Tyrone produced a stirring display to stun Donegal in Ballybofey and open their All-Ireland group campaign with a crucial three-point victory. The Red Hands hadn’t tasted Championship success at MacCumhaill Park in several years, but this time they delivered a performance of steel and flair to topple their Ulster neighbours in front of a 16,000-strong crowd.
Two clinical first-half goals from Seanie O’Donnell proved pivotal, while the returning Peter Harte supplied a moment of magic late on with a two-point effort that swung the momentum firmly Tyrone’s way. It capped off a composed closing stretch from Malachy O’Rourke’s men, who outscored Donegal five points to none after falling behind in the final ten minutes.
In a game played under dark skies and swirling winds, Tyrone showed greater purpose early on. Their first goal arrived in the eighth minute when a high ball from Michael McKernan caused havoc in the Donegal square. Caolan McGonagle spilled possession under pressure, allowing O’Donnell to palm home.
Donegal responded through Michael Langan and Michael Murphy, but Tyrone’s counter-attacks were devastating. Conn Kilpatrick carved through midfield midway through the half and found O’Donnell again, who rifled home his second goal to give Tyrone a 2-2 to 0-3 lead.
The home side, however, showed their resilience. Murphy, in vintage form, landed two long-range two-pointers either side of scores from Ryan McHugh and Ciaran Thompson. As the first half ebbed and flowed, Tyrone’s Darren McCurry responded in kind with a two-pointer of his own, followed by a Kieran McGeary effort that helped the visitors into a 2-7 to 0-11 interval lead.
Donegal started the second half brightly, but Tyrone held firm. A purple patch saw them reel off four consecutive points, including a fine effort from Ben McDonnell and three more from McCurry, whose accuracy kept Tyrone ticking over.
Then came Donegal’s surge. Murphy and Langan struck two-pointers in quick succession, before Patrick McBrearty’s long-range effort nudged them ahead for the first time since the opening stages, 0-20 to 2-12.
But Tyrone never panicked. Ciaran Daly punched over a point after an incisive run, and when McCurry and Canavan both landed points to edge them in front, the tide had turned. Harte then stepped up with a superb strike from distance before Cormac Quinn capped off the night, storming through the middle to slot the insurance point.
It was a statement win for Tyrone – tactically smart, physically imposing, and full of belief. The victory not only ends Jim McGuinness’s unbeaten Championship record at Ballybofey, but also reignites Tyrone’s summer with a home clash against Mayo now on the horizon.
By Rory Cox Tue 27th May
