NFL Division One A/ Donegal 0-9 Dublin 0-5: Dublin took a morning flight to the north-west, but they were definitely back at ground level by they time they left the old port town of Ballyshannon yesterday evening.
Like Mayo and Cork before them, the Metropolitans encountered a Donegal team in a mood of high discipline and adventure and this victory over another marquee county leaves Brian McIver's men sitting pretty in the league.
It has been an impressive start for Donegal, who have bounced around the divisions in recent seasons. And this confident early season burst of form seems like a statement of intent to rid themselves of the reputation for partying like the Vengaboys.
Wasteful and ultimately overrun in the McKenna Cup final in Omagh last week, Donegal atoned for that here and will in a fortnight return to Tyrone for another Saturday night lights encounter against Mickey Harte's illustrious team.
They were bold and direct in the first 20 minutes here, but the most notable characteristic was that Donegal played like a team enjoying football. Perhaps the eternal teenagers are growing up.
"We learned quite a few lessons that night in Omagh and I hope we corrected some of those here," said coach Brian McIver afterwards.
In the end, this was a solid, rather than flamboyant victory. Three second half points - with only Brendan Devenney's fisted point from play - was enough to keep a clearly unhappy Dublin side at bay.
The visitors could not score at all for the first 28 minutes, when Conal Keaney tapped over a steadying free. Kevin Bonner and Darren McGee then clipped two very useful points against the breeze, but Dublin were fortunate to still be in the game, trailing by just 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.
"We needed a bright start after that," admitted the inscrutable Paul Caffrey afterwards. "But we have no complaints. Donegal were the better team and I think they won more individual battles out there on the pitch."
If the Dublin boss thought that, chances are he will let his charges know it on the training fields in the coming nights.
It was a fair observation. The nine points total did not really reflect Donegal's domination in several sectors of the field.
Captain Neill McGee was outstanding at right corner back. Barry Monaghan was immense. Big Neill Gallagher, an old-fashioned hard-working midfielder, did not play one bad ball. After a year blighted with injury, veteran Brian Roper has come into wonderful form and, on his home field, the flying centre forward seemed to do as he pleased, all industry and smart passing despite being tailed by one of best centre backs in the game.
Up front, Colm McFadden mixed the brilliant with the daft while Devenney at times terrorised the visiting full-back line, engaging both Niall O'Shea and then David Henry over the hour.
Devenney really ought to have had a goal after 12 minutes when he displayed a turn of the turbo speed and cut in front of the Dublin goal only to see his low shot scooped up and cleared by O'Shea.
It was a mercy for Dublin, who one minute earlier watched on helplessly as Rory Kavanagh flashed a one-on-one goal chance wide. Johnny McLoone was another heartening story from this new-look Donegal.
The Glenties man suffered memorable heartbreak back in 1996, when he was brought on as a substitute to hit a last-minute free to try and draw level against Laois in the All-Ireland minor semi-final.
The effort fell short. Twelve years on, McLoone was rewarded with his first senior start for Donegal and nailed a monster 50 into the wind to settle Donegal in the second half.
Dublin had plenty of ball in that poor concluding half hour, but little imagination. Caffrey replaced his entire half-forward line to try and spark things, but the busy Donegal defence seemed to relish mopping up the repeated high ball.
These heavy days of February do not suit their free-running style, but even so, this hour made grim watching for those Dubs who made the long journey to Allingham country.
Neither the comical interlude of an Alsatian dog nor the more notable introduction of Ciarán Whelan could change the pattern. There were few bright spots.
Colin Moran brought a bit more cut to the forwards and Bonner kept plugging away, but, even though they kept in touch, it was hard to see Dublin conjuring an away win here.
"Winter football is winter football," said Caffrey glumly. "It has been tough to Dublin in recent seasons and this year is nothing different."
Are Donegal different? Perhaps it is too early to say, but with heavyweight names like Adrian Sweeney and Christy Toye making cameo appearances towards the close, it certainly seems that McIver has broadened his options.
And wins over Dublin, league or not, are still rare enough to count for something in this part of the country.
DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, T Donoghue; P McConigley, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh (0-2), B Roper; J McLoone (0-1, '45); C McFadden (0-3, two frees), B Devenney (0-3, two frees), C Bonner (0-1). Subs: C Toye for Bonner (52 mins); E McGee for McConigley (57 mins); A Sweeney for Roper (59 mins); K McMenamin for McFadden (64 mins); J Friel for Cassidy (65 mins).
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, N O'Shea, P Griffin; B Cahill, B Cullen, G Brennan; D McGee (0-1), R McConnell; C Keaney (0-1 free), T Quinn, D Murray; D O'Callaghan (0-1), K Bonner (0-2), A Brogan. Subs: C Moran for D Murray (27 mins); P Casey for N O'Shea (half-time); D Connolly for T Quinn (45 mins); C Whelan R McConnell (56 mins); B Brogan for C Keaney (48 mins).
Referee: B Crowe(Cavan).
