Newly crowned Ulster champions Donegal avenged the eight-point thrashing Tyrone inflicted on them in Ballybofey in last year’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final and made it two championship wins in four weeks over their arch-rivals.
On the occasion of Jimmy McGuinness’s first home championship game since returning as team boss, the players responded to a raucous atmosphere by winning as comfortably as the scoreline suggests.
Peadar Mogan gave a Man of the Match performance, hitting 0-3 from play, but ten Donegal players contributed to the scoreboard as the Tyrone challenge faded when they played into the breeze in the second half, scoring just five points.
The home side made one late change, with Eoghan Bán Gallagher replacing Mark Curran, while Tyrone made two changes from the semi-final loss with Ben Cullen and Ruairí Canavan starting.
Tyrone played with the advantage of a stiff breeze and Niall Morgan landed his first kick-out close to the opposition 45m line. Early on Donegal created two goal chances, but neither Daire Ó Baoill nor Bán Gallagher got any conviction into their shots and the danger was cleared.
The visitors did hit the first two points, with corner-back Michael McKiernan making key assists, but Donegal had levelled by the eighth minute and every time they attacked gaping hopes appeared in the visitors’ defence.
An Oisín Gallen point after 11 minutes gave Donegal the lead for the first time after Tyrone had squandered two chances, and then Darren McCurry struck a straightforward 35m free off the upright. From the resultant turnover, Mogan put Donegal two up.
McCurry atoned for that miss with the next point worked straight from the re-start and they should have had a goal after 19 minutes when Patrick McBrearty fumbled.
Tyrone attacked at pace against the retreating Donegal defence but full-forward Darragh Canavan blasted his shot wide.
Donegal went three clear after a McBrearty free but a brace of excellent points from Tyrone wing back Kieran McGeary reduced the deficit to a point again.
Tyrone goalkeeper Morgan was penalised and Gallen landed the free. But as was becoming a pattern, Tyrone replied straight from the re-start with Sean O’Donnell pointing.
Donegal had the final say of the half with Ciaran Moore providing the assist for Gallen who hit his fourth point to give the home side a 10-9 advantage at the break.
Donegal stretched their lead through a delightful point from Ryan McHugh and a Gallen free before a Morgan free – after Darragh Canavan brilliantly fielded a Morgan re-start – brought it back to a two-point game.
When it seemed Donegal were poised to kill off the game they got careless in possession. Brian Kennedy won two crucial turnovers which Tyrone availed off to score points at the other end to keep in touch.
Before an attendance of 16,607 Donegal comfortably saw out the rest of the match ahead of their visit to Cork next weekend.
Scorers – Donegal: O Gallen 0-7 (5f); P McBrearty (1f), C Thompson (1m), J McGee 0-2 each; P Mogan 0-3, EB Gallagher, R McHugh, O Doherty, S O’Donnell, M Langan 0-1 each.
Tyrone: D McCurry 0-4 (2f), K McGeary, D Canavan (2f) 0-3 each; S O’Donnell, M Donnelly, N Morgan (1f), N Devlin 0-1 each.
Donegal: S Patton; EB Gallagher, B McCole, P Mogan; R McHugh, C McGonagle, C Moore; J McGee, M Langan; S O’Donnell, C Thompson, D O Baoill; P McBrearty, O Gallen, N O’Donnell. Subs: O Doherty for O Baoill (45), J Brennan for McBrearty (55), A Doherty for N O’Donnell (62), J McKelvey for Gallagher (66), D MacGiolla Bhride for Gallen (69)
Tyrone: N Morgan; N Devlin, P Hampsey, M McKernan; B Cullen, M Donnelly, K McGeary; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; C Daly, M O’Neill, S O’Donnell, D McCurry, D Canavan, R Canavan.Subs: J Oguz for R Canavan (ht), C Quinn for Cullen (ht), C McShane for McCurry (51), P Harte for Kilpatrick (58), L McGarrity for O’Neill (66)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
