February 15, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By John Markey
As expected, Donegal made a winning debut to their 1998 Junior Football “A” campaign when, in Sunday’s opening encounter at a wet Gaelic Park, they had little trouble in accounting for fellow Ulster side Cavan, 2-11 to 1-5.
Their fitness was certainly evident and the muddy conditions proved to be no obstacle to them. Quick out of the blocks, they had the result virtually secured by the interval, holding a nine point advantage. The Cavan rearguard failed to come to terms with the quick and accurate Donegal front men.
It has been a slow start to the new season for the Breffni men. With both sides falling at the first obstacle and their senior counterparts facing the prospect of several suspensions for allegedly breaking the North American Board embargo, the future may be somewhat daunting.
With Connie Molloy orchestrating his attack, it allowed Dermot Boylan and Tadgh O’Donovan to profit, with the latter’s goal strike on the verge of the half-time whistle giving them a comfortable advantage at the break.
Dessie O’Reilly was Cavan’s only scorer in the first-half but on the re-start Ger Smith re-kindled some hope with a Cavan goal which was quickly complemented by an Aidan Bennett point. Their optimism proved to be short-lived as Donegal regained the initiative and a series of unanswered points left them assured victors.
Never miss an issue of The Irish Echo
Subscribe to one of our great value packages.
Mark McClafferty, Sean White, Gerry Dowd, Connie Molloy, Tadgh O’Donovan and Dermot Boylan had a fine hour for Donegal with Barry Gilsenan, Mick Reilly, John McCrory, Gary McDermott, Paul Coleman and Dessie Reilly trying for Cavan.
Donegal scorers: T. O’Donovan 1-1, A. Diver 1-1, D. Boylan 0-3, C. Molloy 0-2, G. Dowd 0-2, T. McGrath and J. McHugh both 0-1.
Cavan: D. Reilly 0-4, G. Smith 1-0, A. Bennett 0-1.