Donegal beat Antrim in opener

Ulster Senior Football Championship First Round:
Donegal 1-10 Antrim 0-7

Donegal will meet Cavan in the quarter-finals of the Ulster GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship after they overcame Antrim at Mac Cumhail Park in Ballybofey on Sunday afternoon.

Always leading, Donegal lived up to their status as favourites going into the game, but they will know that improvement is needed if they are to progress further in the provincial Championship.

The first half will not be remembered as a classic, the fairest thing that could be said about it being that it took a while to settle. While Colm McFadden got Donegal off the mark in the second minute, it would be 19 before they would score again, but against that Antrim struggled too.

Kevin Niblock equalised in the 10th minute for the visitors, who were forced to start without Kevin McGourty as he was replaced by Brendan Herron, but while Donegal looked the better side, possession was being lost sloppily on both sides and bad wides were being kicked.

Good, disciplined defending from Antrim was ensuring that Donegal forwards were being hassled and harried at every opportunity, and while Ryan Bradley did put them back in front on 21, Paddy Cunningham equalised a minute later.

Slowly, however, Donegal began to get on top and three in a row from them, courtesy of Adrian Hanlon, Michael Murphy and Martin McElhinney, gave them something of a cushion, though Antrim’s Conor Murray did have a goal chance in the midst of that burst.

With Murphy now operating in a deeper role, similar to that which he performed so well against Laois in the Allianz Football League Division 2 final, the hosts were cruising. While Cunningham did pull one back for Antrim, Dermot Molloy’s point shortly before half-time ensured that Donegal led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

Antrim’s Tomás McCann did cut the lead to just two points within a minute of the start of the second half, but hope was fleeting for them, as Donegal increased their horsepower and began to pull away.

Another from McFadden, allied to efforts from Mark McHugh and Murphy’s second, left them 0-9 to 0-4 in front, but the earlier malaise was still afflicting them as chances to put the game fully beyond their opponents were wasted.

Murphy then added another but points by Mark Dougan and McCann (a free) meant Antrim were still in contention in the final 10 minutes but a goal chance was not forthcoming and their hopes suffered a blow as Dougan was red-carded for an elbow on Karl Lacey.

In injury time, Mark McHugh – who had been operating as a sweeper in the latter stages of the second half for Donegal – put a gloss on the scoreline as he raced through for a goal after a Kevin Rafferty pass.