Donegal 2-17
Tyrone 2-13
DONEGAL LEAPFROGGED ABOVE Tyrone in the Division 1 table after enjoying a four-point win over their Ulster rivals in Ballybofey this afternoon.
Despite the defeat, Mickey Harte will be pleased with the performance of Conor McKenna, who grabbed 1-2 on his first senior appearance for Tyrone following his return from a six-year AFL stint with Essendon.
The 2014 Tyrone minor played about 50 minutes at centre-forward, winning an early spot-kick that Darren McCurry converted, before being moved inside where he caused Donegal a host of problems in the final quarter.
McKenna clipped over two fine scores, buried a stunning goal and created a number of scoring opportunities with his power.
.@TyroneGAALive's Conor McKenna finds the top corner! pic.twitter.com/M4jAanouxI
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 18, 2020
His addition and quick acclimatisation to the game is a major boost for Tyrone who are without injured talisman Cathal McShane for the season.
Tyrone finished the game with 13 men after the final quarter dismissals of Frank Burns and Rory Brennan. Burns picked up a yellow and black, while Brennan received his marching orders late in the day for a straight red.
How much stock we can put into this game remains to be seen. The sides renew acquaintances in Ulster in two weeks’ time so both Harte and Declan Bonner surely held some cards close to their chest today.
Tyrone flooded the defence with bodies and utilised Frank Burns in the role formerly occupied by recently retired midfielder Colm Cavanagh. They were undone by some intelligent attacking play by Donegal, who struck the net in either half through Peardar Mogan and the electric Jamie Brennan.
Brennan, Niall O’Donnell and Ryan McHugh – scorer of three from play – shone in the Donegal forward line. As usual Michael Murphy dictated matters in the middle third and added six points for good measure.
The game came to life quickly as Brennan fired over an early brace for Donegal.
Corner-back Liam Rafferty replied for Tyrone, the first of two scores he’d send over in the first-half. Murphy and Conall McCann (mark) swapped scores before Donegal grabbed a goal through Mogan.
Mogan left a pair of Red Hand defenders behind him with a neat sidestep and rifled a strike past Niall Morgan. Tyrone responded through a Frank Burns score from an advanced mark and then found the net themselves.
McKenna was deemed to have been fouled by corner-back Stephen McMenamin and Curry struck home the penalty to draw his side level.
Donegal’s response was clinical. They took control of the game and hit four of the next five scores to move 1-8 to 1-4 in front.
Tyrone looked well-drilled when it came to scoring from marks and Michael McKernan sent over their third of the half in the 28th minute. That helped them reduce the deficit to three at the interval.
Murphy and McHugh combined to set-up Brennan for a goal five minutes after the restart. Brennan finished low as he bore down on goal. It was calmness personified.
He was fouled twice in the next five minutes for a pair of Murphy frees that pushed the hosts five clear. McKenna, now playing at 14, powered through to drive over his second score.
The visitors lost Burns and Brennan to reds but grabbed a second goal through McKenna in stoppage-time.
Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-6 (0-5f), Jamie Brennan 1-2, Peadar Mogan 1-0, Ryan McHugh 0-3, Niall O’Donnell and Ciaran Thompson (0-2f) 0-2 each, Caolan McGonigle and Andrew McClean 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tyrone: Conor McKenna 1-2, Darren McCurry 1-1 (0-1f), Liam Rafferty 0-2, Conall McCann, Frank Burns (0-1m), Michael McKiernan (0-1m), Mattie Donnelly, Kieran McGeary, David Mulgrew and Niall Morgan (0-1 45) 0-1 each.
Donegal
1. Shaun Patton
2. Eoghan Ban Gallagher
3. Neil McGee
4. Stephen McMenamin
5. Ryan McHugh
6. Paul Brennan
7. Jeaic McKelvey
8. Hugh McFadden
21. Caolan McGonigle
10. Peadar Mogan
11. Niall O’Donnell
12. Ciaran Thompson
13. Jamie Brennan
14. Michael Murphy
15. Oisin Gallen
Subs
24. Andrew McClean for Gallen (45)
20. Paddy McGrath for Brennan (63)
22. Caolan Ward for Gallagher (73)
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan
2. Liam Rafferty
3. Ronan McNamee
4. Rory Brennan
5. Tiernan McCann
6. Kieran McGeary
7. Michael McKernan
8. Padraig Hampsey
9. Frank Burns
10. Mattie Donnelly
11. Conor McKenna
12. Darren McCurry
26. Niall Sludden
14. Conall McCann
15. Conor Meyler
Subs
19. David Mulgrew for Sludden (ht)
24. Michael O’Neill for Burns (46)
25. Ronan O’Neill for Conall McCann (48)
23. Daire O Baoil for McKelvey (60)
22. Ben McDonnell for Hampsey (61)
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The Roy Keane.
