Dublin 0-20
Donegal 0-15
Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
DUBLIN MADE IT three wins from three in Division 1 tonight, but they were far from impressive for long spells of their five-point win over Donegal.
Dublin led by six half-time and it looked like it would be business as usual for the All-Ireland champions from that stage. Backed by the wind, Donegal outplayed the hosts in the second-half and gave a good account of themselves despite suffering a third straight defeat in the top flight.
The Ulster side had Dublin’s lead down to a point by the 60th minute, outscoring them by 0-10 to 0-4 after the break, and were boosted by the surprise return from injury of Michael Murphy off the bench minutes earlier.
But Dublin held their nerve and late scores from Paul Mannion, Eoghan O’Gara, Ciaran Reddin and Paddy Small on his debut were enough to seal the victory in front of 21,469 at Croke Park.
Paddy McBrearty was the best player on show and finished with seven points, six of them in the second-half including a few stunning scores from the flank.
With a host of big names to return into the fold, Jim Gavin won’t be overly worried with Dublin’s poor second-half showing and they finished well with the game on the line.
Stephen Cluxton, who made his National League debut for Dublin in 2002 against Donegal, completed his 99th appearance in the competition against the some opposition tonight.
Nathan Mullins was the only man from Dublin champions St Vincent’s to start this game and he lined out at midfield for his adopted county Donegal, but was surprisingly withdrawn after 27 minutes.
Dublin heavily pressed Donegal’s kick-outs, pushing as many as five players into the full-forward line to force Peter Boyle kick to the middle third.
In midfield Michael Darragh Macauley and Brian Fenton cleaned up the restarts, while Johnny Cooper and Eric Lowndes picked up the breaks behind him. Donegal managed to turn the tide at midfield after the break and it set the platform for their third-quarter revival.
Donegal played with Leo McLoone as a sweeper, Odhran MacNiallais at centre-forward and Paddy McBrearty partnering Jamie Brennan in the full-forward line.
The All-Ireland champions led by 0-11 to 0-5 after a first-half where they largely controlled the tempo of the game.
Donegal might have been closer at the interval as Brennan rattled the post when he was put through one-on-one by McBrearty, but Colm Basquel also blew a Dublin goal chance earlier in the half.
Niall Scully had 0-4 on the board in the opening 35 minutes, timing his runs in from the wing to perfection to get on the end of Dublin moves.
Dublin sleepwalked into the second-half as Donegal hit seven points within 14 minutes of the restart. After a quiet opening period, McBrearty shot to life with four scores to leave them 0-14 to 0-12 behind in the 53rd minute.
Murphy’s introduction seemed to spark Dublin into life. The Glenswilly man looked rusty and hit two scoreable frees wide as well as dropping one effort into Cluxton’s hands.
McBrearty landed a further beauty to leave Donegal within one in the 60th minute, but four late scores saw Dublin home.
Scorers for Dublin - Niall Scully 0-4, Colm Basquel 0-4 (0-1f), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-2, Paul Mannion 0-2 (0-1f), Brian Fenton 0-2, Eric Lowndes 0-1, Paddy Andrews 0-1, Ciaran Reddin 0-1, Paddy Small 0-1, Brian Howard 0-1, Eoghan O’Gara 0-1.
Scorers for Donegal - Paddy McBrearty 0-7 (0-4f), Ryan McHugh 0-3, Jamie Brennan 0-2, Leo McLoone 0-1, Stephen McBrearty 0-1, Ciaran Thompson 0-1.
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnell’s)
2. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
3. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
5. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
4. Eric Lowndes (St Peregrine’s)
6. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
12. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
10. Brian Howard (Raheny)
22. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)
13. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
17. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)
Subs
25. Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue Synge Street) for Andrews (47)
26. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes) for McMahon (47)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams) for Macauley (65)
21. Ciaran Reddin for Scully (71)
15. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams) for Basquel (71)
Donegal
1. Peter Boyle (A0dh Ruadh BAS)
3. Caolan Ward (St Eunan’s)
4. Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Killybegs)
7. Tony McCleneghan (Moville)
6. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill)
21. Mark McHugh (Kilcar)
17. Eamonn Doherty (Naomh Adhamhnain)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar)
9. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs – captain)
19. Nathan Mullins (St Vincent’s)
8. Stephen McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Odhran MacNiallais (Gaoth Dobhair)
24. Ciaran Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
15. Jamie Brennan (Bundoran)
Subs
12. Caolan McGonigle (Buncrana) for Mullins (27)
11. Niall O’Donnell (St Eunan’s) for Thompson (ht)
27. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly) for MacNiallais (55)
20. Ciaran McGinley (Kilcar) for Mark McHugh (64)
10. Martin O’Reilly (Seán MacCumhaill) for Stephen McBrearty (69)
26. Paul Brennan (Bundoran) for Ryan McHugh (71)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
The 42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
COYBIB An unstoppable machine again this year. This Dublin team surely has to go down as one of the best ever in history of GAA
@England’s Envy: after cork!
@Mark o regan: Ah come on will ya, seriously ? Cork ??
@England’s Envy: one of the best in history? Yes. Unstoppable? No.
@Daniel O’Donnell: Ok Dan, who do you think can stop them lifting Sam again, seriously ?
@England’s Envy: what makes u think they’re unbeatable? Mayo have pushed them unbelievably close recently while Kerry bet them in the league final. I fancy Dublin to win it again this year but they’re not unbeatable
@Paul Mallon: I never said unbeatable, i said unstoppable. Kerry or Mayo when it comes down to it are bottlers.
@England’s Envy: Mayo will be there or thereabouts again this year but I think Kerry will push them furthest if not beat them.
@England’s Envy: unstoppable implies they’re unbeatable. And Kerry bottlers? The most successful gaa team. Stick to the soccer threads because you’re showing up your lack of knowledge here.
@England’s Envy: 37 all Irelands … Yeah Kerry are bottlers alright.
@Neil Ferriter: Lads, tongue in cheek.
@Neil Ferriter: jeez get over it kerry yer just not as good as the dubs!, quit whinging and accept it. Get over it like
@Anto Whelan: Anto come on lad that’s a poor attempt… you need to be more subtle ..
@Paul Mallon: you said Mayo. Everyone laughs at Spurs on here cos they’ve won nothing. Mayo have won less but still have “credibility”
@England’s Envy: Wexford stopped them down in Enniscorthy only recently
@Neil Ferriter:
Dublin are more subtile. As an unbiased observer Dublin are at present the ones to admire. Begrudge is another word for begrudge.
@Anto Whelan: happy Sunday Snoop Boggy Bog
They were a little sloppy last night but it’s still only Feb, Donegal made a real game of it, enjoyable match.
@Karlavaro: yeah mayo hahahha . They are not as good as the dubs!
@Niall Quinlan: donegal just couldnt handle the dubs are way better.
@Anto Whelan: Ah the Jackeens. The Juventus of Gaelic Football.
Good to see the young Donegal men putting it up to them. Hard luck but you’re day will come
A lot of reasons to be positive for Donegal. Young team keeping very competitive with a strong Dublin team albeit not playing at full tilt. Going be hard to stay up now though. Need to be looking at winning 3 of the next 4 games.
John small should have got the line..
Great to see Michael Darragh back to his best
@Ruairi Doyle: why was he sent off.
@Finbarr Lucey: counting his medals
Murphy is not from glenties, jesus 42 stop being Dublin, kerry and Cork centric
@Dunny Ciaran O’Donnabhain: dublin centric
What formation is that Donegal are playing?