Galway 1-16 Donegal 1-8Tuam has never been famed for its tropical weather but in the wind and driving sleet yesterday, it was the footballers of Galway who provided whatever sunshine that was on offer.
Word of a laboratory is still just rumour but every off-season, John O'Mahony and his selectors seem to find another startling forward. The latest to join Galway's blistering attacking line is Michael Meehan, who announced his arrival with 1-4 from play.
Brian McEniff, the dean of the Donegal game who yesterday returned to take charge of his county for the fourth successive decade, could but watch as Galway raced away in the first five minutes.
The visitors were hit with wave after wave of attack during that opening period, with Meehan accepting a pass from the electric Derek Savage and firing the goal that set Galway on their way. Always comfortable, they dominated the game to such an extent that the absence of marquee names like Pauric Joyce and Michael Donnellan wasn't a factor.
"It was very disappointing," acknowledged McEniff immediately afterwards. "Obviously we are going to have to sharpen up, we looked very leaden out there. We allowed ourselves to be picked off at midfield and from there Galway were able to deliver the kind of ball that left our backs under terrible pressure."
Three different Donegal men were employed at various stages to try to limit the havoc being reaped by Savage and the debut boy.
Given the constant, quality supply of ball, it was a thankless day for the visiting defence, with Noel McGinley repeatedly having to cling onto Savage for dear life as Donegal's last line disintegrated.
The Naomh Columba man at least stuck grimly to what was a miserable task, picking up a yellow card in the process. Damien Diver also threw himself against the creaking foundations with his customary zeal but Donegal, despite the Godsend of a 30th-minute goal by Johnny McCafferty, were clearly struggling to live with the early Spring pace set by Galway.
Joe Bergin was the leading midfield figure, with John Divilly looking like a schoolmaster among pupils in Galway's half-back line, dominant and imposing throughout. That McEniff has had very little time to work with his team was apparent and it will probably take Donegal a few games to catch up with the rest.
"Well, I have had bad starts before. But ah, I was still disappointed that we didn't tag on a few more points in the second half. We seemed to run up blind alleys a lot whereas whenever Galway got the ball, they tapped it over the bar. But in saying that, they were a much superior team to us."
At least five of Galway's scores originated from careless Donegal mistakes. In fact, Meehan's goal began when John Gildea undercooked a handpass that Michael Comer pilfered and played downfield directly. Straightaway, McGinley found himself on the wrong side of Savage who immediately set up Meehan for the dream start.
After 22 minutes, Galway led by 1-07 to 0-03, with Kieran Comer bursting forward freely in a period when the home team had space aplenty to pick off points.
Micheal Hegarty was at the heart of many of Donegal's more imaginative moments and they briefly came alive midway through the first half. Colm McFadden curled a fine point after an astute through ball from Hegarty and after a hesitant beginning, Johnny McCafferty found his voice when he collected the ball through a Damien Diver shot which hit the post and buried it from close range.
With just three minutes left in the half, Adrian Sweeney had a free to cut it to three points but his shot tailed wide and instead, Divilly romped forward to win a free which Kieran Comer popped over.
Just after the restart, the Glenties pair of Gildea and Jim McGuinness flowed brilliantly to create a goal chance that Alan Keane did well to deflect. That save was the beginning of the end for Donegal as Galway lined up to convert a series of easy points. The highlight of the half belonged to Meehan, a gorgeous point from distance, flush against the sideline, delighting the home crowd.
It was a satisfying if not dramatic beginning to the season for O'Mahony, who will be especially pleased with the re-emergence of the Divilly of 1998. Asked what he would take for his first game back nine years after he believed he had retired, Brian McEniff did not take long to respond.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. There was a lot missing out there today, especially hunger. We have Dublin next week and we are going to have to get that hunger back very quickly."
A hailstorm fell as the teams left the pitch and by the time they had showered and changed, Tuam Stadium was empty. There is a long season ahead.
GALWAY: A Keane; K Fitzgerald, G Fahey, R Fahey; M Comer, J Divilly, S DePaor; J Bergin, K Comer (0-6, 4 frees); P Clancy, M Clancy (0-1), A Kerins; M Meehan (1-4), D Savage (0-4, 3 frees), T Joyce (0-1). Subs:D O Brien for P Clancy 61 mins, L Colleran for A Kerins 65 mins, N Joyce for D Savage 65 mins, D Blake for J Divilly 68 mins.
DONEGAL: T Blake; E Doherty, S Carr, N McGinley; D Diver, R Sweeney, N McCready; J Gildea (0-1), J McGuinness (0-1); C Toye, M Hegarty, J Haran; C McFadden (0-2), A Sweeney (0-2, 1 free), J McCafferty (1-2, 1 free). Subs: K Cassidy for S Carr 47 mins, M Gurn for C Toye 47 mins, J Ruane for J McGuinness 61 mins, J Gallagher for M Hegarty 65 mins.
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).
