Donegal knock Tyrone out of Ulster Championship

Tyrone 0-09 Donegal 2-06

Donegal stunned defending champions Tyrone to reach their first Ulster SFC final since 2006 with a smash and grab raid at Clones.

Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy came off the bench to shoot a winning goal in stoppage time and wreck the Red Hands drive for three in a row.

In the early stages, it looked as if Tyrone had the measure of Jim McGuinness’ emerging side, but the men from the north-west stuck the two vital second half goals to shade a close contest in front of a crowd of 18,536.

Tyrone started with intent, and posted early points through Owen Mulligan, Sean Cavanagh and Brian Dooher, before wing back Philip Jordan thumped over a long range effort for a 0-4 to 0-0 lead.

Donegal finally got their opening score in the 15th minute from teenager Paddy McBrearty, but their obsession with defence kept them on the back foot, and the Red Hands stretched their lead through Cavanagh and Stephen O’Neill.

The defending champions led by 0-6 to 0-1 after 25 minutes, but Donegal adopted a more attacking strategy in the closing stages of the half, and were rewarded with points from Kevin Rafferty, Colm McFadden and a wonderful long range effort by Kevin Cassidy to cut the deficit to just two points at the break, 0-6 to 0-4.

Cassidy turned over possession to send Murphy in for a point, which was quickly cancelled out by Peter Harte’s converted ’45.

Tyrone full back Joe McMahon, making his return from a broken jaw, was forced out of the game in the 48th minute after shipping a high challenge, with his brother Justin taking over.

And Donegal hit the front for the first time with a 56th minute McFadden goal. Karl Lacey made a searing run from deep to take Murphy’s pass, before transferring to McFadden, who stepped around Conor Gormley and beat Pascal McConnell from seven yards.

Tyrone midfielder Kevin Hughes picked up a second yellow card in the 62nd minute, but the Red Hands still managed to draw level through substitute Martin Penrose.

But it was Donegal sub Molloy who had the final say, finishing off a sweeping move involving Murphy and Karl Lacey with a clinically taken goal in stoppage time.

Tyrone: P McConnell, M Swift, Joe McMahon, R McMenamin, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan (0-1), K Hughes, S Cavanagh (0-2, 1f), B Dooher (0-1), B McGuigan, P Harte (0-1, ’45), O Mulligan (0-1), S O’Neill (0-2), M Donnelly.

Subs: Justin McMahon for Joe McMahon (48), M Penrose (0-1) for Mulligan (51), T McGuigan for B McGuigan (62), A Cassidy for O’Neill (62), C Cavanagh for Dooher (68),

Donegal: P Durcan, K Lacey, N McGee, P McGrath, F McGlynn, A Thompson, K Cassidy (0-1), R Kavanagh, K Rafferty (0-1), M McElhinney, M McHugh, R Bradley, P McBrearty (0-1), M Murphy (0-2, 1f), C McFadden (1-1, 0-1f).

Subs: M Hegarty for McElhinney (23), L McLoone for Bradley (45), D Molloy (1-0) for McLoone (62)

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).