (50), Brian O'Halloran for Curtis (57), Shane Walsh for Kinsella (62).

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down).