Donegal topple tired Tyrone

Donegal 1-11 Tyrone 0-9

The thud has now opened up a whole world of possibilities for Donegal and others contenders for this year's All-Ireland title.

This was ear-marked as the champion's biggest test, as if the true extent of Tyrone's ability to retain Sam would only be gauged after Donegal were disposed of. Although they seemed lenient examiners in the first half, Donegal were never going to go quietly. Their ravenous appetite was something the champions simply couldn't match. Following a rather bizarre first 35 minutes, Donegal came out after the interval, craving nourishment for their unpredictable talents. Donegal rose their game to a level tired Tyrone limbs couldn't reach. They contested and won everything, Colm McFadden doing a more than passable impersonation of Manus Boyle with his place-kicking.

And they did it all with 14 men. Niall McCready can feel slightly aggrieved by his 34th minute dismissal, as Owen Mulligan was just as much to blame for the niggle between the two, but it alarmed Donegal into action. By the end of the match, they were playing like the team with an extra man.

This stands near the top of all Brian McEniff has achieved for his county. In Clones yesterday, he showed there are still no shrewder operators on the side-line. Stephen McDermott was introduced in the mass of bodies that was midfield with a few minutes remaining in the first half, and Tyrone had just no answer.

There was more to this Donegal victory. The past few weeks have been spent getting pointers on how to take a hit Rugby-style and it showed. They never cowered once from the intensity of the match. Instead, unusually for a Donegal side, they revelled in it.

McFadden was outstanding. He was the third free-taker Donegal had tried by the 20th minute, after the leading lights of Adrian Sweeney and Brendan Devanney were found wanting. McFadden's first effort also went wide of the posts, but such is the confidence of this young forward, he insisted on continuing as place-kicker.

He scored Donegal's first point in the 23rd minute, scored the crucial goal in the 50th minute, when he found the only chink of light between five white shirts and the net, and ended the day with all but four points of his side's total. If McFadden was clinical, the seeds were planted further out the field. The victory hinged on the sheer athleticism of McDermott, and transplanting Sweeney to centre-forward for the second half.

There was a flatness to Tyrone that suggested the champions might be better served on the scenic route.

In the opening half, they held Donegal with their doggedness and determination, but their opponents hadn't even begun to play and Tyrone only found themselves a point ahead in the dressing-room, 0-4 to 0-3.

That first half was characterised by numerous unforced errors on either side and some wayward kicking from the champions. The 32,933 in the Clones crowd must has been wondering should they have stayed at home. Tyrone's lead could have been much healthier at the break, but for some uncharacteristic rushed kicking from stars like Brian McGuigan and Sean Cavanagh. It took 11 minutes for Tyrone to register the game's first score, Mulligan finishing one of the few sweeping movements, that has become their trademark. Six minutes later, McGuigan added a second, but there were signs this wasn't the Tyrone side the country has grown to envy.

Of all their players, debutant Sean Sweeney made the greatest impact, having a fine game at centre-back.

Despite their dreadful first half, the afternoon belonged to Donegal. Moments after watching his club-mate dismissed, Brian Roper signalled Donegal's intent with an inspirational point on the stroke of half-time. It set the tone for what was to follow.

The schizophrenic nature of this Donegal team was encapsulated in the opening 20 minutes of the second half. Unable to string four passes together in the early jousts, they looked the best passing team in the country after the interval.

Tyrone rallied briefly in the second half, Stephen O'Neill tacking on a couple of scores to keep a slim flame of hope alit. But Donegal were functioning at near the top of their capabilities. They had six scores in the middle period of the second half and when McFadden strode out to strike a 50 sweetly over the bar in the 56th minute, making it 1-10 to 0-6, nobody was thinking of an All-Ireland final re-match in Croker this July.

Armagh manager Joe Kernan left with five minutes remaining. He was in no doubt who was going to win.

Scorers: Donegal: C McFadden (1-7, 6 frees), A Sweeney, B Roper, B Monaghan, C Toye (0-1 each). Tyrone: O Mulligan (0-3, 2 frees), S O'Neill (0-2), M Harte, B McGuigan, S Sweeney, J McMahon (0-1 each).

DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McCready, R Sweeney, D Diver, E. McGee, B Monaghan, S Carr; B McLaughlin, B Boyle; C. Toye, M Hegarty, C Toye, C McFadden, B Devanney, A Sweeney.

Subs: S McDermott for McLaughlin(26 mins), S Cassidy for Devanney (62 mins), J Gildea for Toye (70 mins).

TYRONE: J Devine; R McMenamin, C Gormley, C Gourley, J McMahon, S Sweeney, P Jordan; K Hughes, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, B McGuigan, S O'Neill, M Harte, G Cavlan, O Mulligan.

Subs: M. McGee for Gourley(51 mins), C Holmes for Hughes (62 mins)

Ref: G. Kinneavy (Roscommon).