Donegal 1-13
Tyrone 1-10
DONEGAL’S DOMINANCE over Tyrone continued today but only after a gruelling test of the Ulster champions credentials in Ballybofey.
Mickey Harte saw his Tyrone side again fall victim to Donegal in a preliminary round tie that contained some fine passages of football and plenty tension.
Both teams finished the game with 14 men as Neil Gallagher and Sean Cavanagh were both dismissed in the closing stages, while there was also a flashpoint at half-time with several players and mentors involved as the teams left MacCumhaill Park.
Tyrone’s matched Donegal for long stages but their failure to score for the last 23 minutes of the game cost them dearly. Conor McAliskey swept over a pair of points to bring the teams level at 1-10 apiece by the 51st minute but then Donegal closed out the game in a professional manner.
Michael Murphy knocked over a pair of frees and also converted a stunning ’45 to give Donegal their eventual three-point cushion. They needed their wits about them in the finale however as Tyrone came close to a goal on three occasions. Colm Cavanagh hit the bar, Peter Harte’s palmed effort was clawed away by Paul Durcan and Matthew Donnelly flashed a stinging late drive wide.
Donegal made an explosive start to the game as they reeled off four points without reply. They were setting the terms but then were rattled on the 9th minute when Darren McCurry ghosted past the Donegal defence to receive a pass and he finished to the net in style.
The opening half was superb. Tyrone tested Donegal and matched them stride for stride. They hit the front at 1-6 to 0-7 but were then overhauled before the break when Martin McElhinney finished expertly to the net after Odhran MacNiallais saw his initial effort saved by Tyrone netminder Michael O’Neill
Throughout O’Neill was outstanding for Tyrone as he produced a few excellent saves to keep his team in the hunt for honours. Tyrone trailed by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break but drew level early in the second-half.
However Donegal showed all their resolve to put the match to bed in the closing stages, frustrating their opponents and setting themselves up for a quarter-final title against Armagh.
Scorers for Donegal: Martin McElhinney 1-2, Michael Murphy 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Christy Toye, Colm McFadden, Patrick McBrearty 0-2 each, Frank McGlynn, Karl Lacey 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tyrone: Sean Cavanagh 0-4 (0-3f), Darren McCurry 1-0, Conor McAliskey 0-3, Justin McMahon, Matthew Donnelly, Ronan McNamee 0-1 each.
Donegal
1. Paul Durcan (The Four Masters)
4. Eamonn McGee (Gweedore)
3. Neil McGee (Gweedore)
2. Paddy McGrath (Ardara)
7. Frank McGlynn (Glenfin)
6. Karl Lacey (The Four Masters)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar)
8. Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly)
11. Odhran MacNiallais (Gweedore)
12. Christy Toye (St Michael’s)
9. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s)
10. Martin O’Reilly (Sean MacCumhaill’s)
13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly)
19. Colm McFadden (St Michael’s)
Subs
20. Mark McHugh (Kilcar) for O’Reilly (39)
18. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill) for Toye (67)
21. David Walsh (Naomh Bríd) for McElhinney (71)
22. Daniel McLaughlin (St Michael’s) for McFadden (73)
Tyrone
1. Michael O’Neill (Clonoe)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
6. Justin McMahon (Omagh)
2. Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciarán)
4. Cathal McCarron (Dromore)
11. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick)
5. Ronan McNabb (Dromore)
8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
14. Sean Cavanagh (Moy)
17. Rory Brennan (Trillick)
12. Barry Tierney (Omagh)
7. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciarán)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
25. Cathal McShane (Owen Roe O’Neill’s)
15. Connor McAliskey (Clonoe)
Subs
9. Padraig McNulty (Dungannon) for McShane (42)
10. Tiernan McCann for Tierney (55)
18. Mark Bradley (Killyclogher) for McCurry (64
26. Ronan O’Neill (Omagh) for McAliskey (67).
Are we going to get an article on everyone that won’t be captain?
@John Doe: no I’d say…
I think the captaincy, along with the squad will be reasonably settled and pragmatic.
Porter
Healy
Loughman
Sheehan
Kelleher
Herring
Furlong
Bealham
O’Toole
Ryan
Beirne
McCarthy
Henderson
O’Mahony (Captain)
Baird
VdF
Hodnett
Doris
Conan
Prendergast
Gibson-Parke
Casey
Murray
Crowley
Frawley
Harry Byrne
Aki
Henshaw
McCloskey
Ringrose (Vice Captain)
Frisch
Lowe
Stockdale
Nash
Larmour
Keenan
Zebo
APPRENTICES
Jack Boyle
Tom Clarkson
Thomas Ahearn
Nathan Doak
Sam Prendergast
@Paul Ennis: Serious looking squad to be fair and the right balance of captain / vice captain, with Ringrose perhaps taking the reins a couple of years out from the next world cup. I’ve been really impressed with Dooley since he’s gone to Connaught. Might be an option to blood a new loose head relatively risk free. I think Jager gets a go ahead of O’Toole when recovered from his head injury. Still plenty of other options across the squad, which is a great place to be.
@Paul Ennis: Herring most likely out due to injury so probable Stewart in stead
@TL55: Didn’t hear that. Doesn’t weaken the squad though.
Class act. I’d prefer if he didn’t captain Ireland yet. And just concentrate on his other stuff.
Has he captained Leinster?
@Colm O’ Brien: once. Slow News morning.
I’m paying a subscription and can only access the free articles. Took money on me this morning. Anyone else having this problem..
@Ed: No… but I had to keep logging in every time until I changed my phone and no issues since. You might need to try a new browser or clearing history and caches.
@Ed: it remembers me in the app only.