Allianz Football League Division One: Monaghan 1-20 Donegal 0-15
Donegal captain and star forward Paddy McBrearty is to undergo surgery this week and is in a race to be fit for the championship.
In a massive blow to the county, the skipper will have an operation – possibly as early as Monday – on the hamstring tear picked up against Tyrone two weeks ago.
The Kilcar man was a spectator as Donegal lost a crucial Division One clash to Monaghan at Clones on Sunday and afterwards Paddy Carr admitted his loss is a major setback.
Read more: Recap as Armagh and Tyrone suffer defeats in Connacht with Roscommon leading the way in Division One
“Unfortunately the injury is a serious enough injury and it will necessitate surgery so he’s going to be out for the foreseeable future,” revealed the Donegal boss.
“His season is not ended - far from it - but that (a Championship return) is what we’re looking at.
“We’ve got the best medical advice and the best option for him is a form of surgery so that is going to happen very very quickly.”
Donegal take on Down in the first round of the Ulster championship on April 22.
While it remains to be seen whether McBrearty can make it back in time, there is no doubting his influence.
He kicked the winning point against Kerry in Donegal’s Division One opener, the only points they have gained in this campaign so far.
Carr said: “He is a figurehead, what can you do?”
“Other teams are dealing with the same thing with key men out but Patrick’s influence and terms of decision making is huge.
“You never like to lose key men but football is funny so while it’s a disappointing feeling, our season has still very much to kick off and that’s the way we’re looking at it.”
The loss of such an experienced player will have stung Donegal more, given the quality Monaghan were able to recall for this crucial Division One clash.
Conor McManus and Darren Hughes got their first minutes of the campaign.
Hughes lasted the whole game and was a man of the match contender while McManus came on for the last 10 minutes.
He touched the ball three times, winning and converting two marks and setting up the game’s only goal for Sean Jones in the last minute.
After back-to-back defeats by Armagh and Kerry, Monaghan were in desperate need of points to keep alive hopes of staying in the top flight for a tenth successive season.
Hughes said: “It was important because performance levels weren’t where we wanted them to be so I think we got both a result and a performance today”.
“It is nice to get the show on the road for the year.
“We reviewed the Kerry game and knew it wasn’t good enough for Division One football, we are here long enough now and know what it takes.
“Vinny (Corey) said to make sure we’re not looking back at the end of the game feeling we haven’t performed so it was more about throwing the shackles off and see where the result takes us.”
The sides were level nine times before Monaghan stepped up a level 10 minutes into the second half.
The lead changed hands several times in an arm wrestle of a first half, with never more than a point in it either way, and Donegal led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.
The returning Michael Langan scored two from play in each half for the visitors.
Conor O’Donnell nailed 0-3 from play in the second half for Donegal but Monaghan had big contributions from Stephen O’Hanlon, Jack McCarron and subs McManus and Sean Jones.
The four scored 1-11 in the second half between then with Monaghan hitting six points in a row to completely take the game away from Donegal who frequently turned the ball over.
“We were very much on control of that game at half time but missed a lot of chances,” added Carr.
“There is a lot of soul searching going on inside there and that’s the way it has to be.
“They’re a good bunch of lads and they are upset the way they let that game get away from them.”
With Oisin Gallen, O’Donnell and Langan leading the early second-half charge for Donegal, they edged ahead by 0-11 to 0-9 in the 46 th minute.
It seemed significant because it was the first time there was more than a point between them.
But Monaghan responded magnificently, hitting six on the bounce in the next 11 minutes, winning kickouts, making blocks and playing with all the energy and purpose.
They actually outscored Donegal by nine points to one in a crucial phase of the game.
By the time All Star Conor McManus came on and won two marks – which he easily converted – the game was as good as over.
He found space and passed inside to Jones for the goal which put gloss on the scoreline, Jones dancing around a defender and rolling the ball low past Shaun Patton for a vital two league points.
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