There was late drama in Ballybofey tonight, where Mayo substitute James Durcan netted in the eighth minute of injury time to secure a 2-13 to 0-19 draw with Donegal.

The inspirational Michael Murphy had whipped over eight points from all angles for the Ulster champions, who looked to be on course for a hard-earned and potentially morale-boosting win until Durcan capped his stellar cameo by rifling the leather past Shaun Patton deep into the night.

With 8,729 turning out to bear witness to Donegal’s top-flight return, the hosts led by 0-9 to 1-4 at the break, thanks largely to a run of five successive points from Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Thompson, Jamie Brennan and Murphy (2).

Whether by accident or design, James Carr had looped a dipping shot over Patton to the top right corner of the Donegal net in the 16th minute, propelling the visitors into a 1-3 to 0-4 lead, but – seeking revenge for their elimination from last summer’s championship – the hosts rallied to roar back in front.

Mayo played catch up for most of the night but it was late replacement Durcan who had the most telling impact of all, firing over three points before blasting the levelling goal with the last kick of an exciting contest.

Donegal - S Patton; C Ward, N McGee, E Ban Gallagher; O McFadden Ferry, C O'Donnell, P Brennan (0-1); C McGonagle (0-1), M Langan (0-1); E McHugh, R McHugh (0-1), J Brennan (0-2); C Thompson (0-4, 3f), M Murphy (0-8, 7f, 1'45), P Mogan. Subs: H McFadden for C McGonagle, B McCole for O McFadden Ferry, A McClean (0-1) for P Brennan, J McKelvey for R McHugh, C Morrison for N McGee.

Mayo - D Clarke; O Mullin, B Harrison, C Boyle; P O'Hora, S Coen, P Durcan; T Parsons, J Flynn; B Walsh (0-1), D O'Connor (0-2f), F Boland (0-2); R O'Donoghue, B Reape (0-2, 1f), J Carr (1-0). Subs: A O'Shea for T Parsons, K McLoughlin (0-2f) for B Reape, T Conroy (0-1) for J Carr, K Higgins for B Walsh, J Durcan (1-3, 0-2f) for F Boland.

Referee - D Coldrick.

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