Preview: Safe football won’t do for Donegal

BY RYAN FERRY

IT’S probably a week earlier than anticipated but there is no escaping the sense of jeopardy as Donegal head for the capital this Sunday.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Donegal were expected to defeat Cork at home and sail through to the quarter-finals. They could then relax and watch the others fight for their lives in Round 3. Instead, their pistols will be needed for a shoot-out with the Dubs.

Saturday was far from Donegal’s best performance but in the third quarter they were seven up and in firm control.

It’s a position that Donegal know well and they are usually so strong at boxing clever, stretching their opponents, and getting the scores they need.

It wasn’t like the other defeats of Jim McGuinness’s second stint in charge when largely they have been even games or Donegal have found themselves chasing.

Cork were on the brink but Donegal didn’t kill them off and allowed the Rebels a pathway back into the match.

Patrick Morrison: Practice deliberately

They gave away a brace of scoreable two-point frees, coughed up possession cheaply, and lacked composure when it was really needed.

Donegal ended up on the wrong side of referee David Gough, and got precious little from the referee in the final quarter.

There was always a chance Donegal could have drawn Dublin in the quarters anyway so the team can’t feel sorry for themselves this week.

Over the last two years, the draws in the All-Ireland Series have been kind, and at some stage they were going to be paired with a big-hitter. The Dubs are not at the same level as they were in the last decade but the boys in blue will make their way to Hill 16 with their typical swagger and confidence.

It’s a massive test but as a team who have been talked up as potential All-Ireland contenders, it’s one that Donegal really should be winning.

Improvement will be needed, and Donegal will have to be more aggressive in Croker.

They played safe football in Ballybofey and that allowed the game to develop into a slow, lethargic tussle which suited Cork.

Donegal’s lack of bench impact has been a growing concern. Could McGuinness opt to shake it up and hold a regular for the final 15 minutes when these games are nearly always decided?

Forgotten man

Jamie Brennan has been a forgotten man this season but made an impressive cameo for Bundoran last Sunday against Cloughaneely and it will be interesting to see if he comes back into the frame.

Considering that Cork were without their best midfielder in Colm O’Callaghan and Donegal had a wall of big men around the middle, the fact that Cork were able to get a host of kick-outs away short in the first half is surely one that will grate.

It was evident that the Donegal forwards were frustrated with the joy Cork had on their own restarts and McGuinness’s charges have to get their press sorted quickly.

Dublin have had issues with their goalkeepers this year Evan Comerford and Hugh O’Sullivan have both been given a chance without being overly impressive.

Comerford is likely to be given the number one shirt this week and he can be rattled.

It has been an underwhelming campaign for Dublin and at this juncture, they don’t appear to be genuine All-Ireland contenders.

However, they do have a side that are well capable of taking a scalp and the big game feel to Sunday’s match may bring them on.

There has been a lack of consistency throughout the season.

Ger Brennan’s 12-week suspension garnered much attention when the championship got underway and they were almost caught by Wicklow before defeating Louth in an impressive display.

Since then they have been beaten by Westmeath and then Louth turned the tables on them when the sides met again three weeks ago.

Brennan was back on the line last week as they saw off Cavan.

It was a better showing and they won convincingly but Cavan were undoubtedly one of the weakest sides in the race for Sam Maguire.

Sean Bugler didn’t feature against Cavan with a leg injury and he is a player that has caused Donegal problems in the past. He certainly would be one less headache to worry about if he doesn’t make it.

Eoin Murchan is expected to miss out, and while Cormac Costello went off early against Cavan with a suspected dead leg, he could be back in the picture.

Much like Donegal, Dublin’s depth is an issue and they are no longer bringing on huge quality off the bench.

However, when you look through their team, they still have a lot of know-how and ability.

Con O’Callaghan, Ciaran Kilkenny, Niall Scully, Brian Howard, and Paddy Small have plenty of medals on the mantelpiece.

Their hunger has been in the spotlight this season as Dublin head through transition and Sunday will show if they still have that drive for success.

Brennan will surely be up for it. Donegal ended his championship in each of the last two years when he was Louth manager.

Dublin haven’t failed to make the last eight of the All-Ireland SFC since 2003 and that won’t be how Brennan will want his first year remembered.

