TOMORROW IN BALLYBOFEY, Jim Gavin and Jim McGuinness will be in opposition on the sideline.
The Dublin and Donegal managers have crossed paths before though.
Tomorrow’s encounter is a routine Division 1 league game but the stakes were considerably higher just under three years ago.
In May 2010, the two men were in the development stages of their inter-county managerial careers as they took the reins of their respective county’s U21 teams.
The All-Ireland football title in that grade was on offer on a sun-splashed evening in Kingspan Breffni Park.
The match concluded in a blaze of drama. Dublin were clinging to a two-point lead when Donegal substitute Cillian Morrison won a penalty.
The Ulster county’s talisman Michael Murphy stepped up to the last-gasp kick but he thundered a ferocious shot against the crossbar.
The final whistle sounded soon after to leave Dublin toasting success by 1-10 to 1-8 while Murphy and his Donegal teammates were left devastated.
Donegal’s Michael Murphy after that U21 final loss in 2010.
Pic: Donall Farmer/INPHO
The game was characterized by a superb individual battle between Murphy and Dublin defensive lynchpin Rory O’Carroll. Both players used that grade as a platform to advance to the senior stage as did several of their teammates.
From that Dublin team, the defensive trio of Darragh Nelson, Johnny Cooper and Nicky Devereux have all been involved in the league this season. James McCarthy, a midfielder in that game, is now an established inter-county player.
Attacker Dean Rock will be hoping to translate his club form with Ballymun Kickhams to the inter-county stage this summer. Ciaran Reddin has also seen game time with the county senior side this spring.
From that Donegal side, the corner-back Paddy McGrath and attacking pair of Mark McHugh and Leo McLoone were all part of the Jim McGuinness team that triumphed last September. Murphy obviously captained that side while Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy was introduced as a substitute during that game.
The teams in that game were:
DUBLIN: V Whelan; E Culligan, R O’Carroll, D Nelson; J Cooper, S Murray, N Devereux (0-1); J McCarthy, C Mullins; C Dorney (0-1), M Coughlan (0-1), G Sweeney (1-1); R McCarthy (0-1), T Furman, D Rock (0-4, two frees, one 45).
Subs: D Quinn for R McCarthy (half-time), C Redden for J McCarthy (37 mins), B O’Rorke (0-1) for T Furman (43 mins), S McGuinness for D Nelson (49 mins), N Brogan for C Dorney (62 mins).
DONEGAL: P Boyle; E Doherty, C Boyle, P McGrath; D Walsh, T McKinley, C Classon; K Mulhern, D Curran; M McHugh (0-1), M Murphy (0-2, free), D Molloy (0-5, four frees); J Carroll, L McLoone (1-0), A McFadden.
Subs: C Morrison for A McFadden (28 mins), D Murphy for T McKinley (28 mins), C McGinley for J Carroll (53 mins), S OKennedy for D Curran (67 mins).
Jim Gavin celebrates that 2010 success with Ted Furman.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
