Having trailed by five points, Dublin battled back to defeat Donegal by 1-15 to 1-14 at Croke Park.

It was familiar fare at HQ as Dessie Farrell’s champions refused to panic and netted a late goal in front of The Hill (through Paul Mannion) to take the lead for the first time, confidently holding out for a fantastic victory thereafter.

Declan Bonner’s men played some lovely football but have now let victory slip through their fingers for the third time in four league outings. They left this game behind them really, squandering two presentable goal chances of their own before gifting the Sam Maguire Cup holders their three-pointer.

Dublin’s rather fortuitous winner arrived in the 66th minute when Mannion was on hand to bundle the ball over the line with his fingers following a Shaun Patton fumble under a dropping ball beneath Hill 16, which instantaneously broke into full song as the Dubs broke ominously for the winning line.

Hugh McFadden’s goal into the same net had the visitors ahead by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break, although the Dubs finished that half strongest with three unanswered points.

Craig Dias got a first Dublin start in eight years at midfield in place of James McCarthy, with Dean Rock named as captain, while Patrick McBrearty was kept in reserve for the Ulster champions, his starting place going to Peadar Mogan.

Ciaran Thompson clipped over a free on five minutes following a foul on Man of the Match Michael Murphy and the gap was four within 60 seconds when midfielder McFadden eased through a non-existent Dublin defence and planted a low left-footed shot down the middle of the net.

After Sean Bugler opened Dublin’s account, Donegal replied with a Murphy advanced mark in the twelfth minute. Murphy swept over a free to cancel out Ciaran Kilkenny’s advanced mark and Rock (free) had the Dubs back within the goal with 19 minutes played, 1-3 to 0-3.

With Patton’s precise kick-outs providing the platform, Jamie Brennan fisted Donegal’s fourth point after Evan Comerford denied Ryan McHugh and the No.15 quickly added his second, but Brian Howard hit back with a sidestep and left-footed strike with eight minutes left before the break.

On the stoke of 30 minutes, Michael Langan increased the Donegal lead, only for Bugler to reply from an acute angle; Rock to arrow over a trademark free; and Kilkenny to nail one from play.

Thompson and Mogan doubled Donegal’s advantage within 60 seconds of the restart but back came the Dubs with points from Rock (free), half-time substitute Cormac Costello and Howard, Murphy replying from a ridiculous angle after wonderful McHugh persistence.

Mogan replied to a nonchalant Rock point and McBrearty came on at the three-quarters stage to make his first appearance of the year. Murphy’s point from play left the goal still separating the teams with 16 minutes of normal time left.

Brian Fenton’s brace was followed by a point-blank Comerford save to keep out McBrearty’s thunderbolt before substitute Colm Basquel equalised on the hour, 0-14 to 1-11.

After Mannion netted as Patton failed to deal with Howard’s mis-hit, dangerously-dropping shot, Murphy replied from a free. Full back David Byrne saw his point cancelled out by McFadden and McBrearty made it a one-point game five minutes into seven of injury time.

Murphy and his marker John Small were both sent off at the death for second yellow-card offences following a melee and it was the home side that took the points to move clear at the top of the table.

Dublin - E Comerford; E Murchan, D Byrne (0-1), M Fitzsimons; C Dias, J Small, C O'Shea; B Fenton (0-2), B Howard (0-2); N Scully, C Kilkenny (0-2, 1m), S Bugler (0-2); P Mannion (1-0), K McManamon, D Rock (0-4, 3f). Subs: C Costello (0-1) for C Dias, C Basquel (0-1) for K McManamon, A Byrne for S Bugler, P Small for D Rock.

Donegal - S Patton; C Ward, N McGee, E Ban Gallagher; D O Baoill, R McHugh, O McFadden Ferry; H McFadden (1-1), M Langan (0-1); P Brennan, C Thompson (0-2, 1f), C McGonagle; P Mogan (0-2), M Murphy (0-5, 2f, 1m), J Brennan (0-2). Subs: N O'Donnell for P Brennan, P McBrearty (0-1) for C McGonagle, B McCole for C Ward, E McHugh for J Brennan.

Referee - M Deegan.

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