Ulster SFC: Donegal hit four goals to stun champions Derry

McGuinness’ return to the Donegal sideline for the first time in 10 years, allied to Tyrone legend Harte’s surprise appointment as Derry boss this year, meant that their collision in this Ulster Championship first round clash was always going to be a fascinating prospect.

And the game itself did not disappoint.

A high-octane, high-quality encounter was bossed mostly by the Division Two champions who dropped very deep, broke at speed and were still able to mark the Division One champions’ best players out of the game.

Conor Glass and Shane McGuigan, so often key men during Derry’s marvellous run over the last few years, were peripheral figures and there was no Plan B as Donegal streaked clear.

Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee and Daire O Baoill produced masterful performances for Donegal, who have blown the Ulster Championship wide open by taking out the hot favourites.

Daire O’Baoill lobbed a stranded Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch twice, once in each half before Oisin Gallen dispatched a penalty after Chrissy McKaigue fouled Shane O’Donnell to move Donegal an incredible seven points up, 3-8 to 0-10.

With the joyous Donegal fans scarcely believing their eyes, Jamie Brennan completed the rout blasting the ball high into the net to finish off yet another Donegal counterattack.

Donegal had turned a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 interval lead into an impressive six-point victory that will live long in the memory of the 14,714 packed inside Celtic Park.