Good evening and welcome to our minute-by-minute tracker of tonight’s two games in Division 1 of the National League. 

And what better way to start the new League season as last year’s All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Kerry meet again in Croke Park. 

Somewhat surprisingly, both managers have named strong teams for the game – we’re hoping they aren’t just dummy line-ups– for what promises to be another cracker between these great rivals. 

Of course this will be Dessie Farrell’s first League game as Dublin manager, so plenty of interest to see what way he sets up his team, while David Clifford enjoys his first game as Kerry captain. 

We’ll also be tracking the meeting of Donegal and Mayo in Ballybofey. The last time these teams met, Mayo recorded a 1-14 to 1-10 win to book their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals. 

Will the addition of Ciarán McDonald to the Mayo coaching set-up add a new dimension to their attack?

We’ll be bringing you the latest scores and all the major events from the two games as they happen. 

Both games throw-in at 7.15pm, we’ll have more then. 

Here’s a reminder of tonight’s teams, starting in Croke Park.

And here’s the teams for Donegal v Mayo.

Donegal 0-1 Mayo 0-0

We’re up in running in Donegal where Jamie Brennan has put the hosts ahead after one minute.

Dublin 0-0 Kerry 0-0

And we’re now underway in Croke Park, Kerry win the toss and will play into the Hill in the first half.

Donegal 0-1 Mayo 0-2

Mayo have taken the lead thanks to two quick-fire points from Fergal Boland and Brian Reape.

Dublin 0-1 Kerry 0-0

Dean Rock kicks the first point of the night in Croke Park with a well-taken free.

Donegal 0-2 Mayo 0-2

Michael Murphy – now in his third decade as a Donegal player – with an equalising point for the Ulster team.

Dublin 0-2 Kerry 0-0

A goal chance for Ciarán Kilkenny as the Castleknock man cuts right down the middle, but he opts for the fisted point. 

Dublin 0-2 Kerry 0-1

Kerry get their opening score, a fine point from distance by Gavin Crowley.

Donegal 0-4 Mayo 0-3

The scores are flying in in Ballybofey. Brian Reape adds his second point for Mayo.

Dublin 0-3 Kerry 0-1

Another Dean Rock free extends Dublin’s lead.

Dublin 0-4 Kerry 0-1

Conor McHugh with a fine score for Dublin.

Dublin 0-4 Kerry 0-1

An early test for Davy Bryne, but the defender does well to stand up David Clifford before a good block to deny the Kerry captain.

Dublin 0-5 Kerry 0-1

Kevin McManamon swings over a lovely score with his left foot.

Goal!

Donegal 0-4 Mayo 1-3

We have the first goal of the night, Jimmy Carr providing the final touch for Mayo.

A blistering start to the game in Ballybofey.

Dublin 0-5 Kerry 0-2

Meanwhile James O’Donoghue is off the mark for Kerry, while an injury to Adrian Spillane sees him replaced by Liam Kearney after just 16 minutes.

Goal!

Dublin 0-5 Kerry 1-2

David Clifford with the goal for Kerry.

What a week for David Clifford. Named Kerry captain on Monday, celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday, and now he’s scored a superb goal in Croke Park against Dublin. 

He cut inside onto his right foot after collecting the ball and after a brilliant run finished low to the net. A wonderful solo effort.

Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-4

Brian Fenton and Sean O’Shea (free) trade points, before O’Donoghue hits his second point of the night after good play with Clifford.

Donegal 0-5 Mayo 1-3

A point for Donegal’s Ciaran Thompson.

Dublin 0-7 Kerry 1-4

A great score by Brian Fenton, doing well to create the space and find the posts.

Here a look at that James Carr goal for Mayo.

Not sure he meant that one?

Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-4

Brian Fenton is flying for Dublin.

He beats his man and curls over his third point of the evening.

And here’s that Clifford goal. Superb play and a wonderful drilled finish by the 21-year-old.

Clifford nets a beauty for @Kerry_Official !! pic.twitter.com/mbCTYkWnLv

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 25, 2020

Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-6

Kerry are playing some wonderful football and James O’Donoghue looks particular sharp. He nails another fine point, his third of the evening.

Donegal 0-7 Mayo 1-3

Michael Murphy gets another point from Donegal, this time from a mark.

Penalty for Dublin!

GOAL!

Dublin 1-8 Kerry 1-6

Dean Rock wins a penalty for Dublin, steps up and sticks it in the bottom right corner.

Dublin 1-8 Kerry 1-7

Kerry respond straight away with another Clifford point.

Donegal 0-9 Mayo 1-3

Ciaran Thompson and Jamie Brennan add points for Donegal. Mayo failing to build on that James Carr goal.

Dublin 1-9 Kerry 1-8

Conor McHugh with his second point for Dublin, before Gavin O’Brien responds for Kerry.

Meanwhile Brian Ó Beaglaoich’s evening is done. He’s limped off after a clash with Paddy Andrews and is replaced by Graham O’Sullivan. Let’s hope it’s not too serious.

Half-time

Donegal 0-9 Mayo 1-4

Dublin 1-9 Kerry 1-9

Another Clifford point brings the sides level. We have five minutes of added time.

BLACK CARD

Eric Lowndes is sent to the sin-bin for Dublin

Half-time

Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-9

Donegal 0-10 Mayo 1-4

A great start to the second half for Donegal as Michael Murphy hits another point.

Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-9

The second half is underway in Croke Park, a reminder that Dublin are still down to 14 men momentarily following Eric Lowndes’ black card at the end of the first half.

