Donegal 3-14

Dublin 0-17

AT ONE STAGE during the first half of today’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Dublin and Donegal, the defending champions went three points clear and their odds of winning went to an incredible 1/50.

Nobody told Jim McGuiness’ Ulster champions though as Donegal dumped the previously untouchable Dublin out of the 2014 championship, thanks in large part to the clinical finishing in front of goal from Ryan McHugh.

It all looked so different in the first half with Jim Gavins’ men held a five point lead on 19 minutes because of some excellent long range scores from the likes of Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan.

Donegal fought back though and were within two points by the half-hour mark after four unanswered points put Dublin on the back foot.

However, the game’s real turning point came three minutes later when a long ball dropped in on top of Michael Murphy, Stephen Cluxton and Rory O’Carroll before breaking to Colm McFadden who squared to McHugh and the half-forward made no mistake to send Donegal into half-time 1-8 to 0-10 in front.

Three minutes after the break, McHugh had his and Donegal’s second when he found himself in the right place at the right time on the end of a storming Anthony Thompson run to give Donegal a five point lead.

Points from both Brogan brothers reduced the gap to three but a third Donegal goal – this time from McFadden – stretched their lead to seven points; 3-10 to 0-12.

Dublin needed goals but they never looked like coming and, in the end, it will be Jim McGuinness’ men who’ll face Kerry in the All-Irleand final after a deserved six-point victory.

Scorers for Donegal: McHugh 2-2, McFadden 1-3 (1f), Murphy 0-3 (2f), McBrearty 0-2, Lacey, Kavanagh, Mac Niallais, McGlynn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: Connolly 0-5 (1f), Flynn 0-4, B Brogan 0-3 (2f), A Brogan, Andrews 0-2 each, McMahon 0-1.

DONEGAL
1. Paul Durcan (Na Ceithre Maistir)

2. Eamonn McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
3. Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
4. Paddy McGrath (Ard an Ratha)

5. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
6. Karl Lacey (Na Ceithre Maistir)
7. Frank McGlynn (Gleann Fhinne)

8. Neil Gallagher (Gleann Suili)
9. Odhran Mac Niallais (Gaoth Dobhair)

18. David Walsh (Naomh Brid)
11. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill)
12. Ryan McHugh (Cill Chartha)

26. Rory Kavanagh (Naomh Adhamhnain)
14. Michael Murphy (Gleann Suili, capt)
15. Colm McFadden (Naomh Micheal)

Substitutions: Christy Toye for Walsh (26), Paddy McBrearty for McLoone (43), Declan Walsh for McGee (black card, 58), Martin McElhinney for Kavanagh (60), Darach O’Connor for McFadden (64), Martin O’Reilly for Mac Niallais (68).

DUBLIN
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

2. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
3. Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
4. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)

5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
24. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)

8. Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
9. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)

10. Paul Flynn (Fingallians)
20. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille)
12. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s)

13. Alan Brogan (Oliver Plunkett’s / Eoghan Rua)
14. Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue Synge Street)
15. Bernard Brogan (Oliver Plunkett’s / Eoghan Rua)

Substitutions: Nicky Devereux for McCaffrey (HT), Kevin McManamon for Costello (40), Dean Rock for O’Gara (47), Paddy Andrews for Brogan (53), Darren Daly for Cooper (62), Paul Mannion for O’Sullivan (68).

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

As it happened: Dublin v Donegal, All-Ireland SFC semi-final

Donegal beat Dublin by narrowest of margins to secure All-Ireland MFC final spot