Donegal captain Michael Murphy and Dublin’s Jack McCarthy were both sent off mid-way through the second half in a tough battle at GAA HQ.
But the final scoreline of 1-10 to 0-07 was harsh on Donegal and while Rory Gallagher will be disappointed with the result he will be happy at how his players performed this evening.
Dublin had led Donegal by just a point at half time 0-5 to 0-04.
Captain Michael Murphy opened the scoring for Donegal with a point in the 11th minute after a scoreless opening spell.
But Donegal could have been three ahead only for a good save in the third minute from Dublin keeper Michael Savage.
Odhrán MacNiallais played Eoin McHugh in but his effort on goal was somehow stopped by Savage.
Dublin then scored three unanswered points, two from frees from Cormac Costello, and it looked like they might run away with it.
Eoin McHugh, Michael Murphy and Rory Kavanagh (harshly) were all yellow-carded by that stage.
Éamon McGee reduced the deficit with a rare point before Kavanagh, who set up McGee, took a score himself to tie the game at three points each with ten minutes to go in the opening half.
Kevin McManamon however went up the other end to hit his second point to give the Dubs the lead once again.
A Michael Murphy free then came off the upright and wide, but Paddy McBrearty levelled the game again with a good point in the 32nd minute.
Dublin edged ahead just as the game ticked into first half injury time through Ciarán Kilkenny.
Rory Gallagher’s side came out flying in the second half and went ahead.
Ryan McHugh was fouled four minutes into the second half and Paddy McBrearty levelled from a free, before McBrearty set up MacNiallais for a lovely point to take Donegal into the lead.
McBrearty had a chance to take Donegal two points ahead but his free fell short; in between which Anthony Thompson was cleaned in a high challenge 15 metres out but none of the officials saw it.
So instead of a certain point from a free to go two up, Donegal found themselves behind within four minutes as first, sub Dean Rock hit a great point for the hosts, and then Paddy Andrews took a score to put Dublin ahead 0-07 to 0-06.
In the 50th minute there was controversy as both Michael Murphy and Jack McCarthy from Dublin were sent off with second yellows as the game became edgy.
Murphy’s sending off seemed harsh.
Donegal players were being pulled and shoved off the ball as times, but no frees accrued.
Rory Kavanagh had a chance to level the game but his effort off his left foot went wide – and within 30 seconds Dublin went two points up.
First Brian Fenton hit a 56th minute point when he could have gone for goal before Cormac Costello hit his third point of the evening to stretch the Dublin lead to three points 0-09 to 0-06.
McBrearty reduced the deficit to two points before McManamon stretched the lead again with five minutes of normal time left, 0-10 to 0-07.
And within 3o seconds the Dubs had a goal.
Paul Flynn robbed the ball off Mark McHugh, passed it to McManamon. He laid it off to Philly McMahon who finished it neatly under Mark Anthony McGinley.
It was disappointing for the travelling Donegal fans, but supporters will be happy with how this year’s team is shaping up.
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