Malone goal set Donegal on their way to victory in Croke Park

Donegal 1-20 Dublin 0-20

A FIRST-HALF goal from Shea Malone and an impressive performance from Michael Langan helped Donegal to victory on Saturday evening in Croke Park.

Langan hit half a dozen points as Donegal held off a Dublin comeback in the second-half on a day Caolan McGonagle made his 100th senior appearance for the Ulster champions.

The sides were level at 0-6 before Malone’s goal helped Donegal to a 1-9 to 0-6 interval lead.

Gavin Mulreany impressed between the posts with Langan kicking Donegal 1-14 to 0-11 ahead and on their way to victory.

Dublin: Evan Comerford; Eoin Murchan, Sean MacMahon, David Byrne; Robert Shaw, Nathan Doran (0-2), Eoin Kennedy; Ethan Dunne, Tom Lahiff; Killian McGinnis, Niall Scully, Brian Howard; Paddy Small (0-2), Con O’Callaghan (0-8, 1tp, 1tpf, 2fs), Lorcan O’Dell. Subs: Luke Breathnach (0-5), Cian O’Connor and Sean Bugler (0-1) for O’Dell, Shaw and Lahiff (Half-time), Conor Tyrrell (0-2) for Kennedy (47 mins), Paidi White for Dunne (58 mins).

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (0-4, 2tpfs); Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh (0-1), Caolan McGonagle (0-1), Finnbarr Roarty (0-1); Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan (0-6, 1tp, 1tpf, 1f); Daire Ó Baoill (0-3, 1tp), Shane O’Donnell (0-1), Ciaran Moore; Conor O’Donnell (0-2), Jason McGee (0-1), Shea Malone (1-0). Subs: Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher for McColgan (48 mins), Kieran Gallagher for Malone (54 mins), Turlough Carr for Ó Baoill (64 mins), Conor McCahill for C.O’Donnell (68 mins)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)