Ulster SFC: Donegal trump Tyrone after extra-time to seal Ulster final berth
BIG CONTRIBUTION: Tyrone's Niall Devlin with Donegal's Patrick McBrearty. Pic: Morgan Treacy, Inpho
Donegal booked their spot in the Ulster final with an extra-time victory over Tyrone at Celtic Park.
It was a point from Brendan McCole that saved Donegal on a day that started in rain before turning into a sunny conclusion in front of an attendance dominated by their own fans.
Donegal began without Shaun Patton but hit the first score of the game after two early failed Tyrone attacks with Niall O’Donnell turning in on this left foot before curling over.
The sides were level three times in the opening quarter and it was a foul on Padraig Hampsey that presented Darren McCurry with the chance to level matters.
A quick Tyrone attack ended when Gavin Mulreaney took down Darragh Canavan. Dissent saw the ball moved in and Canavan who tapped over an easy free.
The sides were then level when a tug on Ciarán Thompson’s jersey and Oisín Gallen slotted over his first score.
Tyrone began to vary up the game and a Mattie Donnelly high ball into the Donegal defence led to a free and Canavan made no mistake.
Dáire Ó Baoill and Seanie O’Donnell swapped scores as Tyrone began to get into the game but Gallen and Thompson had the game level again at 0-5 each, Donegal, who had fix first-half wides, failed to push on and it was Tyrone who kicked on.
They mixed their approach to Donegal’s kick-out between presses and dropping off.
Canavan, Niall Morgan (free) and Cathal McShane kicked Tyrone into a 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead.
After a wide at either end Jason McGee nicked a valuable Donegal score three minutes into the second half.
McGee fisted over for a more settled Donegal but both teams hit wides before Niall O’Connell made it 0-9 all after 48 minutes.
Canavan, McShane and Daly kicked Tyrone back into another significant lead within three minutes.
Mogan and McGonagle brought Donegal back with two sweet scores from distance before a Gallen free tied it once again with 12 to play.
Michael McKernan and Darragh Canavan twice put Tyrone ahead in the closing stages.
Donegal looked to have spurned their chance when Aidan Clarke made an interception and Gallen wasn’t awarded what looked like a stonewall free in.
There was will time and when Ryan McHugh’s cross broke, Mogan denied Aaron Doherty and Brendan McCole fired over to take it extra-time.
Donegal brought McBrearty, Ó Baoill and Caolan McColgan back on in extra time and it was Mac Ceallabhuí who fisted Donegal ahead for the first time in 70 minutes before Mattie Donnelly replied.
McKernan fisted his second point before McBrearty tapped over a free to level the game for the ninth time.
It was a Shane O’Donnell run and point that put Donegal ahead at half time in extra time, with McBrearty kicking the insurance point in the second half.
O Gallen 0-3f, J McGee, P McBrearty (1f), C Thompson (1f), N O’Donnell, D Ó Baoill 0-2 each, P Mogan, S O’Donnell, B McCole, C McGonagle and J Mac Ceallabhuí 0-1 each.
D Canavan 0-5 (2f, 1m), N Morgan 0-3f, M McKernan, C Daly 0-2 each, S O’Donnell, C McShane, D McCurry (f) and M Donnelly 0-1 each.
G Mulreaney, M Curran, B McCole, C Moore, R McHugh, C McGonagle, P Mogan, M Langan, J McGee, S O'Donnell, C Thompson, D Ó Baoill, P McBrearty, O Gallen, N O'Donnell.
A Doherty for P McBrearty (HT), J Brennan for D Ó Baoill (48), J Mac Ceallabhuí for M Curran (70+4), C McColgan for A Doherty (ET), P McBrearty for J Brennan (ET) and D Ó Baoill for C Moore (ET), A Doherty for O Gallen (HT ET), J Brennan for N O’Donnell (88).
N Morgan; C Devlin, P Hampsey, M McKernan, S O'Donnell, M Donnelly, N Devlin; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; C Daly, K McGeary, M O’Neill; D McCurry, D Canavan, C McShane Subs: C Clarke for C Devlin (INJ 41), B Cullen for K McGeary (63), R Canavan for M O’Neill (76), C Donnelly for C McShane (88) Attendance: 14, 714
B Cawley (Kildare)
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