Evening all, it’s Dublin against Donegal in the opening Allianz Division 1 football league game of the weekend. Throw-in at Croke Park is 7pm.

Dublin enter the game on the back of opening victories over Kildare in Croke Park and Tyrone in Omagh. In contrast Donegal have lost out by a single point to Kerry in Killarney and Galway in Letterkenny. They’ll be keen to get points on the board but face a huge challenge in taking on the reigning All-Ireland champions.

Here’s the teams named to start:

Dublin

1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnell’s)

2. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
3. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
4. Eric Lowndes (St Peregrine’s)

5. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
6. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)

8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

10. Brian Howard (Raheny)
11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
12. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)

13. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
15. Bernard Brogan (St  Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh)

Donegal

1. Peter Boyle (Aodh Ruadh)

2. Stephen McMenamin (Aodh Rua)
3. Caolan Ward (St Eunan’s)
4. Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Killybegs)

5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar)
6. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill)
7. Tony McCleneghan (Moville)

8. Stephen McBrearty (Kilcar)
9. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs)

10. Martin O’Reilly (Sean MacCumhaill)
11. Niall O’Donnell (St Eunan’s)
12. Caolan McGonigle (Buncrana)

13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Odhran MacNiallais (Gaoth Dobhair)
15. Jamie Brennan (Bundoran)

A couple of late Dublin changes.

Elsewhere tonight it’s Waterford against Laois in Portlaoise at 7pm in Division 4 of the Allianz football league while Carlow have defeated Leitrim 2-11 to 0-5 in the same division in Netwatch Cullen Park.

The Division 2 tie between Cavan and Meath has been called off due to an unplayable pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Four late Donegal changes with Eamonn Doherty, Nathan Mullins, Mark McHugh and Ciaran Thompson. Stephen McMenamin, Martin O’Reilly, Niall O’Donnell and Caolan McGonigle all make way.

Nearly set for this clash to start at headquarters.

Donegal 0-1 Dublin 0-1
1 mins – Ryan McHugh clips over an early point for Donegal, there had  been half a goal chance initially for Patrick McBrearty. Dublin nail their response courtesy of a leveling Colm Basquel point.

Donegal 0-2 Dublin 0-1
4 mins – Jamie Brennan pops over a point for Donegal after being fed by Tony McCleneghan.

Dublin 0-2 Donegal 0-2
And we’re all square as Ciaran Kilkenny pops the ball off for Niall Scully to slot over a point off his left.

Dublin 0-3 Donegal 0-2
Andrews out in front and boots over the point that put Dublin ahead.

It looked a routine free for Colm Basquel but he skews it off target and still only a point between the teams.

Dublin 0-5 Donegal 0-2
This time Basquel raises a white flag but it could so easily have been a goal as he blasted over the bar. Then Kilkenny launches over from 45 yards and suddenly the gap is gone out to three.

Dublin 0-6 Donegal 0-2
Marvellous score by Eric Lowndes as he cut across the ball with his right boot.

Dublin's Paul Clarke. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Donegal's Declan Bonner. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 0-6 Donegal 0-3
Donegal needed a score in response and Leo McLoone supplies it.

Dublin 0-7 Donegal 0-3
Brian Fenton points for Dublin from play and then McBrearty for Donegal misses a free.

Donegal's Patrick McBrearty Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 0-7 Donegal 0-4
Bit of inspiration for Donegal supplied by Ryan McHugh. Super score into the Hill 16 end of Croke Park.

Donegal will be pleased at how they’re managing to contain Dublin at the back but their interplay in attack isn’t quite working out at the moment.

Ciaran Thompson blazes a shot wide from distance for Donegal, still three between them.

Sub: Nathan Mullins gone off for Donegal, Caolan McGonigle comes on.

McGonigle was part of the DCU team that lost out to UCD in the Sigerson Cup quarter-final last Wednesday.

Dublin 0-9 Donegal 0-4
Niall Scully shoots over two points in quick succession for Dublin.

Dublin 0-10 Donegal 0-4
Dublin have a six-point cushion now as Paul Mannion converts a free.

