Goals from Cormac Costello and Jack McCaffrey helped Dublin record an exciting 2-10 to 0-11 victory over Donegal at Croke Park tonight.

The hosts looked to be under pressure when Kevin McManamon was dismissed for a second yellow-card offence nine minutes into the second half but, in a sapping contest, Donegal could never get back on terms and a stunning 62nd-minute major from substitute McCaffrey settled the issue.

Costello's fourth-minute goal was the difference between the sides at the end of the first half as the winners-elect turned around with a 1-5 to 0-7 advantage. Michael Murphy's brace had got the Ulster champions off to an encouraging start and the 2012 All-Ireland winning captain tied the scores up again from a tenth-minute free.

A run of points from Davey Byrne, Emmett O'Conghaile and Eoghan O'Gara saw the Dubs move into a double-scores advantage after 22 minutes but Donegal replied with a Patrick McBrearty brace, 1-3 to 0-5.

Dean Rock converted a free followed by a '45' to restore the victors' two-point cushion but Rory Gallagher's charges finished the half strongly with points from Christy Toye and McBrearty in the 35th minute and the second minute of added time respectively.

Murphy had the teams level within seconds of the resumption but a brace of  Rock frees made it a two-point game before McManamon's dismissal.

McBreary and Toye had points cancelled out by Rock and McCaffrey respectively before the latter lit up Croke Park with the score of the match -  a superb finish at the end of a blistering run - to make it 2-9 to 0-10. Substitute Colm McFadden notched a consolation point for the visitors and Dublin's night was complete when substitute Ciaran Kilkenny announced his return from curciate ligament injury with a late point.

The losers had Murphy black-carded late on.

Dublin - S Currie; E Culligan, M Fitzsimons, D Daly; J Cooper, J Small, E Lowndes; D Bastick, E O'Conghaile (0-1); T Brady, D Rock (0-5, 4f, 1'45), Davy Byrne (0-1); K McManamon, E O'Gara (0-1), C Costello (1-0). Subs: David Byrne for E Culligan, C Kilkenny (0-1) for T Brady, J McCaffrey (1-1) for E Lowndes, P McMahon for J Cooper, B Brogan for C Costello, C ReddIn for Davy Byrne.

Donegal - P Durcan; E Doherty, E McGee, P McGrath; F McGlynn, K Lacey, M McHugh; N Gallagher, C Toye (0-2); R McHugh, M O'Reilly, O MacNiallais; P McBrearty (0-4, 1f), M Murphy (0-4, 2f), H McFadden. Subs: M Boyle for P Durcan, N McGee for P McGrath, M McElhinney for M O'Reilly, C McFadden (0-1) for H McFadden, D O'Connor for E Doherty, D McLaughlin for M Murphy (BC).

Referee - M Deegan.

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