Another chapter in gripping saga

Two minutes before half-time in the 2011 Ulster semi-final, Tyrone ripped through the blanket and Brian McGuigan fed Stephen O’Neill, who cut inside two Donegal defenders.

Mickey Harte’s team, chasing a third Anglo-Celt Cup in succession, led Donegal 0-6 to 0-2. Paul Durcan, the Donegal goalkeeper, steadied himself. O’Neill, well inside the 13-metre line, drew on his left foot. His connection was true but having chased 80 metres after giving away a cheap pass, Anthony Thompson made a telling block.

“Tyrone got the run on us and it was vintage Tyrone — they took the game to us, stretched the play all the time, used the ball intelligently and asked questions of our defenders,” Donegal manager Jim McGuinness said afterwards.