Someone who hasn’t grasped the idea that 5 aside football is normally just for a bit of craic with mates midweek and there are no medals handed out at the end but plays and shouts like it’s the champions league final and is still fuming and talking about it 3 days later.
The Gaelic Footballer.
Doesn’t get the idea of a one-two, thinks short passing is a waste of time and likes belting the ball as hard as he can up the other end of the pitch. Never lets you out of the corner; in fact runs full belt at you and tries to kill you. Loves to drop the shoulder, especially when challenging for the ball near the side wall. Short shorts, big arse, hugely enthusiastic, often whoops, but never gets asked back again.
Classic
Also will never pass the ball backwards.
The better brother of a guy who made it professionaly. The only reason this guy didn’t was because of the drink. ‘Could have played with Celtic’. Slaughters you for 10 minutes then has a coronary for 50 minutes.
The Pro….
Struts onto the turf with the newest gear out, under armour and hairband, first touch of a donkey but counts every goal scored week in week out (I’ve 30 goals in astro this season) and to top it off asks around after the game does anybody know of a good physio cuz he’s feeling a bit tight in the groin….
Eh, what’s up with the dates on people’s comments – they’re all over the shop!?
The sub…
Usually one of the lads sons who come along to get him outta the house so the mother can catch up on Corrie. He’s probably around 12-14 years old. He’ll go in goals so “no hard shots lads, sure he’s only a chap!’ Which is a distinct advantage. He’ll turn out to be amazing and no matter how hard you hit it, he’ll dive full length, collecting the ball in mid flight, a few somersaults and rolls and he’s off up the pitch, nutmegging and steps overs to bate tha band before sticking it in the top corner. As he walks back up the pitch, he’s given a little reminder of what age group of lads he’s actually playing with and someone decides to ‘soften his cough’ by ‘puttin a pup in him’ which ultimately results in a screaming kid rolling around all ‘ronaldo-esque’ with a shoving match between his dad and the offending individual. But all is settled with a few pints in the local with the young lad sippin a lemonade and chompin on a packet o’ Tatyo texting his mates with indecipherable gobbledegook about the dinosaurs he’s destroyed earlier….!
The john terry… He’s around shagging your missus while your not at home
The peter bonetti…..The keeper who is like a cat in 5 a side goals… But gets caught out on the big pitch!
The Heart – possesses all the drive, will and spirit a manager could ever ask of a player. Shows up every week and runs himself into the ground but ultimately has two left shins
Also known as the Zinedine Kilbane. Which would make it 2 right shins.
The Deer
Happy out chasing fellas and the ball. Gets caught in the headlights upon receiving said ball
The Hub
This is the guy who believes that the only good pass is a pass to him – generally loud and persistent.
The had trials ……
The muppet who was been chased by utd and Liverpool as a kid but wanted to do his leaving first! Turns out to be crap and then blames pitch,ball,lighting,his team,his footwear,drink from last night,injury……..
He wouldve made it if it wasnt for the drink…….
Forgot the dreaded “toy boy”. Shows up in the full Real Madrid kit with sparkling new green Astro boots wearing a head bank and gold cross around his neck. Cries off injured after 5 mins as everyone realises he’s awful.
For whatever reason somebody has pulled out due to “work”, always the same person, and the only replacement is another players son or nephew. The next 60 minutes involve getting nutmegged repeatedly and chasing his shadow.
The Rainman – really sweaty guy, with wet marks on chest, armpits, groin after 20secs of play. Spray of water in his wake and if you make any contact with, you may actually drown. Drinks out of everyone’s bottles and is a consistent back washer!! In a nutshell, wet!!
Nothing else happened except my goal… You’ve hammered him 17 3 but he’s scored a good goal… Maybe the best goal of the game but he’s otherwise been abysmal…. He ruffles your keepers head as you leave and tells him… Ha you won’t forget that one in a hurry…. You meet him in a boozer five nights later and he makes you lose the will to live jabbering on about it
“he takes a first touch that’s heavier than a black hole” – you my friend need to get a script writing role for Jim Beglin! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKw3EO3xpQc (1.22, in the best video ever produced by RTE)
The sweaty guy. Starts pumpin after 5 mins. Or the football cogs guy. Catches ure ankle with a stud and just says ‘oh sorry, you alrite ?’ As he jogs on.
The Heather Mills. Can only pass/shoot with one foot which makes him as easy to read, can also be called the Roald Dahl.