O’Neill inspires Tyrone as Donegal fall apart

Tyrone 1-11 Donegal 0-10

Mickey Harte said Tyrone travelled to Ballybofey yesterday to enter the real world after the fantasy warm-up of the McKenna Cup (in which they have a final to play, incidentally). They may find the real world being a much harsher place than it was in Donegal.

Brian McEniff's team were generous hosts. They had the larger slice of possession in the first half, only for some terrible finishing to see them trail by two points at the interval, and then when they looked like they were finding a way back into the game, their defence disintegrated and allowed Tyrone space to score the crucial goal.

It must be acknowledged that Tyrone manufactured the decisive score with some panache. Chris Lawn, who didn't give Colm McFadden a chink of light, broke up a Donegal attack, moving the ball to Brian Dooher. The move also involved Sean Cavanagh and Stephen O'Neill before Colm McCullagh cushioned the ball home.

It was one of the few bright moments both teams could muster. Harte, who has never shied away from criticising the experimental rules, was wondering about the point of them after watching both teams trying to escape a midfield log-jam for much of the game.

"I can't see the benefit of the new rules. It was supposed to mean there would be more space on the pitch, but things were very congested out there. What we need is more consistent application of the rules," he said.

Still, there were some players who managed to free themselves from the congestion, Stephen O'Neill the prime example. It was little wonder that he was involved in McCullagh's 64th minute goal. Everything good Tyrone created yesterday, O'Neill seemed to be behind it.

His tussle with Barry Monaghan stood out on a day of some excellent personal duels. He scored four points, but had a hand in many more and was the real star of Tyrone's attack. With Peter Canavan remaining undecided about his future Harte reiterated last night there was no feud between himself and his talisman O'Neill's future could be the new leader of Tyrone's attack.

At least, Tyrone looked sharp. Donegal were even more wayward in their kicking, not hitting their target with their first six shots on goal. Their lack of penetration up front wasn't helped by their ponderous play.

Donegal, as a team, are still fairly insistent on passing the ball from one end of the field to the other, without it touching a boot. Occasionally, they managed it yesterday, but with McFadden needing direct delivery in the full-forward line, it wasn't an afternoon to attempt this.

Tyrone had McFadden marked from last year's Ulster championship encounter and Lawn did a superb job on the young Donegal star. He still kicked seven points from frees, but Lawn curtailed his contribution in open play.

Leading 0-7 to 0-5 at half time, Tyrone still needed a goal to put themselves out of reach. After McFadden had whittled their lead down to a single point, Rory Kavanagh found himself on the end of Donegal's best move of the game. However, his shot whistled past the post.

The congestion was creeping into every area of the pitch, and the only scores were coming from placed balls, although Kavanagh scored a sensational point in the 65th minute, just moments before his starring role in the decisive move of the match.

McCullagh's goal knocked the wind from Donegal sails. Barry Monaghan managed a consolation score, but it was too little for a Donegal side who need to rid themselves of this obsession of playing 25 passes before shooting at goal.

Scorers for Tyrone: S O'Neill, O Mulligan (0-4, 2 frees each), C McCullagh (1-0), R Mellon, S Cavanagh, P Donnelly (0-1 each)

Donegal: C McFadden (0-7, all frees), S McDermott, R Kavanagh, B Monaghan (0-1 each)

TYRONE: P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Lawn, E Bradley, B Robinson, G Devlin, B Donnelly; B Meehan, P Donnelly; B Dooher, S O'Neill, S Cavanagh, M Coleman, O Mulligan, R Mellon.

Subs: C. McCullagh for Coleman (28 mins), C Gormley for Bradley (44 mins), J McMahon for P Donnelly (57 mins), D Harte for Sweeney (66 mins)

Yellow Card: B Donnelly (S Sweeney)

DONEGAL: M Boyle; N McCready, R Sweeney, D Diver, E McGee, B Monaghan, S Carr; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; S McDermott, B Roper, R Kavanagh, S Cassidy, C McFadden, C Toye.

Subs: K Lacey for Diver(25 mins), B Devanney for S Cassidy (31 mins), B Dunnion for Kavanagh (60 mins).

Yellow Card: N Gallagher (R Bradley)

Ref: J. McKee (Armagh)