Dublin 2-16, Donegal 0-13:A match that entered injury-time with Donegal still within a score's reach ended in a slightly distorted nine-point win for Dublin, as captain Bryan Cullen and Diarmuid Connolly struck for late goals.
It was a harsh finale for the visitors, whose goose looked cooked from the moment injury forced their star forward Michael Murphy off the field with 10 minutes to go in the counties’ Division One encounter in Croke Park before a crowd of 23,855.
Donegal had mounted a lively third-quarter recovery and twice drew level, only to see the All-Ireland champions pull clear again.
By half-time the teams had managed to register the same total, 14 points, as in last August’s infamous All-Ireland semi-final. Under less pressure and amidst fewer atmospherics, the teams had a lively tussle but Dublin, moving well and far livelier than in last week’s defeat by Down, had the edge throughout despite a mixed performance featuring some good aspects but also plenty of mistakes.
In admittedly less claustrophobic circumstances than seven months ago, the All-Ireland champions attacked with sufficient purpose to get 12 players on the scoreboard for the 18 scores gathered throughout the evening.
At the back they coped well, as Donegal ran at them and Rory O’Carroll gave little away any time the opposition went long in search of their talisman full forward Murphy.
The latter still had a major impact, popping up everywhere and kicking six points, including two from play. In a frequently fluid display wing backs Anthony Thompson and Leo McLoone got up for first-half points but Dublin seemed to threaten from everywhere and had eight different scorers before half-time.
Injury forced the early withdrawal of Alan Brogan, Ger Brennan and Tomás Quinn but the run-outs for Dean Rock and Dean Kelly went reasonably well and they both scored.
A five minute scoring burst between the 58th and 63rd minute with points from Cluxton, a 45, Paul Flynn, Rock and the tireless Kevin McManamon opened out a lead that was supplemented by the late goals to leave Dublin on course for the league semi-finals.
Dublin: S Cluxton (0-1, free); C O'Sullivan, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; J Cooper (0-1), G Brennan, K Nolan; E Fennell (0-1), MD Macauley (0-1); P Flynn (0-1), A Brogan (0-1), B Cullen (capt; 1-1); T Quinn (0-1), D Connolly (1-3, two frees), K McManamon (0-3). Subs: S Murray for Brennan (25 mins), D Rock (0-1)for Brogan (30 mins), D Kelly (0-1)for Quinn (half-time), C Dias for Cooper (59 mins).
Donegal:P Durcan; F McGlynn, N McGee (0-1), P McGrath; A Thompson (0-1), K Lacey, L McLoone (0-1); C Toye (0-1), N Gallagher; M O'Reilly, R Bradley, M McHugh, P McBrearty (0-1, free), M Murphy (0-6, three frees and 45), M McElhinney (0-1); Subs: D Walsh (0-1)for O'Reilly (30 mins), E McGee for Toye (54 mins), A Hanlon for Murphy (59 mins), D McLaughlin for Bradley (64 mins).
Referee: E Kinsella(Laois).
Saturday's Results
Division One
Dublin 2-16Donegal 0-13
Armagh 1-14Down 0-16
Division Two
Tyrone 1-12Meath 0-5
Division Three
Tipperary 0-12 Longford 0-12
Division Four
Limerick 1-14
Waterford 1-18
