NFL DIVISION ONE: Dublin 0-13 Donegal 1-8:IT IS on days and in places like this that this Dublin team will learn about itself. Fr Tierney Park is located on the Rock, a promontory level area of Ballyshannon town that affords a terrific view of the Erne and leaves the pitch exposed to whatever elements are rushing in from the Atlantic.
With conifer trees instead of the adoring bank of blue fans on the Hill, the Metropolitans battled through rain and hail and a disconcertingly swift Donegal comeback to earn a precious win on the road.
They departed town with the military speed and concentration that has become the signature note of their away tours in this league, but Pat Gilroy stopped long enough to reflect on the match for the television cameras.
This was just after 4pm, but the light was already failing and the big St Vincent’s man winced into the driving wind.
This could so easily have been a tough afternoon for the new man in charge of Dub Nation. Gilroy watched as his team crafted a 0-10 to 0-2 lead with just under half an hour remaining. They were playing into the wind for that second half, but looked to have built a sufficient lead to weather any Donegal comeback – which looked a remote possibility.
But, with no particular clarion call, the home team whistled over 1-6, producing some dazzling football in the bleak conditions in little over 12 minutes from play.
Suddenly, it looked as if the City team were there for the taking, with the match level, 10 minutes remaining and a vocal home crowd and a big wind to spur Donegal on.
But Dublin demonstrated considerable nerve and grace under pressure to take the sting out of the match and work two simple and cleverly taken points from Ger Brennan and Ross McConnell to take the day.
“I think they were getting a bit annoyed at being told that they can’t win outside Dublin and they don’t travel well and all that kind of stuff,” Gilroy said. “So I think that they were really determined to come up here and get a win.”
Certainly, the small band of sky-blue shirts huddling together behind the Workhouse end of the ground seemed to be enjoying themselves, cheering in approval as the Donegal men misfired woefully in the first period and then delighting in those late scores by the Dubs. Perhaps the eventual blueprint of Gilroy’s Dublin will have some origins in this match.
Ger Brennan wore number six on his back, but didn’t spend much time in his house, rampaging forward and carrying ball with great authority.
McConnell, too, freed from the confinement of full back, drove forward with every opportunity and delivered three well-taken points from play. Bernard Brogan roved the field with incredible energy: he was strong, committed, a work-horse for pressuring the ball – which was a key feature of Dublin’s first half performance – and was never afraid to let fly whenever he saw a half chance.
The introduction of Bryan Cullen, Declan Lally and Jason Sherlock mattered – their experience helped to captain Dublin through the storm.
Dublin’s full-back line has been under scrutiny in this league. There were some good signs here.
Alan Hubbard hoovered up a lot of ball as Donegal came chasing the crucial point in the last 10 minutes of the match and Denis Bastick made a brave and perfectly timed diving block on Ciarán Bonner’s first-half drive for a goal.
However, the Dublin last line struggled whenever Donegal bombed the ball in from distance. They could do nothing about the goal that announced that the home team were ready to play: Conal Bonner’s strike, on 49 minutes, was a blur of power and accuracy.
This defeat leaves John Joe Doherty facing into a relegation dogfight. The Glen man did not exactly look despondent at the thought of it as he chatted in the corridor afterwards to the backdrop of a fresh hailstorm.
“Ach, they just had a wee bit more composure than us in the last few minutes. When we hit the equaliser there in the last 10 minutes, the odds were stacked with us for a win, but they just showed that bit more composure.”
That was a fair summation. Donegal fans are entitled to feel that their team blew it. Leaving the result aside, the glowing return to form of Christy Toye was an encouragement.
He set up the goal with a smart steal and pinpoint pass to Dunne and looked busier and more assured than he has done in recent year.
There was a warm ovation for Brian Roper when he made his way on to his home patch with 28 minutes remaining. It was no coincidence that the Donegal revival occurred immediately after Roper came on. Michael Murphy, a big man of sensational promise, blasted a huge point on 43 minutes and suddenly, Donegal began winning the messy ball around the middle of the field.
They were level with 10 minutes remaining, after Daragh Gallagher landed his first league point with a similarly ferocious thump.
The television images did not capture the true wildness of the day – it was difficult for Dublin to mount a convincing attack, but they showed great mettle in breaking forward, risking a swift Donegal response if they lost possession and did what was required when the match was on the line.
There were precious few autograph hunters willing to brave the frozen afternoon and the Dublin team left town in a hurry, a lonely siren escorting them out of Ballyshannon.
As daytrips go for the Metropolitans, this wasn’t the worst.
DUBLIN:S Cluxton; P Andrews, D Bastic, A Hubbard; J Brogan, G Brennan (0-1), B Cahill; C Whelan, R McConnell (0-3); D Connolly, C Keaney (0-4, 3 frees), D Henry (0-1); B Kelly, K Bonner (0-1), B Brogan (0-3, 1 free). Substitutes:J Sherlock for D Connolly (20 mins), D Lally for J Brogan 35+3 mins, yellow), B Cullen for K Bonner (half-time), D Connolly for B Kelly (54 mins), A Brogan for D Henry (57 mins).
DONEGAL:M Boyle; M McGee, N McGee, P McDaid; E Wade, R Sweeney, K Cassidy; C Bonner (0-1), C Toye; B Boyle (0-1), C Dunne (1-0), R Kavanagh; M Murphy (0-2 1 free), S Griffin (0-2 frees), D Walsh (0-1). Substitutes:B Roper for B Boyle (43 mins), D Gallagher (0-1) for S Griffin (54 mins).
Referee:M Duffy (Sligo).
