Donegal have scored more in each of their two Allianz NFL Division 1 encounters individually than both Down and Cork registered against them combined.

Rory Gallagher’s side hit 3-15 and 2-14 in their games to date thus eclipsing the 1-14 the northerners have conceded in total.

That’s fair going in anybody’s language and at any time of the year for that matter.

Donegal had seven different scorers in their 10-point victory over Cork with 2-11 tallied in open play as Odhrán Mac Niallais top-scored with 1-4.

In their initial outing against Down, Donegal’s return in open play was 3-6.

Hammering in 5-17 in open play in two collisions is a remarkable statistic at such an early remove in 2016.

So how have Donegal managed to rack up such impressive figures?

Basically, they’re transitioning the ball through the phases of defence to attack with a greater slickness than previously.

The likes of Mac Niallais is thriving in a role unshackled advancing from the middle-third.

What will have pleased Gallagher and co most though after these two matches is that there appears to be a decreasing reliance on Michael Murphy to score in open play.

Yes, he did produce a masterful place-kicking performance in the demolition of Down planting seven frees.

However, the Glenswilly clubman can be credited with just 0-1 in open play in the wins over Down and Cork.

Murphy’s been exceptional overall. But Donegal no longer require him to be the jack of every trade imaginable.

2 Roscommon’s work-ethic

Understandably, Kevin McStay and Fergal O’Donnell targeted triumphing at home to Monaghan on the opening day of the secondary competition as survival in the top-flight is the name of the game for the westerners this term.

An unfortunate error cost them massively in Kiltoom and Conor McManus pounced to raise a decisive green flag.

However, after Barry John Keane bizarrely missed what seemed like a straightforward free for Kerry in Killarney which would have pushed Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s men 0-4 to 0-0 ahead Roscommon’s confidence grew impressively.

It was one of those moments that represented a psychological boost to them when needed most in a match that could easily have slipped away from the westerners otherwise.

Heartened by Keane’s poor wide, Roscommon’s work-ethic became the crucial element of their would-be 0-14 to 1-10 success thereafter.

Yet, it is highly likely that by the time the Rossies venture to Páirc Uí Rinn on February 28 and host Down the following Sunday that the fitness of their competitors will have improved immeasurably following the three-week break.

Therefore, they will have to find another level of work-rate, if at all possible given how brilliant that facet of their performance was against the 2015 All-Ireland finalists, if Roscommon are to gain further points from their next two games in particular.

It was mentioned recently here and subsequently scoffed at by some readers, that Roscommon could go on to trouble the likes of Mayo in the Connacht championship.

Yet, they definitely are progressing.

3 Kerry’s support acts

The conditions were certainly not to the liking of the side Éamonn Fitzmaurice plotted to overcome Roscommon in Fitzgerald Stadium.

Still, the conditions were the same for both teams.

With that in mind, it’s fair to say Kerry’s support acts have done little to embolden the belief among their following that said back-up players are as potentially efficient or as polished as their regular first-teamers.

In fact, Fitzmaurice will be spitting feathers at the performances Kerry have produced in the last two weekends, especially in Killarney.

Tommy Walsh scored 0-1 yet his overall display was far from convincing.

To be fair to him, the supply he was receiving was far from ideal too.

Nevertheless, of those balls that were arrowed accurately in his direction very few stuck and led to something tangible for the hosts.

Furthermore, their players seemed leg-weary throughout and were certainly out-worked by the Rossies which will have frustrated Fitzmaurice.

However, it would be naive to read much at all into these two losses for Kerry other than that the faith in their ‘reserves’ will have lessened somewhat ahead of outings before them.

Injuries are hurting Kerry most.

As soon as their first-choice operators begin to integrate themselves back into the squad in the next few weeks or so their performances will obviously be enhanced.

Whether or not their results will also improve is another question entirely as ties against Donegal (home) and Mayo (away) follow a trip to Newry to meet Down.