By Cian O’Connell

It is now 1,413 days since Dublin’s last Championship defeat. The 2014 All Ireland Semi-Final raged from start to finish, but Donegal stayed the distance.

What commenced with Dublin kicking points from varying distances and angles ultimately ended up in a crushing defeat. Ryan McHugh darted through to land a couple of splendid goals as Donegal staged a remarkable rally.

In the intervening years Dublin have hoisted Sam Maguire three times, but Donegal’s win lingers in the memory. “It was one of the best days out that Donegal have had with people coming up remarking on how good a spectacle it was that way,” Rory Kavanagh says about a famous victory for Donegal.

“I suppose in many respects Dublin were just operating at a different level to everybody else back then and there are similarities to the way they are now.

“We were quietly confident in our own group that we could pull off an upset, we had a plan to go about it, and thankfully we did although it didn't start too well.”

Dublin were clipping points accumulating a 0-9 to 0-4 advantage with Donegal fortunate not to be further behind. What mattered most of all, though, was how Donegal, primed for the game by Jim McGuinness, simply stayed in contention during a dynamic Dublin burst at the outset.

“We went in with the intention of protecting the D because Dublin had obliterated teams with goals early on and we were very conscious about keeping the goals out early on,” Kavanagh recalls.

“That is what you have to do against Dublin teams, to try to take them down the stretch. We had worked a lot on video analysis of them and the way they pushed up on kickouts, the way they went man to man on opposition kickouts, and the fact we would feel they would be vulnerable off long kickouts if we could win breaking ball. They commit so many numbers up the field and that is the way it panned out.

“Initially you are talking about the start they got, but crucially they didn't get a goal even though they had a couple of chances. Connolly had a chance, Bernard Brogan had a chance, if one of them goes in it is a very different game. The fact we kept the goals out it was a huge boost for us and we nicked one ourselves towards half-time and we actually went in a point up.

“All of a sudden Dublin were maybe doubting themselves, it played into our hands beautifully because they pushed up even harder in the second half to try to squeeze the life out of us which left huge holes at the back. We knew from looking at them that they would leave big gaps back there.”

While Kavanagh acknowledges the critical importance of staying in the reckoning until the closing stages the St Eunan’s clubman also feels that Dublin have developed since that particular encounter.

“Dublin have learned and accumulated so much experience with All Irelands under the belt that even if there is only a point or two in it like in last year's All Ireland Final they don't panic know because that experience is within the group,” Kavanagh adds.

“It makes them even harder to beat, but certainly you have to ask that question of them. You can't go into this game with the game being over like in the Leinster Final against Kildare last year, the game was over after 10 or 15 minutes. It is a non event then, the spectacle is gone. Whatever pressure comes on players and their mentality it certainly will be tested if you are 10 or 15 points down with only 30 minutes of football played.”

During his own career Kavanagh enjoyed playing at GAA headquarters against Dublin and feels that it will benefit the emerging talent in Donegal. Kavanagh recalls being involved in the 2002 All Ireland Quarter-Final replay. “I was only a panel member, I came on in the replay, but we were getting well beaten at that stage,” Kavanagh remembers.

“Those were good days as well in terms of full houses at Croke Park which was a great experience and learning for us because obviously in that first game Donegal played really well. You had Brendan Devenney and Adrian Sweeney playing at a really high level inside in the full forward line causing problems.

“Things just fell away in the second game, but they were great days out. You have so many Donegal people living in Dublin that Donegal always get a big crowd in Croke Park.

“This is a new team, it is a very exciting new team, the loss of Paddy (McBrearty) is obviously a big blow to us, but in saying that Donegal being Ulster champions will go down there with real confidence.”

The new All Ireland Quarter-Final Group Phase also ensures Donegal’s developing team will feature in three more summer matches which is a significant boost according to Kavanagh.

“You can see the growth in the team already, there is much more power in the team and the pace in the team is very evident,” Kavanagh admits.

“You see our corner back Eoghan Ban (Gallagher) the way he can get forward, there is serious pace in the team, we have great legs and it complements the boys who have been around the block like Michael (Murphy), Frank McGlynn, and Leo McLoone and these fellas who bring that steady head. It is great.

“I think it will be a big ask for us to go to win against Dublin in Croke Park and I think most of the teams are playing for second place in that group. At the same time it is going to be a massive learning for them and it is great to play the Dubs in Croke Park because you are guaranteed a near full stadium.

“You look at Shaun Patton and these boys coming in, Jamie Brennan, Eoghan Ban, young (Michael) Langan, these are all young and new players experiencing playing against Dublin in Croke Park for the first time which is a great experience for them.” Donegal’s journey under Declan Bonner continues.