A Pale sun spilled across Parnell Park yesterday as two teams fretfully searched to carve out a new and definitive identity.

For Donegal folk, games against the city team always carry resonances of 1992, a year that has evolved from that of touchstone to pure nostalgia with little to remember in between. Dublin have also left fairly flimsy tracks since their great last splash in 1995.

Yesterday, Tom Carr and Declan Bonner, both decent football men, strode the sidelines and squinted across the park at sides who both look as if they are still trying to rediscover the path towards the top rather than actually setting out on it. But March days can be deceiving.

Blunted and wasteful against Roscommon, Dublin at least attacked this game with more zest and flowered tellingly immediately after half-time, hitting 1-2 in five minutes and burgling a lead which Donegal had laboriously fashioned over the first half hour.

The goal provided one of the few sequences of easy flow in a tetchy match but it originated from a Donegal error; after a fine interception, Mark Crossan half slipped as he attempted to handpass the ball clear, spilling possession to Declan Darcy, who arced a ball for Jim Stynes. He squared the ball for Colin Moran to fire venomously past Tony Blake.

Two beautifully-struck Jim Gavin frees had preceded that move and when Gavin pointed again in the 41st minute, Dublin were 1-8 to 0-7 up having trailed by two points at the break. After that, Dublin didn't quite have the lustre to canter free while Donegal puffed and persevered with no real impact. "Happy, yes. Our battling qualities came to the fore out there," said Carr quietly afterwards.

Jim McGuinness, lively for Donegal over the opening period, faded notably after the break as the visitors toiled to address an ailing midfield. Dublin's Ciaran Whelan played an increasingly central role, gliding forward to smoothly fire a couple of timely points. He was well supported by Jonathan McGee and Jason Ward, whose bulk and aerial prowess troubled a light Donegal side.

Yet the occasionally polished Dublin attack had a trembling quality about it. Dublin led 1-11 to 0-10 with 15 minutes to go, but then Ian Robertson and Declan Conlon both screwed fine chances wide.

Donegal - or at least a few key performers - clung grimly to the possibility of some unlikely turn in fortune. Adrian Sweeney was on fire early on, landing distant frees and shooting a sublime point on the turn. Later, with alarm bells ringing all over the field for his team, he was relocated to midfield where he shovelled for less return.

Brian Roper harassed and chased, John Gildea provided some much-needed bulk and young John McCafferty at least tried to spark some life along the wing. But too often they were chasing shadows.

"We didn't deserve anything from that game and we have a lot of soul-searching to do before the Kerry match," was the sobering verdict from Bonner, who added that with McGuinness not playing well the team lacked leaders on the field.

Yet the visitors still had a half-chance to force a draw. Brendan Devenney curled a late point to put his team within a goal even as time ran out. Gildea sent a hopeful ball back towards goal from the kickout, Sweeney fetched and threaded a pass to Brian McLoughlin. He in turn fed Devenney who might have pulled the trigger first time but opted to work for more space. His eventual shot was half-blocked and Dublin spilled clear.

It will be interesting to observe how both these counties fare over the coming months. Dublin can at least breathe deep and rest assured they have some football in them again. Shane Ryan had a fine day at centre back, Whelan at times looked peerless and Darcy remains a potent threat. Paddy Christie mopped up the persistently high ball Donegal hoofed towards goal and Declan Conlon used himself productively. And with a few banner names to return, they can convince themselves that there is reason for optimism.

This fledgling Donegal team are in danger of being perceived as a side who will compete but fail to force the win. And yet on hard ground and when they strike the right mood, they can look irresistible.

When asked about league contention, Carr nodded and said: "Ah, we are there or there abouts."

The question for both teams is: which way now?

Dublin: D Byrne; D Conlon (0-1), P Christie, K Galvin; P Curran, S Ryan, P Andrews; C Whelan (0-2), J McGee; J Ward, B Stynes, C Moran (1-0); J Gavin (0-5, five frees), I Robertson, D Darcy (0-3, one free). Subs: P Croft for C Moran (54 mins), E Sheehy for D Conlon (57 mins inj), B O'Brien for J McGee (65 mins).

Donegal: T Blake; J Scanlon, R Sweeney, E Reddin; M Crossan, S Carr, N MacCready; J Ruane, J McGuinness; J Gallagher (0-2,frees), J Gildea, B Roper (0-1); A Sweeney (0-6, four frees), B Devenney (0-2), M Caulfield. Subs: J McCafferty for J Ruane (30 mins inj), N Hegarty for M Crossan (40 mins), N McGinley for E Reddin (49 mins); B McLoughlin for J Gallagher.

Referee: M Convery (Derry).