1989 and 1990 - last wins for Donegal over Kerry in Ballyshannon

While Donegal have not lost a league game in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon since 2009, their record against Kerry at the venue is not the best. Sunday’s game will be the seventh meeting of the sides in the league at the venue and so far Kerry have a 4-2 lead.

The wins for Donegal came in the very first two meetings between the sides in Division 1 - in 1989 and 1990, but since then Kerry have won four on the trot - twice in 1995 and again in 2000 and in 2003. 

The two wins in 1989 and 1990 both came in dramatic finishes. In 1990, after leading by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time, Donegal fell behind as Kerry took over in the third quarter. Heading into the final stages Kerry led by three but Donegal pulled themselves back into the contest and it looked it was going to end level before Manus Boyle pointed from a free on the 45m line close to the sideline - a quite sublime winner. The final score read: Donegal 0-11, Kerry 0-10.

A year later Kerry looked to be on their way to victory as they always held the upper hand but Donegal stayed in touch and there was another dramatic finish as Declan Bonner was very much to the fore. With Donegal two down, Bonner tore through to beat the defence and when confronted by the ‘keeper, his effort was heading for the net before Tony Boyle got a touch and the credit.

Kerry came back to equalise but Donegal were not to be denied with further points from two Bonner frees and the final point from substitute Gerry Curran and a 1-12 to 0-12 win.

There was an iconic picture by the late Michael O’Donnell from the 1989 game with Sylvester Maguire on one of his runs followed by the legendary Jack O’Shea and Connie Murphy.

O’Shea was a half-time substitute in the 1989 game and after his introduction Kerry turned a two point deficit into a three point lead. Maguire would probably have told all and sundry afterwards that he was introduced in the third quarter to counteract the presence of O’Shea.

Speaking this week, he said that of that famous picture that Brian McEniff had said: “The great Jacko couldn’t catch the Silverman”. Maguire was nicknamed the Silverman at the time. He’s had many other nicknames since then.

On Sunday next he will be the first man you will meet on the road outside Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon where he will be directing traffic as usual.

Asked about that game in 1989, he says: “Was that the game that Manus (Boyle) hit the free from the sideline to win it?”

“That was my first year back with the county and I think I was a substitute for the first three games. I think we played Down the following week and the game was postponed because of fog. I played a Sigerson Cup game down in Limerick the following Saturday and I remember Diarmaid Keon, after he woke up, marking Maurice Fitzgerald out of it.

“We came up the road after the Sigerson and headed back to Newry and I started that game against Down.

“But that would be my last game for the county for another while as I broke my leg in a challenge game on New Year’s Day in the park a month later.”

Maguire is expecting a massive crowd in Ballyshannon on Sunday, especially after the good start that Donegal made against Dublin.

“Both teams will want to put down a marker, especially Donegal after the All-Ireland final of last year. It should be a great occasion,” says Maguire.

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The full results from games between Donegal and Kerry in Ballyshannon are:

1989: Donegal 0-11, Kerry 0-10

1990: Donegal 1-12, Kerry 0-12

1995: Donegal 0-10, Kerry 0-14

1995: Donegal 0-6, Kerry 1-11

2000: Donegal 0-14, Kerry 2-16

2003: Donegal 0-8, Kerry 1-12

So there is plenty of incentive for Donegal to try and put a better look on the league statistics at the venue.