A worrying sight for Kerry as Brian Ó Beaglaoich emerges from the tunnel on crutches to take his seat with the Kerry subs.

Donegal 0-12 Mayo 1-5

Meanwhile Michael Murphy has added another two points for Donegal, after a Tommy Conroy point for Mayo.

Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-10

Kerry hit the first point of the second half to level the game, with Paul Murphy supplying the finish. 

Donegal 0-12 Mayo 1-6

Diarmuid O’Connor pulls a point back for Mayo with a free.

Goal chance!

Ciarán Kilkenny collects the ball in acres of space, but Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan does well to come out and put Kilkenny under pressure before Kerry recover turn the ball over. 

Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-11

Another point for Paul Murphy to give Kerry the lead in Croke Park.

Donegal 0-12 Mayo 1-6

Diarmuid O’Connor with another free for Mayo as they try claw back Donegal’s lead.

Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-12

Kerry move two points clear thanks to a point from Liam Kearney.

Dublin 1-11 Kerry -12 

Conor McHugh wins a soft free, and Dean Rock hits the point with ease after a short stoppage to lace up his boots.

Philly McMahon has been booked for a clash with Clifford, although it looked like there was two of them in it.

Donegal 0-12 Mayo 1-8

Better from Mayo, they add two points in quick succession from Brian Walsh and Kevin McLoughlin.

Dublin 1-11 Kerry 1-12

Kerry’s Sean O’Shea is the latest player to be yellow carded.

Donegal 0-13 Mayo 1-9

A Ciaran Thompson free restores some breathing space for Donegal.

Dublin 1-11 Kerry 1-13

Killian Spillane replaces James O’Donoghue, who had a very positive 50 minutes. 

Meanwhile Kevin McManamon gets yellow carded, just before being replaced by Sean Bugler, and the foul allows Sean O’Shea extend Kerry’s lead with a well-struck free. James McCarthy has also been booked for an unnecessary foul on Paul Geaney around the middle of the pitch. 

Donegal 0-14 Mayo 1-9

The two teams trade points again, McLoughlin with another for Mayo before Michael Langan points for Donegal. It remains a two-point game.

Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-13

Another Dean Rock free. The game is getting a bit scrappy with all the stoppages for frees and marks. 55 minutes played.

RED CARD

Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-14

Eric Lowndes, who was black-carded in the first half, gets another yellow card for a high challenge on Stephen O’Brien, which results in him being sent-off.

Sean O’Shea nails the free and Dublin are down to 14 men, and trailing by two points, with 14 minutes left to play.

Donegal 0-15 Mayo 1-10

Another Diarmuid O’Connor free for the Connacht side.

Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-15

And in Croke Park, it’s another Sean O’Shea free. Kerry take a three point lead for the first time, as we enter the final 10 minutes of play.

Dublin 1-13 Kerry 1-15

So much for Kerry’s one man advantage…

Black card for Kerry’s Graham O’Sullivan, and Dean Rock hits the free to pull it back to a two-point game.

Donegal 0-17 Mayo 1-11

James Durcan points for Mayo, but Andrew McLean responds for Donegal immediately as we enter the last minute of normal time.

Dublin 1-13 Kerry 1-16

That man again. Exceptional free-taking from Kerry’s Sean O’Shea this evening.

Dessie Farrell sends in Rory O’Carroll for Philly McMahon, a wise move as McMahon was living on the edge as the game wore on.

Dublin 1-14 Kerry 1-16

Lovely play from Rock and Mannion leads to a James McCarthy point. 66mins played.

Dublin 1-15 Kerry 1-16

A wonderful mark from Ciarán Kilkenny under pressure, and his point makes it a one point game. 67mins

Donegal 0-18 Mayo 1-13

A tense end to the game in Donegal. Six minutes of added time, and two points from Mayo’s James Durcan makes it a one point game, before Ciaran Thompson extends Donegal’s lead to two points again with three of the added six played.

Dublin 1-17 Kerry 1-17

Patient build-up play from Dublin, and Kilkenny finds the score that levels the game as the clock enters the red. Six minutes of added time to play. We’ve been level seven times. 

GOAL FOR MAYO!

Donegal 0-19 Mayo 2-13

Donegal 0-19 Mayo 2-13

James Durcan is the Mayo hero as he finds the net to level the game deep into added time.

Dublin 1-18 Kerry 1-17

Dublin take the lead with a Niall Scully point!

Dublin 1-18 Kerry 1-18

Just after Dublin take the lead, Rory O’Carroll coughs up a free, it’s moved forward for dissent and Paul Geaney levels the game.

FULL-TIME

Donegal 0-19 Mayo 2-13

Dublin 1-19 Kerry 1-18

More patient play from Dublin as they pop the ball around and let the clock wind down. After a long series of possession play around the middle of the pitch, they go for the kill and Ciarán Kilkenny wins a free in a great possession, and Kerry’s Shane Enright gets the yellow card. Dean Rock nails the free.

Sean O’Shea gets black carded and then red-carded, following his earlier booking, for an off the ball incident. 

77 minutes played.

Dublin 1-19 Kerry 1-19

Kerry win a free which sees Kilkenny yellow carded, and as a Dublin player boots the ball away, the free is moved forward.

David Clifford scores the free and levels the game after 79minutes.

FULL-TIME

Dublin 1-19 Kerry 1-19

What an end to both games.

Mayo saved a draw thanks to a brilliant late rally led by James Durcan, while a hot-tempered finish in Croke Park saw David Clifford’s free level the game for the ninth time with the final kick of the evening.

An eventful start to the new National League season.

Thanks for joining us, we’ll have reports and reaction from both games shortly.