Shea Malone makes the difference as Donegal see off Dublin at Croke Park

Donegal got down to serious business on Saturday night by nailing two early and impressive NFL points to the board against Dublin at Croke Park. 

Jim McGuinness’ side laid the foundations for victory on Jones Road with a first-half endeavour, into a serious breeze, that resulted in them exiting six to the good at the changeover. 

Dublin though, much like Donegal had inside the opening 35 minutes, fared much better facing into the gale and they really made a game of it in the second period. 

But the visitors would manage to keep the resurgent hosts at arm’s length as Shea Malone’s goal, right at the end of the first period, ultimately proved to be the difference. 

Into the mouth of those blustery and damp elements, Donegal were off the mark first through Ryan McHugh. 

Con O’Callaghan, with a two-point free, followed up by a ‘45, then had the Dubs 0-3 to 0-1 clear on seven minutes. 

With Donegal forced to carry ball upfield, Ciaran Moore made a real surge through the middle. 

He looked to play Michael Langan through on goal and even though possession spilt loose, last year’s All-Star midfielder still managed to take a swipe at the grounded ball as it took a nick of a Dublin leg and went behind for a ‘45. 

Gavin Mulreany came forward twice, in quick succession, to boot a pair of two-point frees to push Donegal back in front at 0-5 to 0-3. 

A trademark pop dispossesion from Finnbarr Roarty on the hesitant Killian McGinnis allowed Donegal to counter. 

The current Young Footballer of the Year sent Moore on another one of those darts but with McHugh coming on the loop, the resulting kick didn’t have the necessary steam and the effort fell short. 

Nathan Doran and Conor O’Donnell swapped points either side of the 20-minute mark as the visitors retained a two-point advantage at 0-6 to 0-4. 

Ten minutes out from the break, another O’Callaghan two-pointer, this time from play, again levelled matters up. 

On the half hour mark, Donegal picked up the pace as Shane O’Donnell, Conor O’Donnell and Roarty, taking advantage of a poor Evan Comerford kickout, tagged on three quickfire points. 

And with Donegal again turning over possession on the restart, Caolan McGonagle powered in from the right to set up Malone to blast to the net. 

With Dublin struggling now, Hugh McFadden struck the outside of a post, bang on the hooter, after a route one delivery into the area had been brilliantly plucked by Langan. 

Dublin opened with some intent on the restart as O’Callaghan and Doran shaved two off the six-point deficit. 

Jason McGee got Donegal going once more while a Paddy Small effort left it 1-10 to 0-9 early on in the second-half. 

Dublin substitute Luke Breathnach looked keen to make an impression as he landed a brace of efforts. 

But a Langan two-pointer immediately stroked that headway out as matters passed the three-quarter hour mark. 

Langan repeated that feat, this time from a free from the hands, as Donegal again went a half dozen points clear at 1-14 to 0-11. 

Breathnach and O’Callaghan reduced arrears back to four going into the last 20 minutes but three Daire Ó Baoill efforts, including a brilliant two-pointer from out wide, again provided some breathing space for the leaders. 

O’Callaghan, from a pair of frees, as well as additional points off the boots of Conor Tyrrell, Small and Breathnach cut matters back to four at 1-18 to 0-17 with seven to go. 

Langan and the excellent Breathnach traded points before Caolan McGonagle got forward to move Donegal onto 1-20. 

Desperate Dublin looked to turn the scew late on with Tyrrell and Breathnach narrowing the difference back to that previous green flag. 

But with full-time eventually signalling, it’s Donegal that head back to the north west with the opening win. 

Dublin scorers: Con O’Callaghan 0-8, 1’45, 1tpf, 4f; Luke Breathnach 0-6; Paddy Small, Nathan Doran and Conor Tyrrell 0-2 each. 

Donegal scorers: Michael Langan 0-6, 1tpf, 1tp, 1f; Gvin Mulreany 0-4, 2tpf; Shea Malone 1-0; Daire Ó Baoill 0-3, 1tp; Conor O’Donnell 0-2; Shane O’Donnell, Jason McGee, Caolan McGonagle, Ryan McHugh, Finnbwarr Roarty 0-1 each.

Dublin: Evan Comerford, Eoin Murchan, Seán MacMahon, David Byrne, Robert Shaw, Nathan Doran, Eoin Kennedy, Ethan Dunne, Tom Lahiff, Killian McGinnis, Niall Scully, Brian Howard, Paddy Small, Con O’Callaghan, Lorcan O’Dell

Subs: Cian O’Connor, Luke Breathnach and Sean Bugler for Shaw, Lahiff and O’Dell (all ht); Conor Tyrrell for Kennedy (46), Páidí White for Dunne (58).

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Finnbarr Roarty; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden, Jason McGee; Dáire Ó Baoill, Shane O' Donnell, Ciarán Moore; Conor O' Donnell, Michael Langan, Shea Malone.

Subs: Eoghan Ban Gallagher for McColgan (48), Turlough Carr for Ó Baoill (63); Conor McCahill for C O’Donnell (67).

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).