Tyrone 1-21
Donegal 1-12
DONEGAL HAD NO answer to Tyrone’s power and pace as the Red Hand cruised into their second successive Ulster final this afternoon.
This game was over as a contest long before the final whistle as Tyrone defended astutely and attacked with real menace in Clones.
Following a sprightly league campaign, a strong challenge from this young Donegal group was anticipated but it never transpired. Tyrone were well-drilled and picked holes in the Donegal rearguard at will, coupled with some fine shooting from distance.
Tiernan McCann’s 38th minute goal sent them into an unassailable lead while Sean Cavanagh and Rory Brennan blew golden opportunities to hit the net in either half.
Michael Carroll scored a late consolation goal for Donegal but Tyrone were long out of sight by that stage.
On current form Tyrone can consider themselves at the front of the chasing pack behind Kerry and Dublin in the race for Sam. The likes of Ronan O’Neill, Darren McCurry, Conor Meyler were introduced in the second-half, showing the quality of player Mickey Harte could call on from the bench.
Paddy McBrearty was a rare bright spark in the Donegal display and he finished with 0-5, but around him Donegal struggled to create scoring chances.
Tyrone scored 1-21, and 1-19 of their tally came from play in a far more open game than was expected.
Tyrone trailed by 0-2 to no score inside the opening seven minutes, but they slowly started to turn the screw.
Sean Cavanagh missed an early goal chance, but a flurry of scores followed from Peter Harte, Tiernan McCann and Niall Sludden as Tyrone moved a point ahead on 25 minutes.
The Red Hand hit seven unanswered scores before the break to lead by 0-12 to 0-5.
McCann’s 38th minute goal virtually ended the game as a contest. Mark Bradley, Mattie Donnelly, Sludden and O’Neill all chipped in with scores as Tyrone raced further in front.
Carroll hit the net in the 61st minute but it simply meant Donegal avoided a double-digits defeat.
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Tyrone had to win this game really. Serious questions would be asked of Harte if, after all their years of transition, they were beaten by a young and coming Donegal team.
Donegal/Mayo in Round 3 anyone?
Experience beats youth
@Mary Mary: Positivity beats negativity. At one stage it looked like Donegal were playing 3 keepers.
Well done Tyrone massive gulf between the sides fearful for us now in the qualifiers midfield non existent with the recent retirements
massive learning curve for this young donegal side ,no substitute for experience ,saying that we lost far to much possession in midfield ,and lacked a bit of leadership .mc ginley showed why he is donegal no 1.much more to do for gallagher and his team ,it could be the making of this new look donegal squad but like eveyrthing in life success does not come easy .
Time for Gallagher to move on!!
Donegal offered absolutely nothing a woeful team ,Tyrone looked decent nothing more, Donegal scored 1 point in 34 minutes another example of the notion that the Ulster championship being competitive is a nonsense.
@dead right: Decent nothing more? Going by your other comments on the live match I’d say you haven’t much knowledge off football.
@Micky: well said he’s a wee p—ck
@Micky: yes indeed decent at best the standard of opposition offered by donegal was junior b standard at best a good team like dublin and kerry will expose Tyrone as the average team they are and if you know anything about football you will have to agree but enjoy your day .
@Peter McElroy: sorry buddy i don’t understand that ulster scots word wee.
@Micky: Donegal 1 score in 34 minutes and played their best and only decent forward at half back and your getting excited about beaten that they didn’t even bother starting a fight but as i said enjoy the “victory”
@dead right: sorry dead wrong I forgot to put in annoying before wee
@Peter McElroy: your not very good at this commenting stuff infairness ah well.
@Peter McElroy: we have got the message weeks ago.you hate anything Ulster football related now go get yourself an extension ladder.climb to the top and get over it
@dead right: we have got the message loud and clear from you these past few weeks.you hate all Ulster football.now get an extension ladder extend it fully, climb to top and see is it possible to get over it.i doubt it very much though!
@Peter McElroy: im going to presume you directed that at me and not in fact yourself yes its true i hate what is called “football” played in ulster beacuse its simply not football and most outside of the province agree but the people up there ridiculously defend it as uster intensity, even the gaa have and are looking at ways to counteract the way its “played”sadly donegal got sucess using it and it has spread like a cancer on the game and im afraid of heights so the ladder is a non starter.
@dead right: and don’t concern yourself about my commenting . I’ll be well fit to answer any rubbish you spout from now on buddy!
@Peter McElroy: the ladder one was a bit childish and silly buddy infairness are you old enough to be on the internet?
@Peter McElroy: you forgot to delete the comment to yourself in the news section as well as the 42.
@dead right: sorry not excited at all as I’m from Donegal myself, but I can see Tyrone being a strong team this year. The one thing I can do is that I’ll give credit to teams that have played well so far in the championship against strong enough opposition.
@dead right:well if the ladder one was childish.the internet one wins hands down.how unoriginal!
@Micky: as i said Tyrone where decent today but you have to admit they had absolutely no opposition the lads on bbc talking about serious championship contenders ridiculous on that performance carlow would have beaten donegal today.
@Peter McElroy: stop it man it was a classic infairness i was waiting for you to play the ace “build a bridge”
@Micky: no doubt Tyrone will be strongee this year i agree they will however their style of play is outdated it worked today but it wont work at the sharp end of the championship beacuse the top two wont perform like Donegal did its easy to look great against no opposition.
Gallaghers tactics are a shambles, going backward under his stewardship
So glad i have a u2 ticket for croker cos rory gallagher wont be taking donegal there for sure.players are definitely not playing for him
A certain Donegal poster who enjoys sticking the boot into Kerry is very quiet today!
@Neil the Gouch man You enjoy sticking the ould boot in yourself Neil!! ha ha
@John Carroll: only to lads that bring Kerry into every GAA conversation and normally in a derogatory manner.
Only two of them on here John….
I think the London team would have beat Donegal today they were awful it was way to easy for Tyrone
@The metropolitans: agreed, thought they’d be in it for a longer time but it was over at half time.