Sheer determination pulls Donegal back from brink

Dublin 2-8 Donegal 0-14

From their perspective, a massive show of character in the closing minutes earned Donegal a well-merited draw in the last of the Bank of Ireland football championship quarter-finals in Croke Park with three late points. Conversely, absent manager Tommy Lyons watching from his hospital room would have felt, along with most in the packed stadium, that Dublin were on course for victory after full-forward Ray Cosgrove scored his second goal in the 64th minute.

That would also have been the general consensus at that precise stage in the contest because of the huge psychological boost it gave the favourites. Yet, only a few minutes earlier, after scores had been level for the seventh time in the match (through Dublin midfielder Ciaran Whelan), a draw looked increasingly likely. Ultimately, it was secured through the finishing of the team's top scorer Adrian Sweeney, with two points in the space of a minute.