Philly McMahon's 65th-minute goal helped Dublin to victory over Donegal in a dour contest at Croke Park (1-10 to 0-7).

The 20,340 paying punters at HQ didn't really get value for money tonight as the northerners adopted a lose-lose, damage limitation approach (managing just three points in the second half…) and the patient All-Ireland champions happily picked them off, with McMahon delivering the killer blow five minutes from the end as Jim Gavin's men made it six wins from six.

Kevin McManamon (0-3) produced a Man of the Match display for the holders, but his heroics will be overshadowed by the poor quality of the fare and some of the negativity and niggling fouling of both teams, each of whom were reduced to 14 men 20 minutes from time when Michael Murphy and James McCarthy received their second yellow cards.

At the end of a forgettable opening period, where even forwards seemed more intent on defending and fouling than scoring or creating scores, the winners led by the odd point from nine.

Ciaran Kilkenny's classy 34th-minute point - in reply to an equally sweet strike from Patrick McBrearty - separated the teams at the break, with McManamon on target twice for the hosts before the short whistle, as well as creating that Kilkenny score.

Murphy opened the scoring after ten tortuous minutes and Dublin then hit three without reply, including two Cormac Costello frees. Back came the Ulster county with points from Eamon McGee (!) and Rory Kavanagh only for the Dubs to notch two of the last three first-half points.

The visitors had three players booked in the first half and it would be fair to say that some of the football on show was not a great advertisement for the game. Apart from making an important early save from Eoin McHugh, Dublin goalkeeper Michael Savage must have been the loneliest man in Croke Park as there were times when nobody (umpires notwithstanding) was within 50 metres of him.

Points from McBrearty (free) and Odhran MacNiallais had the visitors in front within four minutes of the restart but they would score just once more in the ensuring 35 minutes including stoppage time. Substitute Dean Rock pointed off his left within four minutes of entering the action - 0-6 each after 44. Paddy Andrews restored the Dubs' lead and both sides were reduced to 14 men in a 50th-minute flashpoint as Murphy and McCarthy each received second yellows.

Brian Fenton was happy enough to take his point in the 55th minute and Costello followed up with another as the hosts moved three ahead for the first time with four successive scores. Eight minutes from time, McBrearty closed the gap with the border county's first score in 21 minutes but McManamon pounced for his third score of the night before McMahon settled the contest with the game's only goal.

Dublin - M Savage; P McMahon (1-0), J Cooper, David Byrne; J McCarthy, E Lowndes, J Small; B Fenton (0-1), D Bastick; K McManamon (0-3), P Flynn, C Kilkenny (0-1); C Costello (0-3, 2f), P Andrews (0-1), B Brogan. Subs: D Rock (0-1) for B Brogan, E O Conghaile for D Bastick, S B Carthy for E Lowndes, M Fitzsimons for J Small, T Brady for C Costello, D Daly for K McManamon.

Donegal - M A McGinley; P McGrath, E McGee (0-1), C Gillespie; M O'Reilly, A Thompson, R McHugh; O MacNiallais (0-1), M Murphy (0-1); R Kavanagh (0-1), K Lacey, E McHugh; P McBrearty (0-3, 1f), L McLoone, H McFadden. Subs: M McHugh for P McGrath, M McElhinney for L McLoone, E Gallagher for A Thompson, C Toye for H McFadden, C McFadden for K Lacey, M Carroll for R Kavanagh.

Referee - C Lane.

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