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Donegal make bright start to campaign

Donegal 1-12 Cork 2-7: Donegal exacted some level of revenge for last year's championship defeat by making a highly encouraging…

Mon Feb 05 2007 - 00:00

Donegal 1-12 Cork 2-7:Donegal exacted some level of revenge for last year's championship defeat by making a highly encouraging start to their campaign at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Cork finished the game with 13 players, following the sending off of James Masters and Nicholas Murphy for second yellow card offences midway through the second half.

Donegal's Brendan Devenney suffered a similar fate near the end with the visitors only securing victory courtesy of substitute Colm McFadden's point in stoppage time after Cork had cut the lead to the minimum moments earlier through a Donncha O'Connor free.

The home side led by 2-4 to 1-6 at the end of a first-half, with Kevin O'Sullivan cracking in Cork's opening goal after five minutes. His initial effort rebounded from an upright and ended up in the hands of James Masters, who laid off a delightful pass into O'Sullivan's path.

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Donegal's response typified their approach, firing over three unanswered points before goalkeeper Paul Durcan mishandled to allow O'Connor score Cork's second goal after 20 minutes for a 2-1 to 0-3 lead.

Three minutes later, it was the home side's turn to hand out a gift goal. Full back David Coughlan struggled under Christy Toyle's long delivery and Kevin McMenamin capitalised, scoring with a low shot.

Brian Roper added a couple of points to edge Donegal 1-5 to 2-1 in front only for Cork to hit back with three points of their own before McMenamin pointed a free in first-half injury-time.

Donegal tightened up on the resumption after the teams exchanged early points. Kevin Cassidy helped them gain an advantage at midfield and Cork's frustration was reflected in their twin-dismissals as the visitors won more convincingly than the scoreline might otherwise suggest.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; T Donoghue, N McGee, K Lacy, captain; E McGee, B Monaghan (0-1), B Dunnion; K Cassidy (0-2), R Kavanagh; C Toye (0-2), C Bonner (0-1), B Roper (0-2); K McMenamin (1-2, two frees), B Devenney (0-1), M Doherty. Subs: C McFadden (0-1) for Doherty (half-time), M Hegarty for Roper (61 mins), P Witherow for N McGee (64 mins), N Gallagher for Bonner (69 mins).

CORK: P O'Shea; M Shields, D Coughlan, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane, E Cadogan; N Murphy, D Kavanagh, captain; S O'Brien (0-1), P O'Neill, C McCarthy (0-1); J Masters (0-2, frees), D O'Connor (1-2, 0-1 free), K O'Sullivan (1-0). Subs: M Prout for Coughlan (25 mins), D Goulding (0-1) for McCarthy (31 mins), A Cronin for O'Brien (56 mins).

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).