Donegal came ever so close to ending Dublin’s long unbeaten run but at the final whistle had to settle for a draw in Sunday's Allianz FL Division 1 clash in Ballybofey.
For Donegal, this could well be a vital point going forward. Perhaps more importantly, they will take great confidence from their performance having matched the Dubs with a display oozing with effort and commitment.
The visitors were the better side for much of the first half but it was Donegal who were in front at half time by 2-02 to 0-05, after they struck two goals within 40 seconds just before the break.
Significantly, the hosts managed only three points in the second half, but they were still enough to hold on for a point as they drew level a minute into injury time when Michael Murphy pointed from a free.
Dublin bossed possession for almost the entire first half and despite conceding a point to Jason McGee after 35 seconds, they were well in control.
Shane Carthy drew them level with a well taken point on three minutes and they eventually moved in front on 16 with a converted Dean Rock free.
Donegal defended deep and in numbers and while Jim Gavin's men were pedestrian in their build-ups, they still carried a real threat in front of goal.
A Ciaran Kilkenny point made it 0-03 to 0-01 by the 20th minute and Conor McHugh followed that up with another point after Eoghan O’Gara created the opening.
Donegal, for all their hard work, were really struggling to create any opportunities coming forward and the absence of the injured Patrick McBrearty certainly had an effect.
By the 25th minute, the reigning Division 1 champions had stretched their lead out to four points, 0-05 to 0-01 and given their possession, they should have been further ahead.
A free from Ciaran Thompson reduced the arrears before the game turned on its head in a period of 35 crazy seconds. Donegal pounced for their first goal when McGee, at the second attempt, squeezed the ball in under Stephen Cluxton.
Then from the kick-out, Cluxton was caught way out from goal and when the ball was fed inside to Ryan McHugh, the Kilcar man showed brilliant awareness to squeeze his ball into the net past a couple of Dublin defenders.
A Michael Murphy free, his first score of the day, eased Donegal into a four-point lead early in the second half.
However, Dublin quickly regained control in the possession stakes and two frees from Dean Rock was followed by a wonderfully worked goal, finished to the net by Niall Scully.
Suddenly the visitors were a point in front and Davey Byrne followed it up with a delightful point to leave the visitors 1-08 to 2-04 to the good.
Donegal however, refused to throw in the towel and their hunger and desire were rewarded with two late frees which drew them level, the first converted by the excellent Ciaran Thompson before Murphy’s injury-time equaliser.
Donegal: Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Ryan McHugh (1-00), Caolan Ward, Paul Brennan; Jason McGee (1-01), Ciaran Thompson (0-02, 2f); Micheal Carroll, Martin O’Reilly, Eoin McHugh; Frank McGlynn, Michael Murphy (0-02, 2f), Jamie Brennan.
Subs: Hugh McFadden for J Brennan (39), Darrach O’Connor for P Brennan (45), Eamonn Doherty for Carroll (56), Stephen McBrearty for E McHugh (72).
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Philip McMahon, Michael Fitzsimmons, Eric Lowndes; Darren Daly, John Small, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, Ciaran Reddin; Niall Scully (1-01), Shane Carthy (0-01), Conor McHugh (0-01); Ciaran Kilkenny (0-01), Eoghan O’Gara, Dean Rock (0-3, 3f).
Subs: Michael Darragh Mcauley for Reddin (42), Paul Flynn for Carthy (42), Kevin McManamon for O’Gara (43), David Byrne (0-01) for McCaffrey (56), Emmett O’Conghaile for Daly (68).
Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down).
