Seven Key Points: What we took away from Donegal's historic win over Kerry

3. Strategic significance of two-point scores

The introduction of two-point scores has added a new strategic layer to the game and was perhaps the key detail in Donegal landing their second league win in 2025.

Before the introduction of the new rules, in particular, the two-point score, Donegal's result against the Kingdom would've ended in a draw on a 0-20 to 1-17 scoreline. But we are now in 2025, and the significance of the long-range score that sees the raising of a red flag is something that a team of Donegal's attacking callibre can take full advantage of.

The opening two-point score from Ryan McHugh set Donegal into a lead that they never relinquished. 

Kerry's indiscipline resulted in the ball being brought forward 50 metres which saw Patrick McBrearty decide between a one-point scoring opportunity or for the Kilcar man to bring it out between the '45' and the large 'D' and chance his luck for a two-pointer.

Oisin Gallen nailed the final two-pointer for Donegal, with those three scores proving vital in the Ulster champions' win, while Seán O'Shea's effort from range three minutes from the end gave Kerry a glimmer of hope of a comeback. 

The key question is; does this dilute the threat of working a goal opportunity when the percentages show that it's easier to kick from range for two points rather than raise a green flag for three? Only time will tell for that.