Donegal cruised into the Nicky Rackard Cup semi-finals thanks to a 20-point win over Leitrim.
Donegal 2-28 Leitrim 2-8
Davin Flynn hit 1-13 for Donegal, including an 11th minute goal.
Gerard Gilmore landed a second three-pointer for the hosts as they eased to victory and book a place in the last four.
Donegal followed up their hammering of Tyrone last weekend in Killyclogher with another emphatic display.
When Flynn riffled past Declan Molloy in the 11th minute after taking a pass from Enda McDermott, Donegal looked in control of the tie – and so it proved.
With Roscrea native Flynn scoring 1-9 in the first half, Donegal were 1-16 to 0-5 ahead at the changeover.
Clement Cunniffe bagged a goal for Leitrim in the second half, but Gilmore responded straight away for Donegal.
Ben Murray stole in for a second Leitrim major, but Donegal were able to flex their muscle and take the likes of Kevin Campbell, Niall Cleary and Lee Henderson off the bench.
“We were hopping off the sod last weekend and all the lads came out on fire again this weekend,” Donegal ace Flynn said.
“We didn’t know what to expect. If we get a few more days like that it’ll be good. Every day you put on the jersey, you’re going out for a war and a battle. Hopefully we take this forward into the semi-final.”
Donegal faltered in the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2017 after a fine League campaign, but Flynn believes new boss Mickey McCann has Donegal in a good place for a Croke Park place now.
He said: “It’s going well. Every training is enjoyable. The training and the tempo is good. There’s a good bite there.
“We want to get to Croke Park. We had a good League last year and then the tempo dropped. We have to keep this form going now. It’s a different team and a different attitude this year.”
Scorers – Donegal: D Flynn (4f, 1 ’65) 1-13, G Gilmore 1-4, J Boyle, K Campbell, L Henderson 0-2 each, C Matthewson, D Cullen, E McDermott, B Lafferty, C McDermott 0-1 each
Leitrim: C Cunniffe (4f) 1-5, B Murray 1-0, C Donovan 0-2, J Clancy 0-1
DONEGAL – P Burns; P Doherty, C McDermott, S Gillespie; J Donnelly, S McVeigh, G Browne; D Cullen, C Mathewson; R McDermott, J Boyle, G Gilmore; B Lafferty, E McDermott, D Flynn. Subs – K Campbell for R McDermott (h-t), N Cleary for Browne (h-t), L Henderson for Boyle (43), C McDermott for E McDermott (54); C Tourish for C McDermott (61).
LEITRIM – D Molloy; K McGrath, C McCrann, P Earley; E Moreton, C Byrne, N McLaughlin; J Glancy, L Moreton; B Murray, K McDermott, D McGovern; C Donovan, C Cunniffe, Z Moradi. Subs: D Ryan for Earley (h/t), P Poinard for McGovern (53), T Clancy for K McGrath (58).
REF – K McGeeney (Roscommon)
