On June 26, 2010, Donegal manager John Joe Doherty lead his county to Crossmaglen for the first round of the qualifiers against an Armagh side that had already beat them in the Ulster championship. The match seemed to promise much when the two were drawn together, but Donegal were broken easily that afternoon, scored three points in the first half and lost by 2-14 to 0-11 in the end. It was a humiliating nine point loss as every word of these two match reports illustrate. Who among the Donegal supporter would have guessed that a mere 26 months later, half the county would be sitting in Croke Park oléing in the 67th minute on an All-Ireland semifinal as Donegal ran rings around the consensus All-Ireland favourites? McGuinness really is a miracle worker.
THE IRISH TIMES
Armagh swat woeful Donegal aside
There will be few crumbs of comfort for the long-suffering Donegal supporters on their way back to the north west this evening after they witnessed their side exit the All-Ireland football qualifiers without mustering much more than a whimper.
Armagh will go into the hat for Monday’s second round draw after a facile 2-14 to 0-11 win while it’s back to the drawing board for John Joe Doherty and his backroom team. Paddy O’Rourke’s side weren’t exactly firing on all cylinders. Then again, they didn’t need to be.
When the draw was made a fortnight ago, this tie promised to be the standout one of the round. Enjoying home advantage at Crossmaglen Armagh would be favourites but Donegal would surely run them close? Eh, no. Donegal were simply woeful, particularly in a first half where they managed just three scores in total and only one of those from play.
The writing was on the wall within 90 seconds as Jamie Clarke grabbed the first of a brace of goals. The full forward turned with ease and finished powerfully. Clarke needed just five minutes more to add a second, taking full advantage of more lackadaisical defending before firing home soccer-style.
With Stephen McDonnell unusually quiet, points from Charlie Bernham, Graham Swift and two from Clarke eased Armagh further clear as they threatened a rout.
Donegal at least made a better fist of things in the second half with Michael Murphy, who would contribute eight scores to his side’s meagre total, plugging away up front. But they were never likely to catch Armagh and Eamonn McGee’s dismissal late on, following an off-the-ball incident, merely added insult to injury.
Deja vu for Donegal as Armagh trounce them again!
It was a humiliating lesson in class and style this afternoon in Crossmaglen as Donegal were dumped out of the 2010 All Ireland qualifers at the first hurdle – albeit to a dynamic Armagh side, who themselves made up for their earlier indifferent attempt to defeat Monaghan in the quarter finals of the Ulster championship.
Donegal had the lion share of the possession in the first half, but they just seemed bereft of ideas, a fact that the sideline team must take on the chin as well.
This is a team in crisis, that seems to have lost its way, lost its leadership and one cannot see the current management team last too much longer.
Kieran Whelan, former Dublin footballers described Donegal’s performance as “one dimensional”. That was a kind insight into a team that has promised so much in recent years, but invariably failed to deliver.
