Underdog Dubs look to go to well once more after dumping out Donegal

They had been unfancied and with reason. Their lack of confidence emanated from the Breffni Park pitch last Sunday as it did when Louth beat them two weeks earlier. But they are learning.

There are shades of 2010 about this championship of theirs. It has by no means been pretty but the blooding of players like Charlie McMorrow and Theo Clancy could reap dividends in the seasons ahead.

Reaching an All-Ireland semi-final as he achieved as part of his St Vincent’s club-mate Pat Gilroy’s group 16 years ago would represent a highly respectable season for Brennan in his first year.

They must go into the breach for the third consecutive weekend and possibly without Con O’Callaghan and Paddy Small and most certainly Nathan Doran, but they are building up a tidy bank of resilience.

Besides, Brennan is relishing the underdogs tag. His wish to take Parnell Park was not granted – it didn’t need to be – but he is very much leaning into this unusual status of theirs.

“I think looking back over the last two seasons, only one of the preliminary quarter-final winners, possibly Galway, actually won the quarter-final as well, so it's a tough task. Whoever we draw, they will definitely have the advantage.” 

What had been going wrong for them in Cavan seven days earlier, they addressed. “Against Cavan, we turned the ball over 22 times. Cavan just weren't as efficient in front of the goal on that particular day, so that's something that we talked about.

“Then you look at the Donegal kick-out, we got caught at the stroke at half-time (for Peadar Mogan’s goal). It's a decision to either press or drop and concede, but we all know how efficient this Donegal team are once they have the ball in hand. So, we said we would take our chances and play the riskier game, and see if we can win the ball in the air.” 

At his introduction as Dublin manager to the media last September, Brennan highlighted the need to “sneak a couple more” opposition kick-outs and “add a couple more to your own”. They did that here, winning 19 of their 29 and 18 of Donegal’s.

“Dublin did well on their own,” acknowledged Jim McGuinness. “They were getting them out over the top very early and it was allowing them to get the short ones away, they were asking both questions. We were probably down about 50% over the course of a game, which isn’t enough. You need to be tipping 60, 65 or even 70.” 

In extra-time, the absence of Michael Murphy and Jason McGee from the middle blunted Donegal’s retention. Both had been sent to the bin along with Niall Scully and Theo Clancy for the row precipitated by Murphy’s reaction against Ciarán Kilkenny after he had sent the game into extra-time.

In the first 10-minute period, Dublin substitute Seán Guiden picked off four points including a two-pointer. A Charlie McMorrow outside-of-the boot finish for a goal came back off the post.

Still, Dublin were five up when a breach was spotted and Gavin Mulreany blasted over the resultant two-pointer and Donegal were just three behind on the turnaround, 2-20 to 2-23.

What’s more, O’Callaghan had also retired injured and when Ryan McHugh opened the half with two points the initiative seemed to be with Donegal. Shea Malone had also tested Evan Comerford just before the first score.

McHugh’s brace was cancelled out by two from Colm Basquel, one from a free he won himself. A Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne point put the cap on a most satisfying win for Brennan and his men.

Watched by a 32,220 crowd, Paddy Small’s 67th minute goal looked to have propelled Dublin into the last eight. When Lee Gannon fisted over a point, it felt like an insurance score.

But Donegal weren’t done. Michael Langan’s goal attempt fizzed over the bar and then referee Martin McNally brought forward a free that Murphy drove over to secure 20 more minutes.

The free itself was a rough one on Dublin when Ross McGarry did all that would have been expected of him, placing the ball, having touched it on the ground. Something may have been said but on viewing it in real time there didn’t appear to be enough evidence to advance the ball.

McGuinness paid tribute to his team’s ability to hang on but they were expected to do more than that. Hitting Dublin for two first-half goals, the defeat to Cork appeared to be dwindling in the distance.

