Allianz NFL Division 2 – Donegal 1-9 Tipperary 2-5

Donegal defeated Tipperary by 1-9 to 2-5 in Round 5 of the Allianz GAA National Football League on Saturday at Semple Stadium Thurles.

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Allianz National Football League Division 2 – Round 5

Donegal 1-9 Tipperary 2-5

By Cathal Ryan

Under lights on Saturday evening Semple Stadium provided the venue for a nail biting victory for Donegal over a gallant Tipperary in Division 2 of the Allianz National Football League. A mild breeze provided the only little obstruction to the otherwise perfect playing conditions provided for this round five encounter. In a tight and condensed game the early movement of star Donegal full forward Michael Murphy caused havoc in the Tipperary defence as he capitalised to score four points in the opening quarter of the game two coming from frees. Donegal appeared to have put the game to bed in the 48th minute when half time substitute Stephen Griffen found himself in behind the Tipperary full back line and through on goal. Griffen calmly rounded Paul Fitzgearld the Tipperary keeper before punting home right footed to an empty net.

This left the Premier County four points behind and finding scores hard to come by but after two more frees through Michael Murphy leaving Donegal six points clear the response of the home side was courageous. In the 56th minute Tipperary centre back Robbie Costigan punched home a fantastic pass from substitute John Cagney emphatically after making a lung bursting surge up the field to set up a tense and dramatic finale. This victory will secure Donegal’s position in Division 2 and have John Joe Doherty’s men looking upwards again in this ultra competitive division. John Evans will be very pleased with the never say die attitude shown in the final quarter as his side attempted in vain to collect a valuable point from this match.

It was Michael Murphy’s sharp movement and a clinical right footed effort that opened the scoring in the third minute of the game. Although Philip Austin claimed a point in the seventh minute to level the opening 20 minutes of this encounter belonged to the visitors as Murphy added three more and Colm McFadden tagged on another. The men in blue and gold then began to win the battle in the heavily congested middle third of the field and gained a tremendous boost when in the 21st minute Stephen Hahessy’s 45 just fell short and deceived Paul Durcan the Donegal keeper who let it slip between his finger tips and into the net. Tipperary however kicked a number of wides between this moment and the break and went in at half time trailing on a score of 0-6 to 1-1.

Murphy pointed another free for Donegal just two minutes into the second half to extend their lead but again Tipp responded through points from Robbie Costigan and Brian Coen. Just moments later Griffen landed the Donegal goal but again the Premier response was positive and after Costigan’s flying fist to the net Barry Grogan pointed a free in the 58th minute. As the time faded away Donegal dropped deeper and deeper conceding ground and the lion’s share of possession. Grogan popped over another free right as the clock hit the 70 minute mark but try as they might Tipperary never received another chance to level the game.

Teams:

Donegal: Paul Durcan; Shane Boyle, Neil McGee, Karl Lacey; Michael Maguire, Anthony Thompson, Kevin Cassidy; Neil Gallagher, Brendan Boyle; David Walsh, Conall Dunne, Barry Dunnion; Colm McFadden (0-2, 1F), Michael Murphy (0-7, 5F), Adrian Hanlon. Subs: Frank McGlynn for M. Maguire (h/t), Stephen Griffen (1-0) for A. Hanlon (h/t), Owen Wade for B. Boyle (43), Leo McLoone for B. Dunnion (63).

Tipperary: Paul Fitzgerald; Ciaran McDonald, Niall Curran, Paddy Codd; Christopher Aylward, Robbie Costigan(1-1), Ciaran McGrath; George Hannigan, Hugh Coghlan; Peter Acheson, Philip Austin (0-1), Brian Mulvihill; Stephen Hahessy (1-0), Brian Coen (0-1), Barry Grogan (0-2, 2F). Subs: Sean Carey for B. Mulvihill (h/t), John Cagney for S. Hahessy (48), Ryan O Dwyer for P. Austin (62), Derek Bourke for C. McGrath (63), Alan Rockett for H. Coghlan (65).

