Colm Basquel, Dublin, and Finnbarr Roarty, Donegal, in Allianz Football League action. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division One
Donegal 0-20 (0-2-16) Dublin 0-16 (0-1-14)
By Chris McNulty at Páirc Seán MacCumhaill
Donegal maintained their excellent record in Ballybofey under Jim McGuinness’s watch.
McGuinness hasn’t lost a League or Championship match at Sean MacCumhaill Park and that stat remains intact after they opened their 2025 campaign with a four-point win over Dublin.
Donegal staved off a Dublin fightback in the second half and the optimism among the home followers in the 12,560 attendance was certainly justified.
Donegal fans might have to wait a couple of weeks to see the return of Michael Murphy - who has returned to the panel after two years out - but the likes of Oisín Gallen, Michael Langan and Patrick McBrearty showed that Donegal have plenty of firepower.
Daire Ó Baoill might find himself as a quiz question answer in time to come. The Gaoth Dobhair man, who was named as the man of the match, booted over the first two-pointer scored by a Donegal player when he fired over in the 25th minute.
Ó Baoill’s was the fifth score in a row by a Donegal player with the Gaoth Dobhair man adding another two-pointer before half-time.
Shane O’Donnell, the player of the year in the 2024 Donegal SFC, opened the scoring with a fine effort into the River End in the second minute.
Langan, who captained Donegal just two weeks after the death of his uncle, Don - a GAA stalwart for whom there was a minute’s silence beforehand - took a neat lay-off by Ryan McHugh to double the lead.
Killian McGinnis and two by Colm Basquel momentarily put Dublin in front. The Dubs were scoreless for the next 17 minutes as Donegal, spurred by Ó Baoill, took charge.
Seán Bugler - who clipped seven points in Dublin’s opening win over Mayo last weekend - ended the wait for a Dublin score while Shaun Patton thwarted the advances of Tom Lahiff, the Donegal ‘keeper making a fine close-range stop in the 28th minute.
Dublin manager Dessie Farrell made three substitutes in the first half with Conor and Niall Scully both thrown on as they looked to reduce their arrears.
Conor O’Donnell and Ó Baoill ensured that Donegal had a healthy lead at the break.
Due to the effects of Storm Éowyn, Donegal’s planned opener in Killarney against Kerry was shelved last weekend so the Ulster champions were something of an unknown.
Farrell, now in his sixth year as Dublin manager and undergoing something of a transformation, has close ties to Donegal. His mother, Anne Carr, hails from Crove in south-west Donegal and the Na Fianna man has often spoken of his fondness for Tír Chonaill, once recalling: “It shaped me as a human being and had an influence on me in later life as well. It’s my soul place, that’s what I call it.”
While Farrell’s men hit back with three-in-a-row at the outset of the second half, Shane O’Donnell settled the hosts’ nerves.
With subs Luke Breathnach and Niall Scully as well as Basquel on the mark, Dublin three times in the second half narrowed the margin to one, but Donegal didn’t buckle.
Donegal gave a League debut to teenager Finnbarr Roarty in defence and the Naomh Conaill man looked assured. McGuinness still has some of his heavy artillery to return to the jersey.
Murphy, the Donegal captain when they won an All-Ireland in 2012, has done a retirement u-turn and will add to his 177 games for the county this spring as he returns to bolster McGuinness’s cache of weapons.
Ballybofey man Gallen, on familiar home sod, Peadar Mogan, Langan and McBrearty, who was sprung from the bench, steadied any sense of the Donegal vessel looking unsteady as they restored a three-point advantage.
With the wind by the Finn picking up, McBrearty, twice, and Gallen raised the volume again.
Donegal are off and running. They could be rather dangerous if they pick up the gallop.
Scorers for Donegal: Daire O Baoill 0-6 (2 2pt), Oisín Gallen 0-4 (1f), Patrick McBrearty 0-3 (2fs), Michael Langan 0-2, Shane O’Donnell 0-2, Ciarán Thompson 0-1 (f), Peadar Mogan 0-1, Conor O'Donnell 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3 (1 2pt), Colm Basquel 0-3, Killian McGinnis 0-2, Greg McEneaney 0-2, Luke Breathnach 0-2, Seán Bugler 0-2, Niall Scully 0-1, Sean Lowry 0-1
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Ciaran Moore; Michael Langan, Ciaran Thompson; Daire O Baoill, Conor O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell; Hugh McFadden, Oisin Gallen, Caolan McGonagle.
Subs: Jamie Brennan for McFadden (50), Patrick McBrearty for C.O’Donnell (50), Eoin McHugh for R.McHugh (61) Odhran Doherty for S.O’Donnell (61), Mark Curran for Gallagher (64).
Dublin: Gavin Sheridan; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Sean MacMahon; Brian Howard, Cian Murphy, Greg McEneaney; James Madden, Killian McGinnis; Kevin Lahiff, Sean Bugler, Ciaran Kilkenny; Colm Basquel, Eoghan O’Donnell, Brian O'Leary.
Subs: Tom Lahiff for K Lahiff (25), Conor Tyrell for Byrne (29), Niall Scully for Madden (29), Luke Breathnach for Basquel (43), Sean Lowry for O’Donnell (64).
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).