Dublin 0-10 Donegal 0-5
McBrearty fires over a free but then Jamie Brennan has a great chance for a goal, it’s an excellent shot but it strikes the upright. Great play by McBrearty to set him up originally.

Half-Time: Dublin 0-11 Donegal 0-5

Dublin in the driving seat at the break, Scully kicking over another point before the interval.

It’s Laois 0-8 Waterford 1-4 at the break in tonight’s other game in Division 4 of the Allianz football league.

We’ll be back shortly.

Second-half action is under way.

Dublin 0-12 Donegal 0-6
Lightning start by Dublin as Brian Fenton splits the posts before Stephen McBrearty replies for Donegal.

Donegal's Hugh Mc Fadden with Michael Darragh Macauley of Dublin Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 0-13 Donegal 0-7
Ciaran Kilkenny and Mark McHugh swap points.

Dublin 0-13 Donegal 0-8
Another for Donegal, this time Patrick McBrearty sweeps it over.

Dublin 0-13 Donegal 0-9
The gap is down to four now, McBrearty on target from a free.

Sub: Donegal bring in Niall O’Donnell for Ciarán Thompson.

Dublin 0-14 Donegal 0-10
Points traded by Brian Howard and Jamie Brennan.

Subs: Dublin introduce Eoghan O’Gara and Cian O’Sullivan for Paddy Andrews and Philly McMahon.

Bad miss by youngster Niall O’Donnell who was in space for Donegal. They’ve started the second half promisingly though.

Dublin 0-14 Donegal 0-11
Super score by Stephen McBrearty for Donegal.

Dublin 0-14 Donegal 0-12
And now there’s two points in it! Patrick McBrearty availing after an uncharacteristically wayward pass by Brian Fenton initially from a sideline ball.

First yellow card of the evening goes to Dublin’s Eoghan O’Gara. Donegal have outscored Dublin 0-7 to 0-3 since half-time.

Another yellow for Dublin, this time from John Small.

Dublin 0-14 Donegal 0-13
Brilliant free by Patrick McBrearty. Gap is down to a single point now. Superb stuff from Donegal since half-time.

Dublin 0-15 Donegal 0-13
After four Donegal points without reply, Dublin relieve the pressure as Basquel taps over a free.

Sub: Michael Murphy on for Donegal

Murphy’s shooting is awry as he takes a free seconds after being brought on.

Dublin 0-16 Donegal 0-13
And Dublin pounce at the other end through Basquel to push the gap out to three.

Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 0-16 Donegal 0-14
Donegal stay in touch, McBrearty again firing over from play.

Dublin 0-16 Donegal 0-15
And McBrearty again, what a point!

Murphy has a chance to bring Donegal level but his shot falls just short from distance.

Mannion off target at the other end for Dublin. Big finale in store with just a point in it.

Hugh McFadden with another shot for Donegal but it goes wide from a difficult position.

Yellow card for Dublin’s Basquel.

Ryan McHugh goes for it from distance but didn’t catch it properly and it falls tamely into Cluxton’s arms.

Sub: Dean Rock on for Dublin for MacAuley. Donegal introduce Ciaran McGinley for Mark McHugh.

Rock misses a free with his first shot of the game.

Dublin 0-17 Donegal 0-15
Crucial point for Dublin from Mannion after he was spotted by Scully who hit a crossfield ball.

Dublin 0-18 Donegal 0-15
O’Gara pushes Dublin three clear.

5 minutes of injury-time to be played.

Murphy snatches at a shot off his left and that’s another wide for Donegal.

Subs: Dublin put on Paddy Small and Paul Flynn for Niall Scully and Colm Basquel.

It was actually Ciaran Reddin who came on there for Dublin.

Dublin 0-19 Donegal 0-15
And it’s Reddin who knocks over what should be the insurance point.

A third wide since coming on for Michael Murphy, the latest from a free.

Result: Dublin 0-20 Donegal 0-15

So Dublin run out five-point victors, Paddy Small with their final score of the night.

Cracking performance by Donegal in the second half but Dublin finished powerfully with the last four points of the game. Dublin’s unbeaten record remains, Donegal fall to a third defeat on the bounce but should take plenty encouragement.

That’s all from us this evening, we’ll be back later with reaction and analysis. Thanks for joining in.