Donegal do enough to see off Dublin in Ballybofey in league opener

Donegal got their Allianz National League campaign off to a winning start with a deserved victory over Dublin in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

They should have won much easier than the final margin suggests but poor shooting in the opening half and a Dublin resurgence after the break left the result in doubt until they pulled away in the final 10 minutes.

The new-look rules were welcomed by the Donegal public for the first time and they were very happy after the opening half. A crowd of 12,560, dominated by Donegal colours, went home happy.

Before the start of the contest a minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Don Langan, St Michael's.

Donegal dominated the opening 35 minutes but the five point margin at the break (0-11 to 0-6) didn’t reflect their dominance. The main reason for that was the shooting of the home team who racked up eight wides.

Daire O Baoill was the standout player under the new rules hitting two points and two two pointers, accounting for more than half their total.

Shane O’Donnell and Michael Langan pushed Donegal ahead inside three minutes but Dublin responded well with Killian McGinnis and Colm Basquel (2) having the visitors ahead after eight minutes.

But then Donegal hit four points in-a-row followed by five wides. Daire O’Baoill was the only Donegal shooter finding the target as he pushed his side 0-8 to 0-4 ahead on 23 minutes.

Dublin brought in Tom Lahiff, Conor Tyrell and Niall Scully to try and stop the Donegal train and Lahiff almost made an instant impact, denied by a great save by Shaun Patton.

Conor O’Donnell and Daire O Baoill with his second two pointer had Donegal six clear before Ciaran Kilkenny popped over the last point of the opening half.

Donegal were awarded the only free for the three up infringement on the stroke of half-time but Oisin Gallen’s decision to go outside the 40m arc for a two point effort was off target.

One of the outstanding features of the opening half was the one-on-one defending of Brendan McCole at full-back for the home side.

Dublin made a blistering start to the second half with three points in as many minutes from Niall Scully, Colm Basquel and Greg McEneaney.

Shane O’Donnell and Oisin Gallen kept Donegal  three ahead but Dublin now had the advantage of a strengthening breeze. A two pointer from Ciaran Kilkenny cut the lead to the minimum.

Hugh McFadden and Caolan McGonagle were denied at close range before Gallen pointed a resultant free.

Luke Breathnach hit two for Dublin with Peadar Mogan fisting one for Donegal in between to leave it 0-15 to 0-14 to Donegal with 55 minutes on the clock. With six minutes left, points from Patrick McBrearty (2) and Michael Langan pushed Donegal three clear and even though Sean Bugler pulled one back Donegal closed out the game with further points from  McBrearty and Gallen.

Donegal scorers: Daire O Baoill 0-6,2tp; Oisin Gallen 0-4,1f; Patrick McBrearty 0-3,2f; Michael Langan, Shane O’Donnell 0-2 each; Peadar Mogan, Conor O’Donnell, Ciaran Thompson (f) 0-1 each.

Dublin scorers: Colm Basquel, Ciaran Kilkenny (1tp) 0-3 each; Greg McEneaney, Killian McGinnis, Sean Bugler, Luke Breathnach 0-2 each; Niall Scully, Sean Lowry 0-1 each.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Ciaran Moore; Michael Langan, Ciaran Thompso); Dairen Baoill, Conor O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell; Hugh McFadden, Oisin Gallen, Caolan McGonagle.

Subs: Patrick McBrearty and Jamie Brennan for McFadden and Conor O’Donnell (53); Odhran Doherty and Eoin McHugh for Shane O’Donnell and Ryan McHugh (60); Mark Curran for Eoghan B Gallagher (63).

Dublin: Gavin Sheridan; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Sean MacMahon; Brian Howard, Cian Murphy, Greg McEneaney; James Madden, Killian McGinnis; Kevin Lahiff, Sean Bugler, Ciaran Kilkenny; Colm Basquel, Eoghan O’Donnell, Brian O”Leary.

Subs: Tom Lahiff for K Lahiff (23); Conor Tyrell and Niall Scully for D Byrne and J Madden ((30); Luke Breathnach  for Basquel (43); Sean Lowry for E O’Donnell (63).

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).