Donegal won just their second Allianz Football League Division 1 title as Jim McGuinness's men overwhelmed Kerry by 3-20 to 2-10 at Croke Park to take the Micheal Ó Muircheartaigh Cup back to 'the hills' in the league's centenary year.
If Donegal weren’t already on their way to their first Division 1 title since 2007 at the three-quarter mark as the led by six points, they certainly were champions-elect when Conor O’Donnell, Michael Murphy and Caolan McGonagle cracked in three goals between the 42nd and 45th minutes. That was game, set and match right there.
That Kerry relinquished their title to the team that finished above them after the regulation seven-game season was hardly a surprise, but for the Kingdom to be stripped of their crown in such fashion was remarkable.
"One game too much" was how Jack O’Connor offered an explanation, if not an excuse, for how much February and March has taken its toll on his squad, one that has had its share of injuries and which lost Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Sean O’Brien before throw-in.
That Donegal limited David Clifford to just two scores – his goal coming in the closing minutes when Donegal had pulled up the ladder behind them – will be something tangible for McGuinness to mix into his championship plans.
Things move on quickly, but both squads head to Portugal next week, where this result will surely frame their days on the Algarve more than it might have.
Kerry started smartly, Clifford opening the scoring, and though Michael Langan raised white and orange flags for Donegal, Joe O’Connor played in Keith Evans, who swept past Peadar Mogan and crashed his shot to the net.
So far so good for Kerry, and then Donegal fully woke up. Two-pointers from Langan and Michael Murphy followed, Ryan McHugh kicked a pair of points, Mogan and Max Campbell hit the target and suddenly Donegal were 0-13 to 1-01 ahead.
They were also incredibly lucky to have Murphy still on the field after a punch to Dylan Casey’s head was missed by the officials. He got a yellow card for his part in the argy-bargy but he ducked one there.
Sean O’Shea’s point just before half-time and Kerry scores after the restart from Dylan Geaney and Evans stemmed the bleeding briefly, but there was no denying Donegal.
O’Donnell found the net on 42 minutes, and within seconds Murphy picked Jason Foley’s pocket and rolled in a second.
A minute later, McConagle seemed to be clipping for a point but it caught Shane Murphy out and landed in the net to make it 3-13 to 1-04. It was that kind of day for Donegal... and Kerry.
Paul Geaney made a welcome return but a Kerry captain wouldn’t be lifting the trophy for the 25th time; that honour went to Langan.
Donegal: Gavin Mulreany, Caolán McColgan, Brendan McCole; Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Ryan McHugh 0-03, Caolán McGonagle 1-00, Max Campbell 0-03, Jason McGee, Hugh McFadden, Shane O’Donnell, Michael Langan 0-06 (2 tp), Peadar Mogan 0-01, Conor O’Donnell 1-01, Michael Murphy 1-05 (2 tpf, 1f), Shea Malone.
Subs: Finnbarr Roarty 0-01 for M Murphy (56), Stephen McMenamin for S Malone (60), Seán Martin for M Campbell (62), Eoin McHugh for R McHugh (64).
Kerry: Shane Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey, Tom O’Sullivan 0-01, Mike Breen, Armin Heinrich 0-02, Mark O’Shea, Liam Smith, Joe O’Connor, Sean O’Shea 0-01, Graham O’Sullivan, Dylan Geaney 0-01, David Clifford 1-01, Killian Evans 1-01.
Subs: Tomás Kennedy 0-01 for L Smith (32), Micheal Burns for G O’Sullivan (46), Tom Leo O’Sullivan for J Foley (52), Paul Geaney 0-02 (tp) for D Geaney (56), Cillian Trant for K Evans (60).
Referee: David Gough
