By Charlie Collins
Donegal 3-14 v 5-09 Tyrone
With the eight Setanta players who had featured regularly during the league campaign missing due to a trip away, and long term injury trio Ronan McDermott, Declan Coulter and Danny Cullen all still unavailable, Donegal manager Mickey McCann found his resources stretched to the limit for this semi-final clash with neighbors Tyrone at O Donnell Park.
However the team boss wasn’t complaining and had pointed out in the build up to the game that he would still have a strong squad to work with in the quest for a league final meeting with Derry.
Last week’s victory over London had ensured that Donegal’s first goal for the season, a top three finish that would see them play in a new look Division Two next year, had been achieved.
When the teams met at Healy Park a few weeks ago the game ended in a high scoring draw, so with so many changes from the team that played that day it was going to be interesting to see how Donegal would perform.
Tyrone had the advantage of a strong wind in the opening half and we had an incredible opening seven minutes. Peter Kelly hammered in a Donegal goal after sixteen seconds, Liam McKinney set him up after a great run from midfield. Lorcan Devlin and Ben Gormley replied with Tyrone points from play, but Sean McVeigh cracked home a second Donegal goal, Oisin Grant provided the pass, 2-00 to 0-02 Donegal after three minutes.
Cormac Munroe goaled for Tyrone, McVeigh pointed, Joe McToal got Tyrone’s second goal and Sean Og Grogan and Fionn Devlin both pointed Tyrone led by 2-04 to 2-01.
Liam McKinney pointed from a free and from play to leave a point in it but to quick goals from Sean Og Grogan and Lorcan Devlin put Tyrone 4-04 to 2-03 but Peter Kelly cracked his second and Donegal’s third goal.
Aidy Kelly converted a 65 to leave the half-time score 4-05 to 3-03 in favour of Tyrone.
Peter Kelly and Liam McKinney points at the start of the second-half left just a goal in it but Tiernan Morgan pointed and then goaled after Luke White had denied Og Grogan with a brillant save. Brian McIntrye and Aidy Kelly exchanged points and then Donegal hit four in a row, Conor Gartland, Jack O Loughlin and two from sub Oisin Marley left it 3-12 to 5-07 and Donegal right back in it with only a point between them.
Sub Rory Weir and Cormac Munroe pointed for Tyrone but Brian McIntyre and Conor Gartland replied for Donegal and then with the last puck Luke White was just wide from long range and Tyrone had held on to win against a very spirited Donegal team which was missing so many players.
Donegal: Luke White, Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Bradley, Gavin Browne, Conor O Grady(0-01), Stephen Gillespie, Jack O Loughlin (0-01), Conor Gartland (0-01), Liam McKinney (0-03), Ryan Hilferty, Oisin Grant, Brian McIntyre (0-02), Daire O Maoileidigh (0-01), Sean Mc Veigh (1-01), Peter Kelly (2-02). Subs: Oisin Marley (0-02), for O Maoileidigh (53mins), Cathal O Brien for O Grady (70mins), Conor Griffen for Hilferty (70mins).
Tyrone: Conor McElhatton, Dean Rafferty, Tiernan Morgan (1-01), Oran McKee, Bryan McGurk , Fionn Devlin (0-01), Ben Gormley (0-01), James McCann, Cormac Monroe (1-01), Seamus Sweeney, Aidy Kelly (0-02), Joe McToal (1-00), Turlough Mullin, Sean Og Grogan (1-01), Lorcan Devlin (1-01), Subs: Rory Weir (0-01) for McToal (h/t), Ruairi Devlin for Mullin (63mins), Anthony Crossan for Morgan (65mins).
Referee: Peter Owens (Down).
