Naive Longford undone by unconvincing Donegal

Declan Bonner's first day at the office as Donegal manager will best be remembered by him as an occasion when his new-look team…

Declan Bonner's first day at the office as Donegal manager will best be remembered by him as an occasion when his new-look team walked the tightrope without a safety net. The Church and General National Football League opener against a young an eager Longford could easily have gone the other way despite the profound naivety of the home side. Longford managed to lift the spirits of their success starved supporters crowd by recovering from a seven points interval deficit to draw level by the ninth minute of the second half. They remained in the match with prospects of a dramatic win, all the way to the final whistle. "Yes it's easier as a player," admitted Bonner afterwards, "but the reality is that we came here to get the two points and that's what we've done."

Bonner will reflect on the worrying statistic that only two points of his team's twelve were scored from play. Tony Boyle was not too pleased either despite landing five of those points with free kicks. "There's work to be done". he said.

Ironically it was poor finishing by Enda Barden, Longford's top scorer, that finally unhinged Longford's challenge. He opened the second half with two pathetic wides and finished the half with similarly flawed shooting. He reacted like lightning though when his second half penalty attempt was parried by Paul Callaghan for Longford's inspiring first goal, six minutes into the second half.

Donegal struggled at midfield and had to rely for stability on the back-up service notably laid on by half backs Martin McColl, the energetic Noel Hegarty and corner back Noel McGinley.

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There were flickers of warnings in the first half that Cathal Brennan and Jim McGuinness were not going to have a comfortable afternoon against David Hannify and Aidan Keogh.

Brian Murray replaced Brennan just after half time and McGuinness who in fairness was prepared to do a lot of work was moved to full forward. Hegarty moved into midfield and Tony Boyle was brought out to get more involved as the Longford threat developed.

The Longford defence suffered a set back when centre back Gerry Delaney was unable to resume for the second half after sustaining injury. Brian Roper, on the right wing, gave Longford's reshuffled half back cover most trouble with some sprightly runs but he too was responsible for some wayward shooting. Longford could have done without a disastrous start which saw them concede 1-2 without reply in the opening eight minutes. The goal, netted by John Duffy was a give-away.

However, the home side had the satisfaction of providing the discerning moments of the second half with two goals inside a three minute spell that visibly unsettled the favourites.

Full forward Niall Sheridan who later went close to getting an injury time winning goal was pulled down close in and referee Martin McBrien of Fermanagh had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick six minutes into the second half. Barden could have got more angle on his shot but when Callaghan blocked, the Longford player saw the parried effort to the net to leave four points between the sides. Temporary shortcomings in the Donegal defence were exposed when Pauric Farrell followed up, unmarked, for a point and the Sean Connolly's man moments later found the net. This left the sides on level terms only nine minutes into the second half and when John Duffy snatched a point off a free to restore Donegal's lead, the response by Longford was encouragingly prompt, Barden levelling again from play.

"I believe there is lots of talent in the county. This was our first time together for a competitive match. We made some basic mistakes but what we didn't do was to hang our heads in the second half after starting it seven points down (1-7 to 0-3)," said Longford's new manager Michael McCormack.