When Donegal and Derry last met in Division 1 in 2015

It's been over 10 years since Donegal and Derry have squared off in a National League game and as they prepare to do battle this Sunday in Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon, thoughts began to cast back to when these teams last met in the league.

It was 2015, and fresh from their all-Ireland final appearance in 2014 where they lost to Kerry, Donegal had ushered in a new manager after four successful years under Jim McGuinness with the Naomh Conaill man's former assistant Rory Gallagher taking the reins as inter-county boss.

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Since that first league game under Gallagher, Donegal had held their own in Division 1, while also making appearances in Division 2 in 2019 and 2024, while Derry has bounced between all the divisions suffering back-to-back relegation from Division 2 to Division 4 between 2017 and 2019.

However, since then, the county has taken a turn, appearing in the 2023 Division 2 final in 2023, before winning the Allianz Football League last season, beating Dublin in the final.

In preparation for Sunday's match, let's rewind back to 2015 when Donegal and Derry last clashed in Division 1

Donegal 1-15 Derry 0-12

Donegal secured a solid victory over Derry in their Division 1 clash in Ballybofey, marking the start of the Rory Gallagher era as his side cruised to a six-point win in MacCumhaill Park.

The visitors led 0-09 to 0-06 at half-time, with Mark Lynch dominating with five points. Despite a strong start from Donegal, who were 0-03 to 0-01 up early, Derry controlled the game with five points in nine minutes and another three before the break.

The second half saw a transformation, with Martin McElhinney’s introduction sparking Donegal’s comeback. McElhinney kicked a point and set up another for Martin O'Reilly, helping level the game by the 44th minute.

A penalty miss from Michael Murphy in the 50th minute kept the game tight, but three minutes later, Odhrán Mac Niallais found the net, giving Donegal the lead.

With McBrearty and Toye in fine form, Donegal sealed the win as Derry ran out of steam. The final scoreline saw Donegal emerge victorious, 1-13 to 0-12, marking a strong start to their league campaign.

Donegal: P Durcan; P McGrath, E McGee, F McGlynn; R McHugh, K Lacey, C McGinley; N Gallagher, C Toye (0-02); H McFadden, M McHugh, O Mac Niallais  (1-00); P McBrearty (0-05, 0-02f), M Murphy (0-05, 0-05f), M O’Reilly (0-02). Subs: D McLaughlin for McGinley (27 mins), M McElhinney (0-01) for McFadden (h-t), D O’Connor for McLaughlin (70), G McFadden for O'Reilly (71).

Derry: T Mallon; O Duffy, N Holly, J O’Kane; K Johnston, G O’Kane, M Craig; M Lynch (0-06, 0-05f), C McAtamney (0-01); B Heron (0-01), D Heavron, E Lynn (0-01); S L McGoldrick, E McGuckin (0-01), B McGoldrick (0-01). Subs: B Og McGilligan for McAtamney (48 mins), L McGoldrick for Holly (54), E Bradley (0-01) for McGuckin (57), C McFaul for Heron (65), J Kearney for Lynn (70).