Dublin boss gives assessment on full-time fight in Donegal win

A huge moment!

The game finished 2-26 to 2-22 to the Sky Blues after extra-time, sending the Dubs through to the quarter-finals and knocking out one of the favourites for the title.

However, the game was marred by controversy at the end of normal time, with a controversial free-kick and a melee that followed it.

The referee deemed that Dublin had not handed the ball back properly to Donegal, and he subsequently brought the free up 50m, giving Michael Murphy an easy opportunity to level proceedings with the last kick of the game.

Speaking on the free, Dubs boss Ger Brennan said: "We touched it on the ground. Ross McGarry wasn't sure whose free it was, and Ross thought it was our free. The ball was brought 50 metres because Ross didn't give it back, but he actually wasn't sure."

"Ross thought it was his free, funny enough. I think that's probably one of those moments with the new rules where referees probably just have to maybe take a minute, take a beat, and just say, hold on lads, a bit of confusion here."

"In our instance we thought it was a free for us. But probably just a chance to calm it down and give Donegal the free from the spot where Martin deemed that the ball was touched on the ground."

What followed was a fight between both sets of players, seemingly instigated by Murphy and Ciarán Kilkenny.

Brennan also gave his views on this incident, saying: "We didn't expect to get any cards. I tend to be in the dressing room first these days, I didn'tsee anything that happened."

Dublin: Evan Comerford; David Byrne, Nathan Doran, Seán MacMahon; Theo Clancy, Charlie McMorrow, Lee Gannon (0-01); Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (0-01), Brian Howard (0-01); Niall Scully, Colm Basquel (0-07, 1 tp, 0-01f), Ciarán Kilkenny (0-01); Paddy Small (1-02), Con O'Callaghan (1-05, 1 tp, 0-01 45), Cormac Costello (0-02, 0-01f).

Subs: Eoin Kennedy for Doran 29, Ross McGarry (0-02) for Costello 54, Seán Guiden (0-04, 1 tp) for Small 67. Seán Bugler for Gannon 75, Tim Deering for O'Callaghan 78, Josh Bannon for MacMahon 85.

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (0-02, tpf); Eoghan Ban Gallagher (0-01), Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan (1-01); Finbarr Roarty (0-01), Caolán McGonagle, Ciarán Moore; Jason McGee (0-03, 1 tp), Michael Langan (0-04); Max Campbell, Hugh McFadden, Michael Murphy (0-04, 1 tpf, 0-01f); Conor O'Donnell (0-01), Shane O'Donnell (0-02, tp), Shea Malone (1-00).

Subs: Ryan McHugh (0-03) for Campbell h/t, Oisín Gallen for Malone h/t, Ciarán Thompson for Conor O'Donnell 63, Seán Martin for McFadden 65. Conor O'Donnell for Thompson e/t, Max Campbell for Roarty e/t, Daire Ó Baoill for Martin e/t, Roarty for Moore h/t e/t, Malone for Conor O'Donnell h/t e/t, Thompson for Gallen 87.

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).