There should be no doubts over Donegal’s motivation.

After losing the All-Ireland Final last year, there is huge desire this season.

The defeat to Cork has sent them down a precarious route and they have lost control of their season.

That may have an impact down the line but McGuinness and his men can’t afford to think past Sunday.

When they were last in Croke Park for the Division One Final, nobody would have contemplated it would be possible that Donegal would lose three of their next four matches.

If that proves to be then Donegal can have no qualms if their season comes to a premature end.

However, if they bring the correct levels of athleticism and aggression, Donegal can claim that quarter-final spot they crave.

LAST MEETING

2026 Division 1 Dublin 0-20 Donegal 1-20

Donegal’s winning start to 2026 continued, Michael Langan inspiring a significant Croke Park win over Dublin in their Division One opener.

Six months since coming up short in the All-Ireland final to Kerry, and a week since capturing the McKenna Cup title, Jim McGuinness’s crew were good value for the three-point win.

Langan was a late addition to the lineup but showed his class with six points, all of which came in the second-half, while Shea Malone converted the only goal of the game.

Dublin: E Comerford, E Murchan, S MacMahon, D Byrne, R Shaw, N Doran (0-2), E Kennedy, E Dunne, T Lahiff, K McGinnis, N Scully, B Howard, P Small (0-2), C O’Callaghan (0-08, 1 tpf, 1 tp, 1 45, 2f), L O’Dell.

Subs: C O’Connor for L, L Breathnach (0-5) for O’Dell, S Bugler (0-1) for Doran, C Tyrrell (0-2) for Kennedy, P White for Dunne.

Donegal: G Mulreany (0-04, 2 tpf), C McColgan, B McCole, F Roarty (0-1), R McHugh (0-1), C McGonagle (0-1), P Mogan; H McFadden, J McGee (0-1), D Ó Baoill (0-3, 1 tp), S O’Donnell (0-1), C Moore, C O’Donnell (0-2), M Langan (0-06, 1 tp, 1 tpf, f), S Malone (1-0).

Subs: E B Gallagher for McColgan, K Gallagher for Malone, T Carr for O Baoill, C McCahill for C O’Donnell.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

2026 Div 1 Dublin 0-20 Donegal 1-20
2024 All-Ireland SFC Cork 3-9 Donegal 0-16
2025 Div 1 Donegal 0-20 Dublin 0-16
2022 Div 1 Dublin 2-15 Donegal 2-11
2021 Div 1 Donegal 1-14 Dublin 1-18

SEASON SO FAR

DONEGAL

NFL
Dublin 0-20 Donegal 1-20
Donegal 1-22 Kerry 1-18
Donegal 1-19 Mayo 0-14
Armagh 1-20 Donegal 0-19
Donegal 1-17 Galway 0-20
Roscommon 2-20 Donegal 0-20
Monaghan 3-16 Donegal 3-20
Donegal 3-20 Kerry 2-10

ULSTER SFC
Donegal 1-21 Down 3-21

ALL-IRELAND SFC
Kerry 0-16 Donegal 2-20
Donegal 1-13 Cork 0-17

DUBLIN

NFL
Dublin 0-20 Donegal 1-20
Mayo 1-18 Dublin 2-9
Dublin 1-18 Monaghan 0-17
Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-16
Roscommon 2-7 Dublin 1-21
Dublin 1-25 Armagh 2-24
Galway 0-20 Dublin 1-15

LEINSTER SFC
Wicklow 2-14 Dublin 2-16
Louth 0-10 Dublin 0-20
Dublin 0-26 Westmeath 2-18 AET

ALL-IRELAND SFC
Dublin 1-24 Louth 4-18
Cavan 1-24 Dublin 0-16

TOP SCORERS

DONEGAL
Michael Langan 0-36 (9tp, 2f, 1tpf)
Conor O’Donnell 5-19 (1f)
Michael Murphy 1-21 (8f, 3tpf, 1 45)

DUBLIN
Con O’Callaghan 2-33 (9f, 4tp, 2 45, 1tpf)
Paddy Small 2-32 (3tp, 1 sideline)
Cormac Costello 0-34 (11f, 3tp, 1ptf, 1 45)