They played within themselves tonight but Niall Scully's goals handed Dublin a 2-15 to 0-16 victory over Donegal in their Super 8s opener at Croke Park.

Scully netted with aplomb either side of the interval, while wing back Brian Howard was also outstanding for the winners, who never looked under any real threat despite the close nature of the scoreboard at the end.

Content to simply do what they had to do, the ultra-professional Dubs toyed with their opponents in the last quarter as they eased to victory, claiming two invaluable points and in the process conserving some energy in the draining heat ahead of their tricky trip to Omagh to face Tyrone next weekend.

The manner in which Dublin killed the game off in the closing 17 minutes with a monotonous procession of handpassing-heavy keep-ball was a painful watch but also ominous for the rest of the contenders. A tiring Donegal side couldn't get near them.

Paul Flynn's 58^th minute point gave the reigning champions a seven-point lead and they didn't register again until the same player lofted one over in the 75^th minute. Donegal pointed three times in between but never looked like winning as the Dubs played cat-and-mouse with them.

With 53,501 looking on at hot and humid HQ, Scully's goal and five Dean Rock points from placed balls ensured Dublin of a 1-9 to 0-8 interval lead and the Tir Chonail men - who led after 22 minutes - could probably consider themselves unfortunate not to be closer at the break.

Eight points were shared inside the opening quarter as Declan Bonner's side put it up to the four-in-row chasing men in blue, three Rock scores keeping the favourites in the early running.

There were three late changes to Dublin's starting XV as Cian O'Sullivan replaced Philly McMahon, Eoin Murchan came in for Eric Lowndes and Jack McCaffrey got the nod ahead of Paddy Andrews. Meanwhile, the visitors, already without Patrick McBrearty, started without veteran full back Neil McGee, with Stephen McBrearty starting. Eamonn Doherty also started for the Ulster champions in place of Cian Mulligan.

The Dubs won the toss and opted to attack the Davin End … Rock's free from the hands had them up and running inside 50 seconds and he followed up with a converted '45' in the fourth minute before Jamie Brennan calmly opened Donegal's account off his left foot in the sixth - the game's first score from play.

Wing back Frank McGlynn came through the middle to hammer over the equaliser and a stunning Ryan McHugh finish from the right wing edged the visitors in front in the eleventh minute. Rock's third (free) made it 0-3 apiece.

Dublin's Cian O'Sullivan and Michael Fitzsimons jump with Michael Langan of Donegal

Dublin had a lucky escape when Jonny Cooper deflected Hugh McFadden's flicked effort out for a '45', which Michael Murphy crisply stroked over to silence a cacophony of jeers from The Hill. Ciaran Kilkenny equalised on 15 minutes after Shaun Patton - who got away with some dubious kick-outs in the opening period - denied Con O'Callaghan.

Murphy restored Donegal's lead on 22 minutes after a poor Stephen Cluxton kick-out surrendered possession but wing back Howard promptly drew the sides level for the fourth time, five points each. A soft free was awarded to Dublin in front of the posts when O'Sullivan went to ground under pressure from three defenders and Rock popped it over.

And there was a six-point swing in the 27^th minute when all Donegal's encouraging work was undone as Man of the Match Scully calmly rolled the ball through Patton's legs to the net seconds after Brennan had spurned a goal chance at the other end - 1-6 to 0-5. Hill 16 burst into song as Howard cancelled out Brennan's reply, the Dubs gradually solving the puzzle being presented to them by the best team they'd faced so far in this year's championship.

Ciaran Thompson fired over a brilliant Donegal score to keep the Anglo-Celt Cup holders within three with half-time approaching; Rock is always worth at least a handful of points and his fifth (free) nudged the Leinster champions four ahead in the 33^rd minute.

Murphy dropped an excellent shot onto the roof of the Dublin net seconds after Donegal were bizarrely denied a clear free-in … advantage was played after the initial foul on Murphy but play wasn't brought back when it amounted to nothing (it could in fact have resulted in a penalty for a subsequent foul on Paddy McGrath). James McCarthy closed the first-half scoring as Jim Gavin's men led by four at the break.

McGee came into the Donegal side for the second half but their defence was exposed again two minutes after the restart as Scully pounced for his second-ever championship goal - an explosive low finish from close range following good work from Howard and Cooper.

Rock's first from play, off his left on 40 minutes, made it double scores, 2-10 to 0-8, but Doherty and McHugh - wearing No.7 but posted on the '40' - replied and Cluxton helped Brennan's mis-hit effort over the bar following a marauding Eoghan Ban Gallagher surge. A patient Donegal move culminated in their fourth consecutive point, Michael Langan sweeping over on 45 minutes as they stole back within four, 2-10 to 0-12.

With all 15 players back inside their own 45-yard line at times, Dublin's priority appeared to be to make sure that Donegal didn't engineer another goal-scoring opportunity. A quick turn of pace and a tidy finish from substitute Cormac Costello got the Sam Maguire Cup holders motoring again.

Patton denied both O'Callaghan and Brian Fenton with saves of contrasting difficulty. Rock effortlessly despatched a harsh free and the enormity of the task facing the northerners was underlined as the champions replaced the excellent Howard with five-times All-Ireland winner Flynn.

McCaffrey's ongoing quest for goals was thwarted by a combination of subs McGee and Daire O'Baoil. Murphy's fourth point (free) and Langan's second - when he blazed a goal effort over - bookended Dubs points from Costello and Flynn as Scully's two goals remained the difference between the sides with an hour played, 2-14 to 0-14.

Murphy swept over a terrific free from the deck seven minutes from the end but, despite having their lead reduced to five, Dublin's grip on the game didn't appear to be under any threat. Four minutes passed before Murphy bagged his sixth from another free but the Dubs were happy to pass the ball around and play down the clock, a Costello backpass that travelled all of 50 metres reflecting their conservative mindset.

Flynn closed the scoring as the Dubs got what they came for.

Dublin - S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, J Cooper, E Murchan; J McCarthy (0-1), C O'Sullivan, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, M D Macauley; N Scully (2-0), C O'Callaghan, B Howard (0-2); P Mannion, C Kilkenny (0-1), D Rock (0-7, 5f, 1'45). Subs: C Costello (0-2) for M D Macauley, K McManamon for P Mannion, P Flynn (0-2) for B Howard, E Lowndes for J McCaffrey, C Basquel for C O'Callaghan, D Daly for M Fitzsimons.

Donegal - S Patton; S McMenamin, F McGlynn (0-1), E Ban Gallagher; R McHugh (0-2), P Brennan, P McGrath; H McFadden, O MacNiallais; E Doherty (0-1), M Murphy (0-6, 3f, 1'45), C Thompson (0-1); L McLoone, M Langan (0-2), J Brennan (0-3). Subs: N McGee for P McGrath, D O Baoill for O MacNiallais, C Mulligan for C Thompson, C Ward for E Doherty, A Thompson for P Brennan, S McBrearty for J Brennan.

Referee - C Lane.

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