Image source, InhpoImage caption, Donegal landed their first Division One league title since 2007
ByOdhran CrumleyBBC Sport NI Journalist- Published1 minute ago
Donegal claimed their second ever National Football League Division One title with a 3-20 to 2-10 hammering of Kerry at Croke Park.
Three goals in a devastating two-minute spell in the second half from Conor O'Donnell, Michael Murphy and Caolan McGonagle put Jim McGuinness' men in a dominant position.
Donegal also registered four two-pointers which helped the side take some semblance of revenge for last year's All-Ireland final defeat.
The convincing win is Donegal's first top tier league title since 2007 and their second ever.
Donegal put wrongs right
As the GAA celebrated 100 years of National Football League finals, it was fitting that the occasion was marked by a repeat of the previous year's All-Ireland final for the first time in a decade.
Donegal opted for 10 players that started last July, while the Kingdom started with nine of those who secured the Sam Maguire for a 39th time.
The main area of scrutiny after last year's decider was the role of Paudie Clifford, and how Jim McGuinness would deal with the man who went untagged and held the key to their demise.
Clifford's unavailability due to a managed return from injury means the answer to that question will remain a mystery until a likely meeting later in the summer.
Brother, David, didn't make the trip to Ballyshannon for the Tir Chonaill's league phase win, but did start this final as many expected him to renew acquaintances with Brendan McCole, he was instead tagged by Caolan McColgan in a curve-ball from McGuinness.
Goals win games
The lack of intensity on the pitch was reflected by almost audible hushed whispers from the crowd of 35,701 in the stand, with the game level at one point apiece after 13 minutes.
Kerry could have stuck gold from the opening play, Clifford's two-point effort dropped short, but Graham O'Sullivan's effort was blocked superbly on the line by a diving Peadar Mogan.
Michael Langan fired over a two-pointer but, from the very next attack, Joe O'Connor found Keith Evans in space in front of the Hogan Stand, Evans burst through and fired to the top right-hand corner of the net.
The Ulster Champions, who were playing with the aid of a considerable breeze, replied emphatically landing the next 10 scores without reply with further two pointers from Langan and Murphy.
Amidst that burst, Murphy was yellow carded for a tussle with Dylan Casey, the Kerry crowd felt the all-star was fortunate to avoid further punishment.
The Kingdom did go 20 minutes without a score before Sean O'Shea stopped the rot and Donegal lead 0-13 to 1-2 at the break.
Evans and Dylan Geaney landed two quickfire scores at the start of the second half, Donegal replied with three quickfire goals inside two minutes.
Firstly, Langan set up O'Donnell to hit the top corner, from the next play Murphy intercepted a slack pass on the edge of the arc to race clear and fire to the bottom left corner of the net.
Donegal were in dreamland when McGonagle dinked the ball over the top of Shane Murphy to the roof of the net, in the blink of an eye their lead was 16 points 10 minutes into the second half.
Murphy landed another two-pointer as the All-Ireland champions went a further 19 minutes without troubling the scoreboard, by the time Armin Heinrich raised a white flag, the small polite applause suggested the Kerry crowd had already made for home.
In truth, the final quarter of the game was played out at pedestrian pace with the game long decided, Clifford did rattle the back of the net, but he was well-marshalled across the 70 minutes by McColgan.
In the end, a 13-point win did reflect the dominance of the Ulster side, but they'll be aware of an even bigger battle looming down the line.
Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Ryan McHugh (0-3), Caolan McGonagle (1-0), Max Campbell (0-3); Jason McGee, Hugh McFadden; Shane O'Donnell, Michael Langan (0-6 2x2pt), Peadar Mogan (0-1); Conor O'Donnell (1-1), Michael Murphy (1-5 1f, 2x2ptf), Shea Malone.
Subs: Finnbarr Roarty (0-1) for M Murphy (56), Stephen McMenamin for S Malone (60), Sean Martin for M Campbell (63), Eoin McHugh for R McHugh (64)
Kerry: Shane Murphy; Tadhg Morley, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Tom O'Sullivan (0-1), Mike Breen, Armin Heinrich (0-2); Mark O'Shea, Liam Smith; Joe O'Connor, Sean O'Shea (0-1), Graham O'Sullivan; Dylan Geaney (0-1), David Clifford (1-1), Keith Evans (1-1).
Subs: Tomas Kennedy (0-1) for L Smith (32), Tom Leo O'Sullivan for J Foley (53), Paul Geaney (0-2 1x2pt) for D Geaney (56), Killian Trant for K Evans (60)
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
