Donegal end 19-year Division 1 title wait with a dominant win over Kerry

A second-half spell in which Donegal hit the net three times in two minutes and 38 seconds helped Donegal to only a second Division 1 title as they swatted Kerry aside in Croke Park.

Eight up in the first half after the aid of a breeze inspired by five Michael Langan points, it looked like Kerry would have a chance of a comeback.

But there would be no nerves from Donegal, who lost out heavily to Kerry in last year’s All-Ireland final, and quick goals from Conor O’Donnell, Michael Murphy and Caolan McGonagle ensured there would be no comeback.

Donegal added the next six points for good measure to go 21 clear, but Kerry had a late flurry of points, including a David Clifford goal, but it would only be a consolation as Donegal won the Division 1 title for the first time since 2007.

Kerry almost had a perfect start as David Clifford’s looping effort was misjudged by Gavin Mulreany, but Graham O’Sullivan’s goalward effort was blocked on the line by Peadar Mogan, sparing the blushes of his St Naul’s teammate.

Clifford, being marked by Caolan McColgan, got the first point on three minutes, while Michael Langan got the first score for Donegal just inside the arc on ten minutes.

The St Michael’s man did get a two-pointer moments later after Donegal won the kick out, but Kerry struck for goal soon.

It came down the right as Joe O’Connor found a completely unmarked Keith Evans, and the corner forward tore towards goal and blasted past Mulreany.

A quick reply from Langan added his and Donegal’s fifth score with another effort outside the arc, and Michael Murphy, not long after picking up a yellow card, forced Jason Foley into overcarrying. That was then brought forward, and the Glenswilly man converted the two-point free.

It sparked a spell of domination from Jim McGuinness’ side, with wingbacks Max Campbell and Ryan McHugh adding quick scores, before McHugh was played in by Conor O’Donnell for a goal chance, but the Kilcar man’s shot was saved over the bar by Shane Murphy.

Peadar Mogan curled over, and Conor O’Donnell kicked over on his right, as Campbell got a second point of the game following a good move for ten points in a row from Donegal.

Langan tried his luck from outside the arc and missed, a fifth wide of the half, while Kerry should have hit the net with a massive overload, Evans playing in O’Sullivan, who laid it off to O’Connor, but Mulreany saved well.

Sean O’Shea got a first Kerry score for twenty minutes at a tight angle, the final score of the half as Donegal led by 0-13 to 1-2.

Kerry looked to use that breeze quickly in the second half, and Dylan Geaney pointed inside 30 seconds, with Evans kicking over another after a two-point attempt went wide.

But the next spell of the game made the difference, Donegal holding the ball for a long period of time, eventually finding space as Langan found O’Donnell, with the Carndonagh man firing into the top right corner.

One minute and 52 seconds later, Murphy made it two after he stole in from a loose pass to Jason Foley, finding the bottom corner via the post.

READ NEXT: Sean MacCumhaills up and running with an opening day win over Glenswilly

And just 46 seconds later, McGonagle’s chipped effort went over Murphy and in after a pass from Campbell.

Caolan McColgan could have been in for a fourth, but he was taken out, with Murphy pointing the free, while Langan added another to his tally.

A two-point free from Murphy, followed by Campbell and McHugh scores, saw Donegal now ahead by 21 points.

But the final 15 from Kerry saw them put a decent dent into that scoreline, a score from Armin Heinrich was quickly followed by a two-pointer from substitute Paul Geaney.

Donegal’s first sub, Finnbarr Roarty, got their last score of the game, but Kerry had more to come through Tom O’Sullivan and Tomás Kennedy.

David Clifford was then played in, and he curled into the bottom left corner,  while Mulreany saved well from a Kennedy effort.

Heinrich got his second score on 66 minutes before a prolonged spell of Donegal possession, which saw them win just their second Division 1 title and first in 19 years.

Donegal scorers: Michael Murphy 1-5,2tpf,1f; Michael Langan 0-6,2tp; Conor O’Donnell 1-1; Ryan McHugh and Max Campbell 0-3 each; Caolan McGonagle 1-0; Peadar Mogan and Finnbarr Roarty 0-1 each.

Kerry scorers: David Clifford and Keith Evans 1-1 each; Paul Geaney 0-2,1tp; Armin Heinrich 0-2; Seán O’Shea, Dylan Geaney, Tom O’Sullivan and Tomás Kennedy 0-1 each

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Bán Gallagher; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Max Campbell; Jason McGee, Hugh McFadden; Shane O’Donnell, Michael Langan, Peadar Mogan; Conor O’Donnell, Michael Murphy, Shea Malone.

Subs: Finnbarr Roarty for Murphy (56), Stephen McMenamin for Malone (60), Sean Martin for Campbell (63), Eoin McHugh for R McHugh (64).

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Tadhg Morley, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Tom O’Sullivan, Mike Breen, Armin Heinrich; Mark O’Shea, Liam Smith; Joe O’Connor, Séan O’Shea, Graham O’Sullivan; Dylan Geaney, David Clifford, Keith Evans.

Subs: Tomás Kennedy for L Smith (32), Michéal Burns for G O’Sullivan (46), Tom Leo O’Sullivan for Foley (53), Paul Geaney for D Geaney (56), Cillian Trant for Evans (60).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).