Mac's View: Donegal performance against Armagh one of best ever in Ballybofey

What a super performance Donegal gave on Sunday in Ballybofey in dismissing Armagh in the third round of the Allianz National Football League.

The response to the Armagh goal, hitting 10 points without reply, one better than the next, was just a joy to watch.

It is obvious that Jim McGuinness has his team very fit and also very well versed in the new rule enhancements which are being trialled in the league.

They have now defeated the Leinster and Munster champions as well as the All-Ireland champions in successive weeks to sit pretty on top of the Division 1 table with six points.

And to cap it all, you had Michael Murphy coming in early in the second half and receiving one of the biggest roars I have ever witnessed in MacCumhaill Park.

The Armagh captain, Aidan Forker, let himself down very badly with his actions which led to a red card. It was not a great example for young followers and him a school teacher.

Patrick McBrearty had a great game and was named man of the match but I felt Ryan McHugh was outstanding also. The Kilcar duo are going well, winning the Player of the Week on successive weeks, surely that must be something of a record.

I was very pleased with our own man, Jamie Brennan, who kicked two very good points and also made one great intervention in defence. It would seem that the three-up is leaving much more room and corner-forwards are being given a new lease of life, which adds to a much more pleasing spectacle. Scoring is much higher and that’s what the game is about.

And at the same time our defence was excellent on Sunday, limiting Armagh to shots from distance. The fact that Armagh got their 13 points total from eight shots is testament to the great work of the home defence.

There was so much to be happy about, especially the huge crowd that turned up. And they were not disappointed with the return of Michael Murphy.  He gave them what they wanted, a great catch, left foot, right foot and one from a free and then one that went narrowly wide. It was a great spectacle for the younger brigade seeing him in action in the county jersey again.

I’m looking forward to seeing how they get on next Sunday against Galway, which I think will be a very good test. Galway are a team that I expect to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. They might have been poor in the second half last week against Galway but I was impressed with their physicality and they still have Damien Comer to come back.

Knowing Jim (McGuinness) he would like to put one over on them and he might not want to experiment. I would think that the game against Derry the following week will be a cat and mouse affair especially as the sides meet in the first round of the Ulster championship on April 6th.

Tyrone and Mayo looked to be off the pace at the weekend and Derry go to Croke Park to play Dublin this week with just one point on the board. It is almost squeaky bum time for a number of counties even at this stage.

But as I always say, we have to mind our own knitting. It’s a pity Sunday’s game is not in Tuam as it is a better pitch and more easily accessible. I never liked that Salthill venue as it is hard to get to and always windy.

I really enjoyed Dublin beating Kerry at the weekend and with the two point rule Armagh, even though they were not as good as us, had cut the six point lead to two with a couple of two-pointers. We haven’t quite mastered the two-pointers yet but we have time. 

After the weekend it is clear that winning the toss is even more important now on a windy day as you will always play against the elements in the opening half and will then know what you have to do and whether to go for the two-pointers if needed. Dublin’s win was a big example of this.

CONGRESS IN DONEGAL

Donegal Town is hosting annual Congress this weekend and it is a big weekend for the county and Four Masters. The other two occasions the Congress came to Donegal they were hosted here in Bundoran and I remember being involved in an administrative capacity in 1988. It was hosted in the old Astoria Ballroom and there was a great crowd around, especially in the Great Northern Hotel. 

The event has grown in size year on year as I remember the first time it was here in Bundoran, it was hosted in St. Patrick’s Hall.

This weekend the main venue is in the Abbey Hotel and there will be plenty of discussion both on the floor of Congress and in the foyer and bar of the venue. Good luck to  all involved this weekend. 

This weekend also we have our hurlers and ladies in action in important games. The hurlers host Kerry in Letterkenny on Sunday and that will be another big test for them. 

The Ladies are away this weekend, taking on Roscommon and they are wished all the best.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell