Group 3’s Round 3 of the All-Ireland championship witnessed a rousing performance by Donegal, only two points short of their all-time record, as they steamrolled Clare with a score of 2-23 to 0-5. As the rain receded from the far-off mountains, Donegal’s dominance became evident in MacHale Park.
Donegal’s victory didn’t come unaided, with crucial goals from Ryan McHugh and Oisín Gallen, rendering Clare’s defence ineffective. Bypassing any preliminary matches, Donegal will proceed directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, courtesy of Tyrone’s victory over Cork that pushed Jim McGuinness’s team forward.
By half-time in Castlebar, Donegal had already secured a healthy lead of 13 points (1-11 to 0-1), with McHugh delivering the first blow within the initial five minutes against Clare’s keeper, Tristan O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan’s handful of a day was evident from the get-go.
Despite Emmet McMahon landing the opening score of the game, the 5,137-strong audience was hardly taken aback by what ensued. Donegal shifted gear; Gallen set McHugh up, who sealed the deal. McHugh, like Donegal, has experienced a rise in his game since rejoining the squad this year, and his goal set the pace.
A repeat of this scenario unfolded in the second half when Gallen outmanoeuvered O’Callaghan to secure another goal for the Ulster champs.
A defeat in Cork a fortnight ago might have taken control of their fate out of Donegal’s hands, but they maintained their form without a hitch. Conor O’Donnell, the much-acclaimed young player from Carndonagh, after a year-long hiatus, contributed two points in the second half, joining the tally of 11 Donegal scorers.
In the Donegal team, S. Patton, M. Curran (0-1), B. McCole, E. Gallagher, R. McHugh (1-4), C. McGonagle, P. Mogan (0-1), C. Moore (0-1), M. Langan (0-1), S. O’Donnell (0-1), C. Thompson (0-2), and O. Doherty were lined up. P. McBrearty (0-5), O. Gallen (1-4, 0-2 45), and N. O’Donnell were up front. Substitutions included C. O’Donnell (0-2) for Curran, D. O Baoill (0-1) replacing Doherty; S. McMenamin was switched for Gallagher upon 42 minutes; Langan was replaced by H. McFadden at 50 minutes, and K. McGettigan was brought on for Mogan at 57 minutes.
In the Clare team, T. O’Callaghan, M. Doherty, C. Brennan, R. Lanigan, A. Sweeney, C. Rouine, I. Ugweru, B. McNamara, and M. Garry were positioned. D. Walsh, D. Coughlan, and G. Murray were in the middle while C. Downes, A. Griffin, and E. McMahon (0-4, 0-3f) were the forwards. The substitutions on this side included D. O’Donnell (0-1, f) for Downes; Murray was switched for D. Nagle at 41 minutes, J. Curran replaced Walsh at the 49-minute mark, A. Griffin was replaced by S. Griffin at 54 minutes and C. Burke came on for Ugweru at 65 minutes.
The game was refereed by D. O’Mahoney from Tipperary.