Donegal fight back to deny Monaghan semi-final spot

Donegal recovered from a seven-point half-time deficit to power into the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with a 1-26 to 1-20 win over Monaghan at Croke Park.

There was a very real prospect of a shock at the midway point as Jim McGuinness' men looked decidedly off colour and their Ulster rivals were taking full advantage.

A Micheal Bannigan goal coupled with an exhibition of shooting from Rory Beggan and Andrew Woods gave the Farney Army hope of an upset as they led 1-15 to 0-11 at the break.

However, Donegal responded with a powerful second-half display, out-scoring Monaghan by 1-15 to 0-5 with a goal from Michael Langan in the 44th minute the major turning point that put the Ulster champions in control.

Donegal made a bright enough start with Oisin Gallen landing either side of Monaghan's Conor McCarthy and they could have had a goal when Eoghan Ban Gallagher was sent clear, but Rory Beggan made the save with Peadar Mogan taking his point from the rebound.

The gap was two when Monaghan, who had been having issues with their shooting, began to tidy this area up with a pair of two-pointers - the first from a Beggan free and then Andrew Woods with the first of two sublime efforts in the opening period.

After an exchange of scores, it was Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton then called into action to deny Stephen O'Halloran, but the corner forward popped over the rebound.

Ciaran Thompson hit back with a two at the other end and Ryan McHugh tied it up.

Monaghan were back ahead through Ciaran McNulty before Patton - who had been having issues with his kick-outs - made an error from the restart as he only found O'Halloran who put Micheal Bannigan in to find the net.

Thompson responded with a two, but Monaghan enjoyed a fine run to the break with five of the final six points including twos from Woods and a monster effort from Beggan after the hooter, while Patton's issues continued as he was penalised from the restart with Bannigan kicking the free.

Monaghan went in at the break with a 1-15 to 0-11 advantage and perhaps it could have been more but for half a dozen wides as Donegal were left with much to sort out at the interval.

But sort it out they did as three quick scores from Murphy, Gallen and Conor O'Donnell got them back on the rails.

Although Monaghan hit back through O'Halloran and McCarthy, momentum was rapidly swinging and, after Shane O'Donnell pointed, Donegal got the goal that brought their fans to life as Michael Langan took a pop pass from Murphy, managed to find some space and sent a rocket of a shot past Beggan to whittle the gap back to two.

Despite the six-day turnaround, the Tir Chonaill men now seemed to have boundless energy and, although Stephen O'Donnell hit back with a point, Donegal would rattle off the next nine on the spin with the O'Donnells and substitute Patrick McBrearty to the fore before Langan kicked a two of his own to put them eight clear.

David Garland would land a two-pointer at the other end after 23 scoreless minutes for the Farneymen who had lost their way completely, racking up a dozen wides overall, but it was mere consolation as Donegal return to the last four.

Donegal: S Patton; F Roarty, B McCole, P Mogan (0-2); R McHugh (0-1), E Ban Gallagher, C Moore; H McFadden, M Langan (1-3, 1x2p); C McColgan, C Thompson (0-4, 2x2p), S O'Donnell (0-3); C O'Donnell (0-4), M Murphy (0-4, 2f), O Gallen (0-3).

Subs: D O Baoill for C McColgan (41), J McGee for H McFadden (45), P McBrearty (0-2) for O Gallen (49), E McHugh for R McHugh (56), N O'Donnell for M Murphy (67)

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-5, 1x2pf, 1x2p, 1f); R Wylie, K Duffy, D Byrne; R O'Toole (0-1), D Ward, C McCarthy (0-2); M McCarville, G Mohan; A Carey, M Bannigan (1-2, 0-1f), R McAnespie; C McNulty (0-1), A Woods (0-4, 2x2p), S O'Hanlon (0-3).

Subs: J McCarron for R McAnespie (40), L Kelly for M McCarville (50), D Garland (0-2, 1x2p) for C McNulty (51), D Hughes for C McCarthy (59), K O'Connell for G Mohan (59).

Temporary sub: S Mooney for D Garland (59-63)

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)