After Langan landed his second of three first-half point, Evan Comerford’s kick-out was intercepted by Max Campbell. He supplied Malone and his high finish was too good.

In his 200th appearance for Donegal, Murphy backed it up with a point to push Donegal five up, 1-6 to 0-4, and Dublin were staggering. They composed themselves with Brian Howard and O’Callaghan points, Langan’s third was followed by the hosts’ own 1-2 burst. After Basquel’s third came O’Callaghan’s fourth and then Small spoiled a short Mulreany restart intended for Caolan McGonagle. Small passed to O’Callaghan who tucked the ball under the Donegal and Dublin led 1-8 to 1-7.

Like Killarney on Saturday, another goal arrived in the final minute of the half. Murphy tapped on a long Mulreany kick-out, Peadar Mogan received and completed a one-two with Malone before sidefooting his cute finish beyond Comerford.

Donegal’s two-point lead, 2-7 to 1-8, was eventually swallowed by Dublin in the 54th minute when O’Callaghan curved over a 45. Parity was shortlived as Shane O’Donnell sent over Donegal’s first two-pointer.

Back Dublin came through a brace of points from substitute Ross McGarry and a goal beckoned in the 58th minute when Dublin turned over a Donegal kick-out with pace only for Gannon to spray the ball wide. Scully attempted to hook over a point in the 60th minute but it spun off the post and wide.

McGee struck a beaut of a two-pointer and into the swirling wind Basquel responded with one of his own. McGee added a one-point variation in the 65th minute but Basquel couldn’t respond seconds later.

Small did. O’Callaghan burst past Brendan McCole and transferred to his fellow forward to hit low in the 67th minute. Donegal lived to fight another 20 minutes but Dublin’s advance was merely delayed.

Scorers for Dublin: C. O’Callaghan (1-5, 1 tp, 1 45); C. Basquel (0-7, 1 tp, 1 free); P Small (1-2); S. Guiden (0-4, 1 tp); C. Costello (1 free), R McGarry (0-2 each); B Howard, C. Kilkenny, L. Gannon, P. Ó Cofaigh-Byrne (0-1 each).

Scorers for Donegal: P. Mogan (1-1); M. Langan, M. Murphy (1 tp free) (0-4 each); J. McGee (1 tp), R. McHugh (0-3 each); S. Malone (1-0); S. O’Donnell (tp), G. Mulreany (tp free) (0-2 each); E. Gallagher, C. O’Donnell, F. Roarty, (0-1 each).

DUBLIN: E. Comerford; D. Byrne, S. MacMahon, N. Doran; L. Gannon, T. Clancy, C. McMorrow; P. Ó Cofaigh-Byrne, B. Howard; P. Small, N. Scully, C. Costello; C. Kilkenny, C. O’Callaghan (c), C. Basquel.

Subs for Dublin: E. Kennedy for N. Doran (inj 29); R. McGarry for C. Costello (54); S. Guiden for P. Small (inj 67); S. Bugler for L. Gannon (75); T. Deering for C. O’Callaghan (inj 78); J. Bannon for S. MacMahon (85).

Black cards: T. Clancy, N. Scully (70-80).

DONEGAL: G. Mulreany; C. Moore, B. McCole, E. Gallagher; F. Roarty, C. McGonagle, P. Mogan; J. McGee, H. McFadden; M. Campbell, M. Langan, S. O’Donnell (j-c); C. O’Donnell, M. Murphy, S. Malone.

Subs for Donegal: R. McHugh for M. Campbell, O. Gallen for S. Malone (both h-t); C. Thompson for C. O’Donnell (63); S. Martin for H. McFadden (65); M. Campbell for F. Roarty, D. Ó Baoill for S. Martin (both 70); F. Roarty for C. Moore, C. O’Donnell for S. O’Donnell (80); C. Thompson for O. Gallen (87).

Black cards: J. McGee, M. Murphy (70-80).

Referee: M. McNally (Monaghan).