Donegal back on track

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round One/Donegal 0-16 Wicklow 0-12: Wicklow came up short in the crucial areas of experience and physical stature as Donegal pressed home these same advantages on the close confines of the Aughrim pitch in an erratic first round senior football championship qualifier yesterday.

The lighter home side are best suited to the open spaces of Croke Park as they had already shown this year.

Brian McEniff, serving a one-match sideline ban, endured Wicklow's ability to create chances in some discomfort from the stand. He was impressed by Hugh Kenny's men, especially in the first half during which, and despite the midfield dominance of Niall Gallagher, Wicklow led as the game approached the half-time whistle.

"They (Wicklow) play well, battle hard and do what we could not manage to do for a lot of the time and this was to play for each other," said McEniff.

McEniff, who graciously accepts his unique sideline ban, said with a smile: "I was partly responsible for the introduction of the rule." He added: "It's good to be back on track and hopefully we can prove our true worth next time out."

Early on it was the excellent place kicking of Colm McFadden that helped to keep Donegal in touch at a time when the Wayne O'Gorman-spearheaded Wicklow attack more than seriously threatened the visitors in front of an estimated 7,000 crowd.

Wicklow moved with great fluency in that opening quarter to lead by 0-4 to 0-2. They looked the part at this stage.

The home side had made light work of their midfield problems due to Gallagher's dominance by the adventurous play of corner back Ciarán Hyland and wing back Brendan Ó hAnnaidh, both of whom got forward for points.

The Donegal defence came under huge pressure from Wicklow's slick attacking policy. But the home side's potential was drastically diluted with the enforced withdrawal of corner forward Paul Earls.

Donegal's maturity as a settled side was evident in the ability to keep their cool and play convincing catch-up football.

This was never more apparent than in the second quarter when thanks to snap points by Brian Roper, Christy Toye, Brendan Devenney and substitute Stephen McDermott, a late call-up for Niall McCready.

This run of accuracy saw Donegal transform a 0-2 to 0-4 deficit into a 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Excitement at both ends never really compensated for some erratic play. Wicklow became expert at misdirecting passes when goal chances beckoned.

Adding to the disruption of play was a poor performance by Galway referee Gearóid Ó Conámha.

The opposing goalkeepers, Wicklow's Robert Hollingsworth and Donegal's Michael Boyle, in turn pulled off good saves.

In fairness, though, when Brendan Devenney was called back after putting the ball into the Wicklow net, it was a good decision because Devenney had taken a step too much.

The opportunist Donegal corner forward accepted the decision, but claimed he was trying to hold off an illegal tackle.

Devenney was adjudged to have got lucky when awarded a second-half point that appeared to all and sundry to have gone wide.

Wayne O'Gorman exposed weaknesses in the Donegal defence and a goal chance was imminent, but the Wicklow striker misdirected his pass. This wayward pass summed up Wicklow's weaknesses which effectively ended their valiant attempts to nab a notable scalp.

Wicklow were still battling for glory with the score at 0-11 to 0-10 in favour of Donegal in the third quarter. At this stage, however, Donegal pulled away and Wicklow had cause to regret an inconsistent display.

Wicklow manager Hugh Kenny said: "The match proved once more that we are a developing side capable of competing with the best.

"I would not be surprised if Donegal go to the All-Ireland semi-finals at least."

Wicklow's young manager Kenny insisted that "his team have set a standard for themselves and will be seen as a very different Wicklow in the immediate seasons to come".

DONEGAL: M Boyle, E McGee, R Sweeney, S McDermott (0-2), D Diver (0-1, free), S Carr, K Lacey, B Monaghan, N Gallagher, C Toye (0-2), M Hegarty, B Roper (0-1), C McFadden (0-5, four frees), A Sweeney (0-1), B Devenney (0-4, two frees). Subs: R Kavanagh for Roper (53 mins); B Boyle for McDermott (57 mins); R Bradley for Toye (63 mins); C Molloy for A Sweeney (68 mins).

WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth, C Hyland (0-1), B Daly, T Burke, K Manning, W Callaghan, B O'hAnnaidh (0-1), D Dillon, J Stafford, D Smullen, L Glynn (0-1), T Harney (0-4), P Earls, W O'Gorman (0-4, one free), A Ellis. Subs: G Duffy for Dillon (25 mins); J Daniels (0-1) for Earls (40 mins); D O'Sullivan for Ellis (45 mins); C Davis for O'hAnnaidh (63 mins); G Doran for Smullen (68 mins).

Referee: G Ó Conámha (Galway).