Donegal are two points and one man better off than Cavan at half-time in this evening’s Allianz League clash at Kingspan Breffni Park.
half-time: Cavan 0-4 Donegal 0-6
Donegal raced into a five-point lead and kept Cavan scoreless for the first 22 minutes, but Mattie McGleenan’s men will play the second half with just 14 men.
Despite having come back to within two points, midfielder Killian Clarke was sent off on 32 minutes for a wild and needless foul on Eoghan Ban Gallagher, while Dara McVeety will perhaps be counting his lucky stars that Conor Lane, the referee, chose not to show him a second yellow in added time at the end of the opening stanza.
Donegal were in dominant mode for most of the half and, despite kicking six wides and dropping two shots short, should be further in front.
Captain Michael Murphy struck the opening point of the evening from a fifth-minute free won by Ryan McHugh and another routine free from the Donegal skipper doubled the lead soon after.
A massive Ciaran Thompson point, as Cavan made a hash of the kick-out, continued Donegal’s early march and by the quarter-hour they were a handful to the good.
Eoin McHugh delightfully curled over before Murphy turned provider for Frank McGlynn, who neatly applied the finish.
By then, Donegal were well in control of things with Cavan struggling to punch holes in their armour.
It was just inside the 23rd minute before Seanie Johnston – after winning a free off Paddy McGrath – raised the Breffni’s first white flag of the evening at a stage when the home support were in a desperate search for something to cheer.
Cavan just weren’t at the races and a tame attempt by substitute Rory Dunne, popped into the arms of Mark Anthony McGinley in the 24th minute summed up their fruitless endeavours.
While Darach O’Connor came in for a first Donegal start in just over 29 months – his first since the 2014 All-Ireland final loss to Kerry – injury prevented Patrick McBrearty from taking part.
McBrearty had been named to start, but Hugh McFadden, instead, started for the visitors at the edge of the square with Eoin McHugh also coming in to take the place of Paul Brennan in the half-back line.
O’Connor is on his way back from a long lay-off and was off target with an effort on the half-hour before Johnston, again from a close-range free, reduced the arrears for the hosts.
Johnston’s three frees and a clever point by Conor Madden have Cavan within striking distance – but Donegal will be confident of seeing this one out.
