THEY peeled away from Ballyshannon last evening discussing the definitions of optimism and pessimism. Did Dublin's first defeat of the league place them further or nearer to completion than Donegal, who recorded their first win in four games?
The right to declare the bottle half full goes to the winners and Declan Bonner pronounced himself well pleased with his side's performance. Having lost each of their previous three games by a point Bonner was inclined to view yesterday's points as just reward for hard graft.
Dublin, on the other hand, had plenty to be despondent about. Replacing three forwards was a worrying sign that they have yet to whet the cutting edge of their side. The full-back line too exhibited some creakiness which suggested that Tom Carr and company may be poring over the drawing board in the next fortnight.
At full back Shane Ryan for all his pedigree and undoubted excellence as a player looked positionally naive yesterday and even though he made some splendid recoveries it is difficult to see him finishing his apprenticeship before summer.
As the championship comes crashing over the horizon the ramifications of league games go way beyond the points on offer. Dublin with time running out fine themselves in what Carr referred to as a "virtual championship position" needing to win their last two games to gain valuable experience in the play-offs. Donegal, with senior players finding their way back from injury, can make similar progress if results go their way.
For all that, though, there was little enough on evidence in Ballyshannon to suggest that either side should be planning on a long summer. Both teams were keen and robust but all too often the execution of moves belied the ambition underpinning them.
Dublin in particular had a poor day in attack and only Dessie Farrell can have napped soundly on the journey home.
Senan Connell, Ray Cosgrove, and Niall O'Donoghue have all twinkled in the past while but none of them looks like a real gem yet. Ian Robertson chalked in by many as this year's Dublin centre back made an appearance as a substitute centre forward yesterday and was excellent for a quarter of an hour before fading. More food for thought.
Donegal folk were none to sanguine during the week about their prospects yesterday, but they will have been impressed by the sparkiness of Adrian Sweeney at centre forward and the buoyant form of Brendan Devenney at corner forward. If Tony Boyle ever recaptures full fitness Donegal have the platform for a challenge.
Yesterday they fell two points behind in the opening couple of minutes as Dublin sought to capitalise on a wind advantage. They coped well, however, dropping a man in behind the half-back line, a basic defensive tactic which seemed to baffle Dublin for long periods and nicking a good goal before the break which gave momentum for the second half.
The goal was a precis of all that is wrong with Dublin. Noel Hegarty came bursting out of defence and had the space to plot a superb long pass to Brian McLaughlin. The corner forward beat Liam Walsh to the ball and got a low pass in across the goal. Brian Roper swung in ahead of Keith Galvin to plant it soccer style in the Dublin net.
That score put Donegal a point ahead and even though Niall O'Donoghue pinched an equaliser before the break the odds on a home win had shortened prohibitively.
Dublin, struggling for some strength around the middle of the park, had introduced Ian Robertson at centre forward and things appeared to go well early on. Tony Blake made fine saves from Enda Sheehy and Dessie Farrell before Donegal's enthusiasm began to wear the visitors down.
The final 20 minutes never saw the issue placed beyond doubt but neither did Dublin's case become any more persuasive. Donegal have plenty of athleticism and carrying ability in midfield and at times they ran the ball out of defence like a rugby team running the ball across the back line.
It wasn't the last score of the game (although it was, perhaps, the best) but when Noel Hegarty planted a 53-yard free from the hands over the Dublin crossbar with two minutes left he seemed to have drawn a line under the day's argument. Roper and Farrell swapped late late points, but the game was over.
Dublin face Galway in a fortnight and assessments as to whether this was a blip or a trend will wait till then. Donegal, with Offaly and Leitrim to play, looked a lot more chipper though.
DONEGAL: T Blake; D Diver, JJ Doherty, N McGinley; O Reid, N Hegarty (0-1, a free), N MccReedy; J Ruane, J McGuinness (0-1); B Roper (1-1), A Sweeney (0-1), B Ward; B Devenney (0-1), T Boyle (0-2, one free), B McLaughlin. Subs: J Duffy (0-1) for T Boyle (40 mins); M Crossan for JJ Doherty (43 mins); P Gillespie for B McLaughlin (58 mins).
DUBLIN: D Byrne; L Walsh, S Ryan, T Lynch; P Croft, P Curran, K Galvin (0-1); E Sheehy, C Whelan; B Stynes (0-2), D Darcy (0-2, frees), S Connell; R Cosgrove, D Farrell (0-3, two frees), N O'Donoghue (0-1). Subs: I Robertson for Connell (30 mins); J Sherlock for O'Donoghue (46 mins); M O'Keefee for Cosgrove (54 mins).
Referee: M McBrien (Fermanagh).
