Allianz Football League Division 1

DONEGAL 0-13 KERRY 1-9

By Chris McNulty at Sean MacCumhaill Park

In a frenzied concluding chapter, Patrick McBrearty marked his first game as Donegal captain with a brilliant winner against All-Ireland champions Kerry.

Ballybofey erupted, Paddy Carr pumped his fists and a new-look Donegal toasted a pair of points that already feel valuable.

With only 30 seconds of added time to play, McBrearty took aim. The ball momentarily hung and the rusted trees of Drumboe Woods swayed before it dropped between Shane Murphy's posts.

Just moments earlier, with the sums level, Murphy saved from Jamie Brennan and it looked enough for Kerry – who scored just three points in the last 45 minutes – to share the dividends, only for McBrearty to have another say.

At one stage, Donegal trailed 1-6 to 0-3, with Dara Moynihan goaling, but they hit seven successive points, either side of half-time, to swing the pendulum.

Donegal stirred in the Ballybofey rain, drawing level through Jamie Brennan in the 44th minute after impressive League debutant Caolan McColgan – who was named as man of the match - opened up the possibilities.

Teenage forward Luke McGlynn, just over 24 hours after his grandfather, Charlie, was laid to rest, came off the bench to edge Donegal in front.

Shaun Patton, returning in goal as an eleventh hour inclusion for the hosts after an injury kept him out of the Dr McKenna Cup, stroked over a '45 after Paul Murphy briefly levelled and the grandstand finale was on course.

A new era has dawned in Donegal. No longer is Michael Murphy carrying his county's hopes after the 2012 All-Ireland-winning captain's surprise retirement. Neil McGee, so long the guardian of the gates at full-back, also stepped aside.

After a long wait for an appointment, following Declan Bonner's resignation last summer, Paddy Carr is the man shining the torch for Donegal's new generation.

It didn't appear promising in the early stages. Moynihan picked the ball right from the oxter of full-back Brendan McCole and clipped to the River End net in the 14th minute. '

Moynihan reacted instinctively when McCole took a pass from Mark Curran. Patton could only watch in horror as Moynihan finished.

Tom O'Sullivan and Killian Spillane tacked on scores to put Kerry 1-4 to 0-2 ahead by the 20th minute.

O'Sullivan was among five of the Kerry side that began the All-Ireland final win over Galway last July to start here. Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tadhg Morley and Jack Barry were also included from the off.

Paul Murphy, who won the All-Ireland club intermediate football final with Rathmore only two weeks ago, boomed over during the spell in the first half when Kerry asserted dominance.

A pair of Darragh Roche points on his debut had Kerry six up before youngsters Conor O'Donnell and McColgan delightfully posted from either wing.

Johnny McGroddy, like McColgan making a first League start, reduced the arrears a little further.

When they paused to draw breath at the interval, Kerry led 1-6 to 0-6.

Donegal came out with a real purpose for the second, but it was only deep in the embers that they were able to pull the win from the fire.

Scorers for Donegal: Caolan McColgan, Conor O'Donnell 0-3 each; Daire O Baoill 0-2; Johnny McGroddy, Jamie Brennan, Luke McGlynn, Patrick McBrearty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kerry: Darragh Roche 0-3; Dara Moynihan 1-0; Paul Murphy 0-2; Tom O'Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Ronan Buckley, Donal O'Sullivan 0-1 each.

DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Caolan Ward; Caolan McColgan, Stephen McMenamin, Martin O'Reilly; Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee; Johnny McGroddy, Daire O Baoill, Conor O'Donnell; Hugh McFadden, Patrick McBrearty, Jamie Brennan. Subs: Luke McGlynn for McFadden (42), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui for McGroddy (63).

KERRY: Shane Murphy; Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Mike Breen, Tadhg Morley, Paul Murphy; Jack Barry, Barry O'Sullivan; Micheál Burns, Dara Moynihan, Adrian Spillane; Tony Brosnan, Darragh Roche, Killian Spillane. Subs: Ronan Buckley for Breen (47), Ruairi Murphy for A.Spillane (47), Donal O'Sullivan for Burns (55), Stefan Okunbar for B O'Sullivan (55), Greg Horan for Moynihan (62).

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).