Donegal and Tyrone through to Meagher Cup final

The inaugural Lory Meagher Cup final will be an all-Ulster decider on July 11 at Croke Park, following semi-final victories for Donegal and Tyrone this afternoon.

At Pairc Esler in Newry, Donegal pulled it out of the fire for their suspended manager Eamon Campbell as they claimed a slender 1-15 to 2-11 win over South Down.

Donegal trailed by three points late on, but showed greater hunger with Sean McVeigh bagging their goal, while Kevin Campbell, son of the manager, sent over the winning point.

In the other semi-final, a goal-fest was produced at Devine Park, Edgeworthstown, as Tyrone battled their way to a 3-16 to 4-09 win over hosts Longford.

Longford trailed by five points during the first half, but bounced back take a two-point lead at the interval on a 2-07 to 2-05 score-line.

The sides were level at 0-02 apiece early on, with Tyrone top-scorer Justin Kelly (1-11) firing over two early frees, and Conor Egan and Declan Tanner on target for Longford.

Tyrone broke three points clear thanks to a well-executed goal. Rory O'Neill played in Gary Fox who drilled the ball to the net in the 13th minute.

Joe O'Brien kept Longford in touch with a point, but Tyrone replied with their second goal when a speculative Kelly free finished in the back of the Longford net.

Tyrone led by 2-02 to 0-03 at this stage but Longford bagged two quick-fire goals before the break.

The visitors regained the lead in the second half with Kelly very much their scorer-in-chief. A Conor Grogan penalty goal and a brace of points saw Tyrone edge 3-15 to 3-09 clear.

Longford gained consolation late on with a Joe O'Brien goal, but it was a case of too little, too late as Tyrone held out for a history-making win.