Donegal made it two wins from two with a first victory over Kerry at the Ballyshannon venue of Fr Tierney Park since 1990.

Kerry, minus Player of the Year David Clifford, were playing second fiddle for most of the game but thanks to the accuracy of Sean O’Shea they just about kept in touch until the end.

The capacity crowd of 9,000, the biggest ever at the venue, went home happy with Young Footballer of the Year, Finnbarr Roarty outstanding for the winners.

Donegal started brightly with points from Conor O’Donnell and Roarty, but Sean O’Shea cancelled those with a two-point free.

That became the pattern. With Tony Brosnan hitting two brilliant two-pointers while Roarty, Ciaran Moore, Peadar Mogan and O’Donnell had Donegal scores.

1 February 2026; Sean O'Shea of Kerry in action against Finbarr Roarty of Donegal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon, Donegal. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
Séan O’Shea kept Kerry’s quest alive contributing 11 points

The second Brosnan two-pointer, and a ’45’ from O’Shea pushed Kerry two clear by the 26th minute, 0-08 to 0-06.

Shea Malone had a goal effort saved for Donegal as the home side had their purple patch in the final five minutes of the half.

Gavin Mulreany started a run of scores with a ‘45’ before Dáire Ó Baoill found acres of space to fire home a goal and Conor O’Donnell and Peadar Mogan added quick points to send Donegal to the dressing room ahead by 1-09 to 0-08.

Michael Langan landed a brace of two-pointers followed by a point from Roarty to push Donegal nine clear early in the second half.

But O’Shea was intent on keeping Kerry in the contest with another brace of two-pointers, and the lead was trimmed to four points by the end of the third quarter.

Donegal set in Michael Murphy and Oisín Gallen, and both found the target, but Kerry just wouldn’t go away.

It looked as if the game was fizzling out, but a goal from Donagh O’Sullivan cut the lead to just three points with a minute left to play.

Kerry won the kick-out and went looking for an equaliser, but Donegal turned it over and Murphy tapped over an insurance point.

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (0-01, ’45); Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Kieran Gallagher, Caolan McGonagle, Finnbarr Roarty (0-03); Hugh McFadden(0-02, 1tp), Michael Langan(0-04, 2tp); Daire Ó Baoill (1-02), Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Moore (0-02); Conor O’Donnell (0-03, 1f), Jason McGee, Shea Malone (0-01).

Subs: Ryan McHugh for Gallagher (44), Michael Murphy for Malone (52), Eoghan Ban Gallagher for Ó Baoill (62), Oisin Gallen for S.O’Donnell (62), Kevin Muldoon for C.O’Donnell (68).

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Evan Looney, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Armin Heinrich (0-01), Mike Breen, Tadhg Morley; Seán O’Brien, Cillian Trant; Joe O’Connor, Seán O’Shea (0-11,1f, 4tpf, ’45), Micheál Burns; Killian Spillane, Tomás Kennedy, Tony Brosnan (0-06, 1f, 2tp).

Subs: Liam Smith for O’Brien (19), Charlie Keating for Breen (h-t), Darragh Lyne for Spillane (41), Donagh O’Sullivan (1-00) for Burns (52), Ruairi Murphy for Trant (55).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)