Referee: Michael Collins (Cork)

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Donegal lucky to escape Semple Stadium with the points

From the Donegal Democrat newspaper

Allianz NFL, Division Two – Tipperary 2-5 Donegal 1-9

Published Date: 23 March 2010

Donegal nervously held on to defeat Tipperary at Semple Stadium on Saturday night to obtain two valuable league points. It means that John Joe Doherty’s team are almost guaranteed their safety in the second flight, and with home games to come against Meath and Armagh, both of whom also have six points, still might harbour hopes of promotion. Before an attendance of less than 450 paying spectators, Donegal had to endure almost five minutes of added time with Tipperary pushing for an equaliser before finally the ball went out of play and Michael Collins blew the final whistle, must to the relief of the small band of Donegal supporters who had make the long trek south.

Donegal were the dominant side in the opening quarter with Michael Murphy really on fire. The Glenswilly had the first score on three minutes but it only came after Paul Durcan had made a great stop from Barry Grogan at the other end.

Tipperary got back on terms through Philip Austin but Donegal forged into a good lead with three points from Murphy from the eighth to 13th minutes, two of which were frees, while Colm McFadden added another to push Donegal 0-5 to 0-1 up with 20 minutes gone. But they were then hit with a sucker punch when Tipperary got a very soft goal from a ’45’, Stephen Hahessy’s effort misjudged by Durcan and it ended up in the net. The goal certainly got Tipperary into the game and they had their best period in the next 10 minutes but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard with the Four Masters goalkeeper making amends, denying Hahessy a point from a free. A minute into added time Colm McFadden landed a long distance free to get Donegal’s first score in some sixteen minutes to send them to the dressing rooms ahead by 0-6 to 1-1.

Barry Grogan was side from a free early in the second half while Murphy stretched the Donegal lead with a free, but Tipperary came storming back with points from centre-back Robbie Costigan and Brian Coen. John Joe Doherty sent in Eoin Waide and moved Kevin Cassidy to midfield and the changes had an effect as Neil Gallagher made a great catch and found Murphy who combined with McFadden and Stephen Griffin was on the end of a great move to fire to the net and a four points lead. Murphy added two more frees, the second after a foul on David Walsh, to stretch the lead further, but Tipperary again hit back once more. An effort from a point by John Cagney dropped short and Costigan got forward again from the back to fist to the Donegal net and Barry Grogan added a free to reduce the margin to two points with 11 minutes left. It got even more nervous for the visitors when Grogan added another point from a free on the stroke of time and they then had to endure almost five minutes of added time before finally getting the result, which will ease their relegation worries. They can again thank Murphy, who was really the difference between the sides. His seven points were very important, but there must also be worries that – the goal apart – the Glenswilly man and McFadden are carrying the burden of the Donegal scores with none of the starting half-forward line getting on the scoreboard once again.

Scorers – Tipperary: Robbie Costigan 1-1; Stephen Hahessy 1-0, ’45’; Barry Grogan 0-2,2f; Philip Austin, Brian Coen 0-1 each.

Donegal: M Murphy 0-7,5f; Stephen Griffin 1-0; Colm McFadden 0-2,1f.

Tipperary: P Fitzgerald; C McDonald, N Curran, P Codd; C Aylward, R Costigan, C McGrath; G Hannigan, H Coghlan; P Acheson, P Austin, B Mulvihill; S Hahessy, B Coen, B Grogan.

