Donegal’s only league win against Dublin in Croke Park - 1994

A new manager and a number of new faces was the combination for Donegal’s only league win over Dublin in Croke Park back in 1994.

PJ McGowan had taken over as manager from Brian McEniff and after wins away to Down and home to Derry, the team went to Croke Park and recorded a one point victory - 0-12 to 1-8 - the winning point coming courtesy of Tony Boyle in added time.

Donegal should have won more convincingly as they recorded 17 wides during the game and also put a penalty over the bar. They trailed by 1-6 to 0-3 at the break but completely dominated the second half, creating five goal chances and taking none of them.

Among the new faces on the Donegal team that day was Seanie Boyle from Cloughaneely, who was making his senior league debut while present manager Jim McGuinness came on as a sub.

Seanie Boyle had come up through the ranks at minor and captained the U-21s in 1992 and, as he says himself, “I knew nothing else but football.”

The win meant that Donegal topped the table on six points from the three games.

“There was a split season back then and it was in November. I don’t have many games to remember, the wee time I was there,” laughs Boyle.

“We went on to the league final that season and lost to Derry. The game in Dublin, I know Eugene McMenamin played and Luke Gavigan. Mark McShane was there too,” said Boyle, who says he cannot remember that much about the game.

“There was a new rule in that time that after two fist passes, you had to have a kick pass.

“It’s funny, I have a picture here in the house here; I think it was in the Irish News. I was on the ball and Vinny Murphy was running behind me.

“I got a thump that day from Jack Sheedy but I wasn’t right for some time. I played the following week against Kildare at home but I was goosed after that. I was coming and going to physio after that and couldn’t really shake it off,” said Boyle, who added that Damian Diver came in after that and took his position.

The knock affected Boyle for a number of years as he hardly played much for up to four years.

But while he wasn’t playing for some time because of the injury, he got involved in coaching.

“Paddy Fenny (McBride) took on a Donegal U-16 team and I helped out with that. I was also involved with Sean Clerkin at U-16 level before Anthony Molloy took on the minors and asked if I would get involved.

“It’s funny, I’m back now with underage again at the club at U-16 level. It is full circle.”

Boyle was heavily involved at a stage when Cloughaneely were very strong at underage in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They won two U-21 titles in 1998 and 2000 but they just couldn’t make the breakthrough at senior level.

Asked about the present Donegal team and their win at the weekend in the Dr McKenna Cup final, Boyle is pleased to see so many new faces.

“It would be hard to judge, especially with the opposition. You would have to see them in two or three league games.”

 In relation to the big number of newcomers, he likens it to the last underage team he was involved with his own clubman, Jason McGee’s age group. Looking at that 2016 minor team you had Jason, Gavin Mulreany, Brendan McCole, Mark Curran, Kieran Gallagher, Niall O’Donnell, Peadar Mogan, Eoghan McGettigan and Odhran McFadden Ferry, who have all played at senior level.

Of the present group he is very pleased and feels there may be a few more. “I was wondering where Sean Martin was. I thought he was one that might come through. 

“Cathal Rua Gallagher is another that has to be in the running. He would suit the style of football that Donegal are playing and he is still young.

“Big Kieran Gallagher, if he can get a full National League behind him, he will be good to have to help out at midfield,” says Boyle, who adds that Donegal has had a couple of good years.

“We were on the slide, but now we seem to be back on track over the last couple of years.”

Outside of football, Boyle is busy on the farm and is going to feature on TV again this year. Film crews from RTE and TG4 have been working on Boyle’s farm before Christmas and they are due back again to complete filming in the next few weeks.

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The teams on the day were: 

Dublin: Mick Pender; Paddy Moran, Liam Walsh, Robbie Leahy; Paul Curran (0-1), Keith Barr, Ian Robertson; Paul Bealin (0-1), Jack Sheedy; Shay Keogh (0-1), Brian Stynes, Sean Cahill; Charlie Redmond (0-1,f), Dessie Farrell (0-3,3f), Jason Sherlock (1-1). Subs: John O’Callaghan for Leahy; Vinny Murphy for Robertson.

Donegal: Gary Walsh; Mark Crossan, Eugene McMenamin, Matt Gallagher; Seanie Boyle, John Joe Doherty, Martin Shovlin; Mark McShane, Brian Murray; John Duffy (0-2), John Gildea, Declan Bonner (0-2,2f); Luke Gavigan, Tony Boyle (0-3), Manus Boyle (0-5,pen,2f). Subs: Jim McGuinness for Gavigan (40); James Ruane for McShane (58)

Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan)