Tyrone icon singles out key Donegal ‘launchpad’ player Kerry must stop in final

Donegal were magnificent today!

After scoring 0-06, Donegal's talisman, Michael Murphy, was taken off after just 45 minutes with an eye on the final.

But it didn't make a difference to their dominance as his replacement, Patrick McBrearty, ended with 0-03.

McGuinness's teams have alway been known for their work rate and fitness, and this was once again on show at Croke Park, with the Royals struggling to deal with their quick breaks.

Speaking after the game, Tyrone legend, Peter Canavan, named goalkeeper Shaun Patton as the man who the Kingdom must look at in order to stop Donegal's running game.

He said: "For me, Kerry will be working on stemming Donegal's running power, absolutely.

"They got 16 different scores today and a lot of those scores come from deep.

"And preventing the launchpad who is Shaun Patton on a lot of those occasions.

"From a Donegal point of view, it's very simple, how do prevent David Clifford from getting the ball, and the supply into him.

Scorers for Donegal: M. Murphy (0-6, 1 tpf, 1 free); C. McDonnell (1-3); O. Gallen (1-2); C. Moore (1-1); M. Langan (0-4); P. McBrearty (0-3 each); C. Thompson (0-2); S. O’Donnell, R. McHugh, S. Patton (45), P. Mogan, D. Ó Baoill (0-1 each) Scorers for Meath: E. Frayne (0-5, 1 tp); R. Kinsella (1 tp), K. Curtis (0-3 each); J. Morris, M. Costello (free), C. Duke, S. Rafferty (0-1 each).

DONEGAL: S. Patton; F. Roarty, B. McCole, P. Mogan; R. McHugh, E. Gallagher, C. McColgan; H. McFadden, M. Langan (c); C. Thompson, S. O’Donnell, C. Moore; C. O’Donnell, M. Murphy, O. Gallen.

Subs: P. McBrearty for M. Murphy (45); J. McGee for H. McFadden (50); C. McGonagle for C. McColgan (52); D. Ó Baoill for R. McHugh (55); O. McFadden-Ferry for P. Mogan (59).

MEATH: B. Hogan; S. Rafferty, S. Lavin, R. Ryan; C. Caulfield, S. Coffey, D. Keogan; B. Menton, A. O’Neill; M. Costello, R. Kinsella, K. Curtis; C. Duke, J. Morris, E. Frayne (c).

Subs: C. Gray for B. Mention (inj 21); E. Harkin for A. O’Neill (46); J. McEntee for S. Lavin (50); B. O’Halloran for K. Curtis (57); S. Walsh for R. Kinsella (inj 62).

Referee: P. Faloon (Down).