Donegal's joy from two-point range sees them overcome Dublin in football league opener

Donegal's Shea Malone celebrates after scoring his side's goal. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher.

DUBLIN 0-20 (0-2-16) DONEGAL 1-20 (1-5-10)

For a team that couldn’t register a two-pointer on their previous visit to Croke Park, Donegal’s kicking boots were certainly on with five double efforts in this Division 1 opener.

That duck egg in last year’s All-Ireland cost them dearly as Kerry recorded five and 10 was the final margin, but here their long-range striking was on song against a relatively callow Dublin side.

The disappointing crowd of 23,707, including those who took in the Meath-Derry Division 2 curtain-raiser, was not surprising when the weather was so unwelcoming.

The baptism for Dublin’s new recruits was just as hostile as Donegal’s half-forward line were constantly pushed them back and Michael Langan was scoring for fun.

Con O’Callaghan was excellent and Luke Breathnach excelled off the bench but it was a difficult debut for manager Ger Brennan.

Trailing 0-6 to 1-9 at the break, Brennan made three half-time substitutes and the changes, especially Breathnach’s introduction, had an instant impact.

Breathnach’s dash had Donegal on their heels and he had two points to his name in the first six minutes of the new half. The second of his scores brought Dublin within two.

A Michael Langan two-pointer doubled Donegal’s lead but they were on edge once more when substitute Seán Bugler drove through only to strike straight at Gavin Mulreany.

Langan shaped another two-pointer from a free and the six-point margin was restored. Breathnach and O’Callaghan were keeping the flame lit for Dublin but Donegal were turning it on seemingly when they wanted.

Daire Ó Baoill raised white and orange flags within a minute and Donegal’s cushion grew to seven. It was stretched to eight before Dublin rallied with four on the bounce, two of them from substitutes, but a Langan free in the 64th minute was reassuring as much as Dublin posted three of the last four scores.

Miserable conditions contributed to some miserable football early on. O’Callaghan began his 2026 season with a two-pointer from play in the third minute and thumped over a 45 a minute later after Dublin pressed on the kick-out.

Other than that, there wasn’t many highlights in the first quarter. Langan did force a save from Evan Comerford, which he touched wide in the sixth minute.

Dublin's Luke Breathnach is blocked by Caolan McGonagle. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher.

Mulreany sent over back-to-back two-point frees and Donegal were two to the good in the 13th minute, 0-5 to 0-3. And the visitors had more of the spoils for the remainder as they bossed possession.

They did amass eight wides, the last of them Hugh McFadden’s reactive goal attempt before the hooter, which first hit the post. But they were obviously the superior side with the questions their pace and change of attack asked of Dublin’s defence. While they were far more secure on their own kick-out.

A two-point free by O’Callaghan in the 23rd minute squared the game for Dublin at 0-6 apiece but Donegal hit the remaining four scores of the half including Shea Malone’s 33rd minute goal.

Before that, the O’Donnells, Conor and Shane, had raised white flags and after the latter’s score Donegal pushed up and Finbarr Roarty joined the scorers.

Malone finished his goal tidily after Caolan McConagle cut in from the right having taken a pass from Jason McGee.

Scorers for Dublin: C. O’Callaghan (0-8, 1 tp, 1 tpf, 1 45, 2 frees); L. Breathnach (0-5); N. Doran, P. Small, C. Tyrrell (0-2 each); S. Bugler (0-1).

Scorers for Donegal: M. Langan (0-6, 1 tp, 1 tpf, 1 free); G. Mulreany (0-4, 2 tpfs); D. Ó Baoill (0-3, 1 tp); S. Malone (1-0); C. O’Donnell (0-2); R. McHugh, S. O’Donnell, F. Roarty, J. McGee, C. McConagle (0-1 each).

DUBLIN: E. Comerford; E. Murchan, N. Doran, D. Byrne; R. Shaw, S. MacMahon, E. Kennedy; E. Dunne, T. Lahiff; K. McGinnis, N. Scully, L. O’Dell; P. Small, C. O’Callaghan (c), B. Howard.

Subs: S. Bugler for R. Shaw; C. O’Connor for T. Lahiff, L. Breathnach for L. O’Dell (all h-t); C. Tyrrell for E. Kennedy (47); P. White for E. Dunne (58).

DONEGAL: G. Mulreany; C. McColgan, B. McCole, F. Roarty; R. McHugh, C, McGonagle, P, Mogan (c); H. McFadden, J. McGee; D. Ó Baoill, S. O’Donnell, C. Moore; C. O’Donnell, M. Langan, S. Malone.

Subs: E. Gallagher for C. McColgan (48); K. Gallagher for S. Malone (54); T. Carr for D. Ó Baoill (64); C. McCahill for C. O’’Donnell (68).

Referee: N. Mooney (Cavan).