Exceptional display by Donegal bursts Dublin’s bubble

Donegal 3-14 Dublin 0-17

Even for a country that has acquired some experience of bubble-bursting, yesterday’s pop was deafening. Donegal, their best days apparently growing small in the rear-view mirror, came to Croke Park and both overpowered and outplayed champions Dublin whose iron-clad hold on football for the past 18 months – and in the minds of some into the conceivable future – was shattered.

They dismantled the fashionable theory that they couldn’t chase a match by turning the glittering array of Dublin’s early points on their head in a first half that showcased the best football of the championship.

This semi-final triumph was no streaky, seat-of-the-pants flop over the line while unexpected misfortune undermined Dublin. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness sent out a team with the self-belief after a difficult couple of years, motivation and above all presence of mind to execute a straightforward game plan.

McGuinness said afterwards that football wasn’t about all-out attack or all-out defence but a combination of both.

Quibbles

Some of the quibbles about Dublin’s progress to date – not having been properly tested nor even having played a Division One county so far this summer - had sounded like whistling in the dark in recent weeks. But by the end of the afternoon, the reservations had acquired unexpected resonance.

This was Donegal’s best display in championship since the All-Ireland-winning season of 2012 and Dublin’s worst of Jim Gavin’s two years. The champions’ almost total loss of composure undermined their efforts to sustain a viable comeback.

Donegal had them where they wanted them: making hare-brained, flailing attacks, which when they broke down, were turned into swift counter-attacks that kept the scoreboard moving along nicely, while demoralising Dublin.

So much of what happened must have appeared like a dark mirror for Dublin supporters. So much focus on the legendarily claustrophobic semi-final of 2011 ill-prepared the football public for a winning total of 3-14 from Donegal.

Completely unfancied

McGuinness has always lamented the team’s inability to get its attacking game in order that day and the widely derided final score of 0-8 to 0-6 told the tale.

Yesterday though more accurately referenced the counties’ first championship meeting in the All-Ireland final of 1992 when completely unfancied Donegal shocked the favourites to win the county’s first Sam Maguire.

Coming in at a remote 6 to 1, Donegal also had to endure a most unpromising start. Having got on the board first with a Michael Murphy free, the Ulster champions were subjected to a barrage of fast-moving attacks and impeccable long-range shooting.

Paul Flynn – with Diarmuid Connolly one of the only two Dublin players to play to form–- launched strikes from around the 45-metre line. This textbook unravelling of the massed defence was supplemented by a particularly wounding close-in concession – turning over the Donegal defence for Bernard Brogan to point.

Nor was the threat confined to points. In the 12th minute Eoghan O’Gara bore in on goal and flicked a pass to Bernard Brogan who frustrated by a great covering block by Neil McGee.

Later when the margin was four, 0-4 to 0-8, Connolly was given a chance by Cormac Costello _ a late change for Kevin McManamon – but Paul Durcan saved. That’s Dublin, though: missing goal chances but plenty more where they came from.

If there were straws in the wind they came from Donegal's ability to poach points and not fall too far behind – five points was the maximum – Rory Kavanagh's perseverance in the face of some disheartening setbacks and Neil Gallagher, a live man of the match contender with his brilliant display as a go-to man for attacking ball.

Karl Lacey scored a point, maybe tellingly racing into space with Alan Brogan left behind, whereas Michael Murphy gave yet another display of controlled selflessness, slugging it out for possession, moving in to threaten closer to goal and directing attacks. His flick into space for the team's third goal in the second half was a masterpiece of perceptiveness and ball winning power.

But the champions were in excellent form for most of the first half. Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs were spot on _ a couple of exquisite flights into Alan Brogan’s path included the platform for the latter’s 23rd minute point.

The match began to turn in Donegal's favour with a run of scores and the introduction of Christy Toye before the half hour. He muscled into the match bringing hard running and strength in the tackle. Three points in two minutes cut away at the deficit and with momentum running, they struck for goal.

Colm McFadden smuggled the ball back after it had been broken by Dublin’s defence and placed Ryan McHugh for a goal that gave Donegal a lead they would never lose.

Panic early

By the time Flynn kicked a point before the break Donegal had rattled off an unanswered 1-4. Like the Cork semi-final of 2012, their opponents had played at times scintillating stuff but Donegal now led.

The second half was damning for Dublin’s reputation. They appeared to panic early and were helped in this by the second goal in the 39th minute.

Cian O’Sullivan appeared to have held up Anthony Thompson but the Donegal player turned inside and set up McHugh for a goal, delicately palmed in past Cluxton before the Dublin goalkeeper could smother any shot.

Now it was Dublin who were challenged to chase the match and they showed a shocking lack of invention and composure by trying to barrel through their opponents’ defence. But instead of looking for a shooter, the runner frequently kept driving on until the rearguard where the McGee brothers standing sentry were exceptional.

The third goal arrived in the 47th minute after Murphy’s flick opened the road for Gallagher and Odhrán MacNiallais – who impressively got to the pitch of the match after the whirlwind adversity of the early stages – provided for McFadden who crowned his return to form with a goal, nimbly side -stepping Cluxton.

It was over. All that remained were the increasingly frantic efforts by Dublin to score something but so wild was the finishing that wides outnumbered scores – a sobering end to what had been expected to be the county’s first back-to-back season in 37 years. Instead the two great football outposts of the west-coast extremities will meet for the first time in an All-Ireland final.

All changed.

DUBLIN: 1. Stephen Cluxton; 4. Philip McMahon (0-1), 3. Rory O'Carroll, 2. Michael Fitzsimons; 24. Jack McCaffrey, 6. Jonny Cooper, 5. James McCarthy; 8. Michael Darragh Macauley, 9. Cian O'Sullivan; 10. Paul Flynn (0-4), 13. Alan Brogan (0-2), 12. Diarmuid Connolly (0-5, 0-1 free); 20. Cormac Costello, 14. Eoghan O'Gara, 15. Bernard Brogan (0-3, one free). Subs: 11. Kevin McManamon for Costello (41 mins), 26. Dean Rock for O'Gara (48 mins), 17. Paddy Andrews (0-2) for B Brogan (53 mins), 22. Darren Daly for Cooper (62 mins), 23. Paul Mannion for O'Sullivan (68 mins). Yellow card: McCarthy (1 min)

DONEGAL: 1. Paul Durcan; 3. Neil McGee, 4. Eamonn McGee, 4. Paddy McGrath; 5. Anthony Thompson, 6. Karl Lacey (0-1), 7. Frank McGlynn (0-1); 26. Rory Kavanagh (0-1), 9. Odhran MacNiallais (0-1); 18. David Walsh, 11. Leo McLoone, 12. Ryan McHugh (2-2); 15. C McFadden (1-3, 0-2 frees), 14. M Murphy (0-3, 0-2 frees), 8. Neil Gallagher. Subs: 10. Christy Toye for Walsh (27 mins), 13. Patrick McBrearty (0-2) for McLoone (43 mins), 19. Declan Walsh for N McGee (black card, 58 mins), 24. Martin McElhinney for Kavanagh (60 mins), 17. Darach O'Connor for McFadden (64 mins), 25. Martin O'Reilly for MacNiallais (69 mins). Yellow cards: Gallagher (7 mins), Murphy (62 mins). Black cards: N McGee (58 mins), McGrath (73 mins)

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).

Attendance: 81,500