Allianz Football League Division 1

DONEGAL 1-16 CAVAN 0-11

By Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni Park

Donegal cruised to an easy win over a poor Cavan side at Kingspan Breffni Park as they picked up their second win of the current campaign.

Rory Gallagher’s men were better in every department and bar a sticky period just before the break, they were highly impressive throughout.

In the process they also extended Cavan’s dreadful home record – the Blues have now lost nine of their last 15 matches in league and championship, going back to July 2014, at the Cavan Town venue.

In the first dozen minutes or so, it looked like a case of men against boys. Donegal were dominant on both their own and Cavan’s kick-out and were able to break the ‘gain line’ with alarming ease.

Cavan, despite siting Michael Argue, Gearoid McKiernan and Seanie Johnston close to goal, never looked like punching holes in the visitors’ miserly rearguard for the first quarter.

Donegal, who could afford to kick six first-half wides, eased into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead with a pair of Michael Murphy frees and they extended that lead with a superb 45-metre point from Ciaran Thompson.

Further scores from Darach O’Connor and Frank McGlynn made it 0-5 to 0-0 after 13 minutes and it was another nine minutes before Cavan opened their account through a Seanie Johnston free.

Hugh McFadden replied for Donegal but Cavan were finally starting to grow into the contest and they suddenly began to string some moves together. Their best spell followed, with Johnston tacking on another free and newcomer Conor Madden firing over a beauty from the right wing.

And then, disaster struck for the hosts when a late shoulder from Killian Clarke on Eoghan Ban Gallagher saw the Breffni captain dismissed on a straight red card.

A melee broke out and when play resumed, Cavan were playing with 15 men back in their defence for the final minutes of the half, doing well soak up Donegal pressure and nick a point from McKiernan (free) to go in just two down after a half in which they were out-played for the most part.

Donegal made the numerical advantage immediately on the restart, McFadden pointing and then, within two minutes, Eoin McHugh, on the overlap, planting a terrific finish to the roof of the Cavan net to put six between them for the first time.

To their credit, Cavan knuckled down and pulled back an excellent point from Gearoid McKiernan and another from Ciaran Brady – either side of a well-taken Jamie Brennan effort – but when sub Cian Mackey missed a 20-metre free, their chance seemed to be gone.

That feeling was heightened when Donegal went up the other end and landed a well-struck free from Thompson moments later and then the lively Brennan sent over his second from play.

Man of the Match Thompson then added two sweet strikes from identical positions on the left wing as Donegal coasted home.

Cavan kicked two long-range points from Dara McVeety and Madden but never looked remotely like troubling the visitors and found themselves down to 13 men when Cian Mackey was black-carded as manager Mattie McGleenan had already used six substitutes.

Thompson and McVeety – who ended the contest as a makeshift corner-forward, showing well in the new role – traded scores, as did Brennan and McKiernan in junk time, as the clock ticked down and Donegal free-wheeled home.

Scorers for Cavan: Sean Johnston 0-3f, Gearoid McKiernan 0-3 (1f), Dara McVeety 0-2, Conor Madden 0-2, Ciaran Brady 0-1

Scorers for Donegal: C Thompson 0-5 (1f), Eoin McHugh 1-1, Jamie Brennan 0-3, Hugh McFadden 0-2, Michael Murphy 0-2f, Frank McGlynn 0-1, Ryan McHugh 0-1, Darach O’Connor 0-1

Cavan: Ray Galligan, Fergal Reilly, Padraig Faulkner, Killian Brady, Martin Reilly, Ciaran Brady, Gerry Smith, Killian Clarke, Tomás Corr, Michael Argue, Dara McVeety, Conor Madden, Niall Clerkin, Gearoid McKiernan, Sean Johnston

Subs: Rory Dunne for Corr (15 mins), Niall Murray for K Brady (h/t), Stephen Murray for Argue (h/t), Cian Mackey for Johnston (45 mins), Joe Dillon for F Reilly (55 mins), John McCutcheon for C Brady (58 mins)

Donegal: Mark Anthony McGinley, Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Caolán Ward, Frank McGlynn, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Ciaran Thompson, Micheál Carroll, Martin O’Reilly, Ryan McHugh, Hugh McFadden, Michael Murphy, Darach O’Connor

Subs: Jamie Brennan for O’Connor (h/t), Daniel McLoughlin for Carroll (47 mins), Michael Langan for J McGee (50 mins), Eamonn Doherty for McFadden (54 mins), Mark McHugh for E McHugh (65 mins), Paul Brennan for Gallagher

Ref: Conor Lane (Cork)