Donegal v St Mary’s College: Five talking points

DONEGAL suffered their first defeat of 2016 on Sunday when St Mary’s stunned them with a late flurry at O’Donnell Park.

Donegal appeared set for a win, until Ryan Johnstone, the St Mary’s substitute, turned the tables with a cracking goal to set up the students for a 2-6 to 0-8 win.

1.Mac Niallais best placed in a middle role

ODHRÁN Mac Niallais left Letterkenny with the Man of the Match award on Sunday after posting six points.

There are times when the languid Gaoth Dobhair man can feel like a luxury, but on the days like Sunday his class is apparent.

Of Mac Niallais’ six points some were pulled from the top drawer, not least that one in the first half when, from a position not far in from the stand-side touchline, he beautifully arched the left boot around the ball and sailed it between the sticks.

He has been positioned at the edge of the square as Rory Gallagher experiments and with his physique and prowess he could do a job there.

However, a lethal eye for a score, and the ability to take a point from distance, not to mention his fielding ability, mean he’s better suited around the middle third.

2. McMenamin carves himself as one to watch

DECLAN Bonner described Stephen McMenamin as a ‘natural-born leader’ last year after installing the Red Hughs defender as the vice-captain of the Donegal minors.

When Donegal lost the 2015 Ulster minor semi-final against Derry in Clones, McMenamin took the fight to the Oak Leaf in the second half and was Donegal’s best player on the day.

Picture caption: Stephen McMenamin made his Donegal debut on Sunday. Picture by Geraldine Diver.

Comfortable anywhere in defence, the Killygordan man made a solid senior inter-county debut on Sunday. Thrown in at corner-back, the rugged McMenamin could be content with his lot.

“Stephen did well,” Donegal manager Rory Gallagher said.

“He battled well and he doesn’t have an awful lot of training under his belt because he was out for eight weeks.”

Since the 1990s, when Donal Reid, Ollie Reid, Marty Carlin and Gerard Kelly all represented Donegal at senior level. McMenamin is the first since.

3. Defensive shield causes Donegal some problems

DONEGAL have struggled when faced with their own mirror image – and the same was true on Sunday when St Mary’s lined up with a wedged rear-guard.

It was low-scoring, although Donegal will have felt that they should have racked up a few more scores. Odhrán Mac Niallais saw two goal chances blocked and the home side kicked six early wides in the second half.

‘The Ranch’ men, under the renowned Paddy Tally, had a strong shield for long periods. “St Mary’s put a lot of men behind the ball and we struggled with that, but it’s a good learning curve for our younger lads,” Rory Gallagher noted afterwards.

While Donegal have had issues getting around packed defences from the likes of Monaghan and Armagh in recent years, it would be too early this year to make a judgement on Sunday. As Gallagher said: “We haven’t even looked at that yet with the new squad – that will come down the line.”

4. No Letterkenny luck for Donegal

WHILE Donegal have built up a formidable record in Ballybofey since 2011, they remain out of luck when it comes to games at O’Donnell Park.

Since senior inter-county football returned to the Letterkenny venue in 2007, Donegal have won just twice in 11 attempts.

They overcame Kerry in 2007 in the first senior county game hosted by the St Eunan’s club since 1977. It was a day when Brendan Devenney sparkled against the Kingdom.

Only one further win has been recorded since then, though – against Monaghan in the 2014 League.

Donegal have lost League games against Derry, Armagh, Laois and Monaghan while they’ve drawn with Mayo and Kildare in the League and have now tasted defeat to UUJ, Tyrone and St Mary’s in the Dr McKenna Cup.

5. Qualifying still possible – but have the calculator ready!

RORY Gallagher has spoken about the importance of getting out of the group to give his young players the most exposure possible at senior level ahead of the Allianz League – when chances to experiment will be at a minimum.

Qualifying is still possible, although defeat here certainly makes it a little harder – and a lot more complicated.

Donegal will have to defeat Fermanagh by a margin of five points or greater to stand a chance of advancing to the next round. They’ll also hope that St Mary’s don’t defeat Down by any more than a point.

With Derry almost certain of being the team to take the best runners-up spot, Donegal would have to win the group to go through.

Given that score difference is set to decide the order of placing, the calculator should be at the ready in Brewster Park.