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Rory Gallagher: ‘We showed a lack of cohesion, energy and discipline’

written by Chris McNulty June 18, 2017
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IT’S EIGHT YEARS since Donegal last found themselves in second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers but that’s exactly where they’re at again.

Back then, John Joe Doherty’s side had lost to Antrim in Ulster and their second qualifer round 0-13 to 1-7 defeat of Clare helped produce something of a springboard effect which was complimented by victories over Derry and Galway before a 1-27 to 2-10 hammering against Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Donegal manager Rory Gallagher before this afternoon’s Ulster SFC semi final against Tyrone. Photo Evan Logan

Rory Gallagher is well enough versed in football but would prefer to look forward now instead of back. However, the Donegal manager did admit in the aftermath of Donegal’s 1-21 to 1-12 defeat against Tyrone in yesterday’s Ulster semi-final that the back door wasn’t something he looked into. For the record, Donegal an play Laois, Sligo, Derry or Longford in round 2A, most probably on Saturday, July 1.

Gallagher said: “Whatever it is, it is – we hadn’t contemplated it.”

Tyrone were considered favourites yesterday in Clones but when it was 0-5 to 0-5 after 25 minutes nobody was overly surprised with the proximity of things when all the recent meetings considered.

However, Tyrone spun off seven points in a row to go in 0-12 to 0-5 up at half-time and then Tiernan McCann’s goal effectively killed the contest as early as the 37th minute.

“We know what we’re about it, but we felt we would be better today,” Gallagher added. “That doesn’t disguise that today was a very disappointing display and we’ll not hide away from that. We’ll have to face up to truths a bit.
“We showed a lack of cohesion, we showed a lack of energy and discipline, and following through on what we were asked to do. We’ve got to learn from that that. Whatever it is, we’ll get our heads around it. We have no choice now. We’ve got to face up and look ourselves in the mirror and know where we are at.”
“We felt we had a really good chance coming here today if we played to our maximum, but we didn’t play anywhere close to our maximum, so that gave us no chance.
“In order for us to beat Tyrone, we needed to be near our absolute best. We produced some very good displays in the league, but we got a real harsh lesson today that there’s a big step up between league and championship. Ultimately we didn’t perform. Tyrone were very good, but we didn’t perform.”

With the scores at 0-4 to 0-4, Eoin McHugh passed up on a great goal chance when he blasted wide in a one-on-one with Niall Morgan.

Gallagher added: “If you got a goal at that stage, even having played quite poorly coming up to half-time it would have meant a reasonable gap, but Tyrone will feel that they should have has a goal as well. Over all we can’t afford to defend like that. We sat off Tyrone players coming through and we just allowed them to dictate.”

Whatever about McHugh’s miss, Tyrone might’ve had a hatful of goals with McCann on the mark, Peter Harte going close, Padraig Hampsey shooting over and Sean Cavanagh and Rory Brennan drawing good saves from Mark Anthony McKinley, while Ryan McHugh also blocked on the line from Darren McCurry. Tyrone’s abilities to turnover created the majority of their chances.

“A lot it we kept the ball away at their end of the field and rather than break tackle and keep the ball, we gave it away rather carelessly,” Gallagher added.

“It wasn’t a good position to be; there was a bit of a slight breeze and we had it but  again our defending was very poor for Tiernan McCann’s goal. The game petered out after that. We showed a lack of fight as well which was disappointing”

Rory Gallagher: ‘We showed a lack of cohesion, energy and discipline’ was last modified: June 18th, 2017 by Chris McNulty
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2017 Ulster SFCdonegalTyrone
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

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