Live: Donegal secure comfortable win over Down

Summary

Listen to live commentary of Down v Donegal with icon at top of page
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25 (Res)

Live Reporting

That's all folkspublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25
Thanks for joining us as we got our text commentary going for the opening day of the Ulster Football Championship.
Down made a game of it for about 25 minutes before their house rather caved in but the big talking point after Pairc Esler is whether we will see Michael Murphy in action against Derry on 11 July in Ballybofey or indeed beyond that this summer if Donegal can produce an extended championship run.
Declan Bonner wasn't giving too much away about Murphy's state of health afterward although the Glenswilly man himself appeared to be all smiles in the dugout as the second half wore on.
If you want to pore over the specifics of the game, have a look at our match report here.
We'll be back in action here for next weekend's double bill as Monaghan host Fermanagh at Clones on Saturday followed by Armagh's contest with Antrim at the Athletic Grounds a day later.
In the meantime, have a good week with the sun hopefully continuing to shine as it did in Newry today.
McHugh named man of the matchpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25
Patrick McBrearty was exceptional for Donegal today as he kicked 1-6 and Barry O'Hagan shone for Down with his eight points but you'll get no disagreement from me over Ryan McHugh getting the man-of-the-match award.
A typical all-action display from the Kilcar man in both defence and attack as he kicked five points.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Donegal's Ryan McHugh wins the Man of the Match award against Down.
Playing Murphy was the right decision - Bonnerpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25
Quote Message
Michael Murphy is a hugely important part of the group and from our point of view it was the right decision to play him. He had been going well in training and did very well for the 30 minutes he was on the pitch until he just tightened up. Hopefully it is nothing too serious. We came to do a job today, to get out of Newry with a victory and that is what we have done.
Declan Bonner, Donegal manager
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Donegal manager Declan Bonner
We can't rely on Murphy - McHughpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25
Quote Message
Michael Murphy is massive for us - he's our captain and our leader - but we can't rely on one man and Michael would be the first person to say that. Our goal just before half-time was a big turning point in the match. We know we have a number of good footballers in Donegal and we were focused today on producing our best possible performance.
Ryan McHugh, Donegal
Ulster Senior Football Championship resultpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25
Declan Bonner's Donegal call time on Down's Ulster Championship campaign
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Ulster Senior Football Championship result
Full-timepublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25
It's all over in Newry.
It was all very comfortable for Donegal as goals from Jamie Brennan and Patrick McBrearty hit the goals that give them a 2-25 to 1-12 victory.
Down had a short spell early in each half where they looked like threatening but it really didn't last long.
Donegal move through easily.
Fine free from Langanpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-11 Donegal 2-25
Michael Langan slots over a fine free for Donegal.
This game can't end soon enough for Down.
Ryan Mightypublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-11 Donegal 2-24
Donegal's Ryan McHugh gets Marty Clarke's vote for man-of-the-match.
He's put in a fine performance for his side today, particularly after talisman Michael Murphy was forced off injured.
SECOND GOAL FOR DONEGALpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-10 Donegal 2-21
Patrick McBrearty shows great composure to pick his spot and find the corner of the net with a lovely curler past Rory Burns.
A second goal of the day for Donegal who really are absolutely strolling his now.
Brennan adds another pointpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-10 Donegal 1-21
Cool as you like from Jamie Brennan who reiterates Donegal's strength in depth with a comfortable point.
Eleven points in it now.
Well played Barry O'Haganpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-10 Donegal 1-18
Down's Barry O'Hagan sends his marker for a hot dog with a lovely shimmy before slotting over yet another point.
He has been excellent today.
The photo Donegal fans won't want to seepublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-9 Donegal 1-18
He was an injury doubt before the game and Michael Murphy had to limp off before half-time.
The Donegal talisman is watching the second half with a strapping on what looked like a hamstring injury.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Michael Murphy with his injured hamstring being iced
RED CARD FOR McGOVERNpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-9 Donegal 1-17
That's a bit silly from Gerard McGovern.
The ball had gone and he arrived in late and high on Michael Langan - and rightly was shown a straight red card.
You'd imagine that's game over for Down after their early second half rally.
McMenamin back on for Donegalpublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-9 Donegal 1-17
Stephen McMenamin returns to the pitch for Donegal after his first-half black card.
Goal chance missedpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-8 Donegal 1-17
Ryan McEvoy has a great opportunity to add a second goal for Down.
He was under pressure and managed to get his shot away but it was too close to goalkeeper Shaun Patton who makes the save.
The hosts look like they are going to make a go of this.
DOWN GOALpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 1-8 Donegal 1-16
Well, well, well.
Could we have a game on our hands again?
Down make their extra man count early in the second half as Caolan Mooney fires in a well-taken goal.
Eight points in it.
Back at itpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 0-8 Donegal 1-15
The second half is underway.
Can Down make a dent in Donegal's lead?
Tough for Downpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 0-8 Donegal 1-15
Barry O'Hagan has carried the fight for Down but his side are right up against it.
Image source, Inpho
Image caption,
Barry O'Hagan of Down with Eoghan Ban Gallagher of Donegal
If you haven't heard it already....published at 13:50 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
What have Peter Canavan, Colm Cooper and Marc O’Se all got in common?
They’ve all been guests on our new podcast - the GAA Social.
Make sure you download and subscribe on BBC Sounds - each and every Tuesday the season
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
The GAA Social
'You don't risk your talisman'published at 13:48 British Summer Time 27 June 2021
Down 0-8 Donegal 1-15
Quote Message
Michael Murphy must have felt OK during the week but you don't really know until the match starts. You don't risk your talisman. Donegal are more than capable without him and hindsight is a wonderful thing but they could be without him now for the rest of the Championship.
Peter Canavan