Senior footballers to face Kerry in league decider

DUBLIN 1-20 DONEGAL 0-13

Dublin will contest the NFL Division 1 final for the fourth year in succession after overcoming Donegal by ten points in Sunday's semi-final at Croke Park.

Jim Gavin's men will face Kerry, comprehensive victors over Roscommon, in the decider in two weeks' time as the Dubs attempt a historic four league titles in-a-row for the county.

In front of an attendance of 31.324 Dublin put in an all-energy 70-plus minutes and never really looked in trouble.

The Dubs set the tempo to the game from the early minutes and forcing three turnovers inside the opening five minutes indicated their strong intent for the afternoon.

After resting some 'front-line' players against Roscommon last weekend Dublin were full of vigour with a very high work-rate from the first whistle.

Points from Dean Rock (free), the dynamic Ciarán Kilkenny, Paddy Andrews and Rock again had Dublin 0-4 to 0-1 to the good inside 11 minutes.

At midfield Brian Fenton looked like a player brimming with experience while James McCarthy and Cian O'Sullivan controlled the defensive game.

Goal chances were precious in the opening half but it was Dublin who created the best of them in the 28th minute when a superb crossfield ball from Paul Mannion picked out Dean Rock who placed Bernard Brogan whose shot was blocked and eventually cleared to safety.

Dublin finished the half 0-11 to 0-6 to the good, it could have been more, but Brogan did not spurn the goal opportunity the next time it came knocking and he fired past Mark Anthony McGinley to propel Dublin into an eight-point lead. The never looked back.

As the game wore on Dublin's dominance grew affording them the opportunity to run out several subs.

Dublin finished the game with 11 different scorers contributing to their scoring tally while at the back Dublin dealt with the best Donegal could pose on the day.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1’45’), B Brogan 1-2, C Kilkenny 0-3, P Andrews, P Mannion 0-2 each, J McCarthy, P McMahon, J Small, C Costello, J Cooper, E Lowndes 0-1 each. Donegal: P McBrearty 0-8 (0-5f), M Murphy 0-4 (0-4f), McElhinney 0-1.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, J Cooper, D Byrne; J McCarthy, C O’Sullivan, J Small; B Fenton, D Bastick; P Flynn, P Andrews, C Kilkenny; D Rock, P Mannion, B Brogan.Subs: C Costello for Andrews (45), E Lowndes for Bastick (48), M Fitzsimons for McMahon (52), Shane B Carthy for Flynn (61), K O’Brien for Cooper (61), Shane Carthy for O’Sullivan (66).

DONEGAL: MA McGinley; P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee; R McHugh, K Lacey, C Gillespie; R Kavanagh, O MacNiallais; M O’Reilly, M McElhinney, F McGlynn; P McBrearty, M Murphy, L McLoone. Subs: S McBrearty for O’Reilly (14), C McGonagle for MacNiallais (50), C McFadden for McElhinney (52), J O’Brien for Gillespie (71).

REF: M Deegan (Laois).