Tyrone 1-11
Donegal 0-13
TYRONE SECURED A first Ulster U21 FC title since 2006 with Daniel McNulty nailing an injury-time free in Celtic Park to snatch a precious win for the Red Hand county.
It was heartbreaking stuff for Donegal, runners-up to Cavan for the last two years, who had reeled off three unanswered points in the last ten minutes to draw level and looked to have the winning momentum late on.
However when Tyrone senior player Cathal McShane was fouled by Ciaran Thompson, McNulty hit the winning free from 30 metres. Tyrone were the more assured side and Conor Meyler’s eighth minute goal gave them an early cushion that they held on to for most of the game.
In front of 3,239 supporters, Meyler’s low finish across the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net gave Tyrone a cushion they held onto until half time.
Both sides looked comfortable breaking forward and Lee Brennan scored a couple of superb left-footed points, one from a very difficult angle before the break. Ryan McHugh was involved in a great Donegal move, his good run and superb pass to Darach O’Connor resulting in an impressive score.
Ciaran McLaughlin picked up a black card for the second game in a row but Tyrone still led by 1-6 to 0-6 at half time.
Donegal had their best spell of the game in the last ten minutes, hitting three unanswered points from Eamon McGrath, Darach O’Connor and sub Stephen McBrearty hit the equaliser in the last minute of normal time. Mark Kavanagh was black-carded for Tyrone in a dramatic finish.
With the game looking like it would go to extra time, Tyrone mounted one last attack and McNulty stepped up to convert the free which booked Tyrone’s place in the All-Ireland semi-final against Roscommon on Saturday week.
Scorers for Tyrone: Lee Brennan (0-2f), Diarmuid McNulty (0-3f) 0-4 each, Conor Meyler 1-0, Cathal McShane, M Cassidy, Ruairi McGlone 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Hugh McFadden 0-5 (0-4f), Eoin McHugh, Darach O’Connor 0-2 each, Ciaran Thompson (0-1f), Willie Gillespie, E McGrath, Stephen McBrearty 0-1 each.
DONEGAL: D Rodgers; C Morrison, C Parke, J O’Brien; R McHugh, D Mulgrew, E Gallagher; T McClenaghan, C Thompson; O Crawford, L Connor, D O’Connor; W Gillespie, H McFadden, E McHugh
Subs: E McGrath for Morrison (HT), S McBrearty for McClenaghan (HT), J Brennan for Connor (55), C Mulligan for Crawford (55), C McGonigle for Gillespie (58)
TYRONE: S Fox; R Mullan, P Hampsey, M Cassidy; C McLaughlin, R Brennan, K McGeary; F Burns, C McShane; C Meyler, M Kavanagh, M Walsh; L Brennan, D McNulty, R McGlone
Subs: R Kelly for McLaughlin (BC, 29), M Bradley for McGlone (45), S McKenna for Burns (57)
Refreee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
But they were AI champions last week???
@Harry Corry: Everyone outside of Mayo hyped them up. Every mayo fan could see our defence was wide open against Galway. Conceded 17 scores, same thing again today but Tyrone much better defensively than Galway. It’s about finding the balance. Horan always plays attacking football. It was the exact same in his first stint. Great going forward but wide open in defence.
@Harry Corry: No Harry. Dublin were the Al champions last week. Don’t feel embarrassed. It can be confusing but Mayo have a way to go yet ;-)
@Desheen: I’m joking btw lads. Mayo are my 2nd favourite team after Cork. Never give up
@Harry Corry: they are a lot of people’s second favourites because they win feck all
Tyrone are probably the worst team to play against following a convincing win. No better team to get in your face and bring you back down to earth.
If this article doesn’t bring Mel out nothing will
@my name: Mel seems to have retired from being a contrary bollocks on the internet
@Miguel Sanchez: Mel is a prize ballocks
@Miguel Sanchez: ah you’d miss him all the same
@my name: he can be an awkward one and I’m from Tyrone. Hope he is ok though, havent seen him here in ages.
So much for big shot moran today, Motm last week but substituted at half time today…disappointing stuff once again from Mayo. Bottlers