Subs: S Carey for Mulvihill ht; J Cagney for Hahessy 43; R O’Dwyer for Acheson; D Burke for McGrath, both 63; A Rockett for Coghlan 65

Donegal: P Durcan; S Boyle, N McGee, K Lacey; M Maguire, A Thompson, K Cassidy; N Gallagher, B Boyle; D Walsh, C Dunne, B Dunnion; C McFadden, M Murphy, A Hanlon. Subs., F McGlynn for Maguire; S Griffin for Hanlon, both ht; O Waide for Boyle 39; L McLoone for Dunnion 64

Referee: M Collins (Cork)

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Murphy leads the way for Donegal

From the Irish Times web site

Donegal 1- 9 Tipperary 2-5

MICHAEL MURPHY kicked seven points to keep Donegal in the hunt for promotion with a slender win over Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday evening. Donegal were on top in the first half. Murphy had four points in 13 minutes to settle them as they went 0-5 to 0-1 clear. Struggling Tipperary were gifted a goal in the 21st minute when Stephen Hahessy’s 45 was misjudged by Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan and ended in the net. Still the Ulstermen went on to lead 0-6 to 1-1 at the break.

Tipperary restarted well and cut the lead to a point but in the 48th minute, Stephen Griffin, with his first touch of the ball, shot a Donegal goal, after good work by Colm McFadden. Two further Murphy points had Donegal coasting but Tipperary rallied with a Robbie Costigan goal in the 56th minute. They piled on the pressure with two further points from Barry Grogan frees, but time was against them and Donegal held out for a valuable brace of points. Murphy’s accuracy was the key to Donegal’s win. Five of his seven points were from frees, but he also led the attack well. Midfielder Neil Gallagher was also outstanding.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; S Boyle, N McGee, K Lacey; M Maguire, A Thompson, K Cassidy; N Gallagher, B Boyle; D Walsh, C Dunne, B Dunnion; C McFadden (0-2), M Murphy (0-7), A Hanlon. Subs: F McGlynn for Maguire, S Griffin (1-0) for Hanlon, O Wade for Boyle, L McLoone for Dunnion.

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; C McDonald, N Curran, P Codd; C Aylward, R Costigan(1-1), C McGrath; G Hannigan, H Coghlan; P Acheson, P Austin (0-1), B Mulvihill; S Hahessy (1-0), C Coen (0-1), B Grogan (0-2). Subs: S Carey for Mulvihill. J Cagney for Hahessy, D Burke for McGrath, R O Dwyer for Austin, A Rockett for Coghlan.

Referee: M Collins (Cork)

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Murphy leads the way for Donegal

From the Irish Times newspaper

Donegal 1- 9 Tipperary 2-5

MICHAEL MURPHY kicked seven points to keep Donegal in the hunt for promotion with a slender win over Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday evening. Donegal were on top in the first half. Murphy had four points in 13 minutes to settle them as they went 0-5 to 0-1 clear. Struggling Tipperary were gifted a goal in the 21st minute when Stephen Hahessy’s 45 was misjudged by Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan and ended in the net. Still the Ulstermen went on to lead 0-6 to 1-1 at the break.

Tipperary restarted well and cut the lead to a point but in the 48th minute, Stephen Griffin, with his first touch of the ball, shot a Donegal goal, after good work by Colm McFadden. Two further Murphy points had Donegal coasting but Tipperary rallied with a Robbie Costigan goal in the 56th minute. They piled on the pressure with two further points from Barry Grogan frees, but time was against them and Donegal held out for a valuable brace of points. Murphy’s accuracy was the key to Donegal’s win. Five of his seven points were from frees, but he also led the attack well. Midfielder Neil Gallagher was also outstanding.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; S Boyle, N McGee, K Lacey; M Maguire, A Thompson, K Cassidy; N Gallagher, B Boyle; D Walsh, C Dunne, B Dunnion; C McFadden (0-2), M Murphy (0-7), A Hanlon. Subs: F McGlynn for Maguire, S Griffin (1-0) for Hanlon, O Wade for Boyle, L McLoone for Dunnion.

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; C McDonald, N Curran, P Codd; C Aylward, R Costigan(1-1), C McGrath; G Hannigan, H Coghlan; P Acheson, P Austin (0-1), B Mulvihill; S Hahessy (1-0), C Coen (0-1), B Grogan (0-2). Subs: S Carey for Mulvihill. J Cagney for Hahessy, D Burke for McGrath, R O Dwyer for Austin, A Rockett for Coghlan.

Referee: M Collins (Cork)