Allianz Football League Division 1

DONEGAL 2-5 DUBLIN 1-8

By Chris McNulty in Ballybofey

Records remain intact after Michael Murphy’s free in added time rescued a draw for Donegal against Dublin in Ballybofey.

Niall Scully’s goal looked to have set Dublin up for a win, but Murphy stroked over after a foul on Eamonn Doherty in the 72nd minute.

The draw extends Dublin’s unbeaten sequence to 32 League and Championship matches while Donegal now haven’t lost in 16 matches in Ballybofey.

Donegal took a dramatic hold of the contest with quick-fire goals by Jason McGee and Ryan McHugh late in the first half; strikes that had them 2-2 to 0-5 in front at the changeover.

Rory Gallagher’s team had barren spells in both halves – 25 minutes in the first and 27 in the second without troubling the scoreboard operator – but they still earned a deserved draw.

Dublin were heading for the win when Scully scampered clear to drill a 54th minute goal past Mark Anthony McGinley, the Donegal goalkeeper.

Ciaran Thompson’s free teed up a grandstand finish and Murphy drew the teams level for a final time with that late, curling free at the Town End.

Jamie Brennan was often the only Donegal man in the Dublin half as the home side set about minding the house and catching their visitors on the counter. Still Donegal trailed 0-5 to 0-1 after 25 minutes.

When Thompson sailed over a delicious free, it was Donegal’s first point since midfielder McGee boomed over their opening point of the day after just 30 seconds.

But Donegal soon found themselves leading a game that was threatening to inch a little too far out of reach.

The first goal arrived in the 33rd minute. McGee had been sent on his way by Frank McGlynn – included in place of Darach O’Connor, who had been named in the XV – but shot at Stephen Cluxton.

After McGee steered across goal, Martin O’Reilly broke it into Brennan’s path but, from his scuffed shot, McGee managed to apply the finish.

And within a minute Donegal were toasting a second goal. Donegal won possession from the kick-out and McHugh netted.

The game had been in doubt until an hour before throw-in when match referee Ciaran Branagan finally gave it the go-ahead, on his third visit to walk the water-laden surface.

When Murphy slotted over a free, Donegal were four in front, 2-3 to 0-5, after four second half minutes.

Scully’s goal put Dublin back in the driving seat, but Donegal hit back to rescue a point that could well be priceless in their quest to stay in Division 1.

Scorers for Donegal: Jason McGee 1-1, Ryan McHugh 1-0, Ciaran Thompson and Michael Murphy 0-2 (2fs) each.

Scorers for Dublin: Niall Scully 1-1, Dean Rock 0-3 (3fs), Shane Carthy, Ciaran Reddin, Ciaran Kilkenny, David Byrne 0-1 each

DONEGAL: Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Ryan McHugh, Caolan Ward, Paul Brennan; Jason McGee, Michael Murphy; Frank McGlynn, Micheál Carroll, Martin O’Reilly; Eoin McHugh, Jamie Brennan, Ciaran Thompson.

Subs: Hugh McFadden for J.Brennan (40), Darach O’Connor for P.Brennan (45), Eamonn Doherty for Carroll (57), Stephen McBrearty for E.McHugh (63).

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Philip McMahon, Mchael Fitzsimons, Eric Lowndes; Darren Daly, John Small, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, Ciaran Reddin; Niall Scully, Shane Carthy, Conor McHugh; Ciaran Kilkenny, Eoghan O’Gara, Dean Rock.

Subs: Paul Flynn for Carthy (42), Michael Darragh Macauley for Reddin (42), Kevin McManamon for O’Gara (44), David Byrne for McCaffrey (57), Jason Whelan for McHugh (62), Emmet Ó Conghaile for Daly (69)

REFEREE: Ciaran Branagan (Down).