Donegal 1-13
Tyrone 0-6
Alan Foley reports from Ballybofey
DONEGAL ALL BUT secured their Allianz League Division One status for 2016 with a comprehensive win over neighbours Tyrone, who are in a relegation dogfight with Kerry.
Michael Murphy gave an exhibition of free-taking in the swirling Ballybofey wind as the Donegal skipper knocked over six times before being black-carded on 61 minutes for a foul on Sean Cavanagh.
Among Murphy’s repertoire were three booming efforts – two before the break and one after – as Donegal controlled the contest from start to finish in their best performance to date under Rory Gallagher.
With the sides due to meet in the preliminary round of the Ulster championship in Ballybofey again on 17 May, Mickey Harte would’ve had more questions than answers as he made the short trek back across the border. His team were second best and trailed 1-9 to 0-3 at the interval.
Ryan McHugh scored the only goal of the contest on 31 minutes when he tucked home a rebound when Tyrone substitute goalkeeper Sean Fox had saved Hugh McFadden’s shot following an effort from Frank McGlynn that had cannoned down from the upright.
Kerry travel to Healy Park on Sunday with Tyrone requiring a two-point win to send the All-Ireland champions into Division Two with Derry.
Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-6 (0-5f), Ryan McHugh 1-1, Martin McElhinney 0-2, Odhran MacNiallais, Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn, Patrick McBrearty (0-1f) 0-1 each
Scorers for Tyrone: Peter Harte 0-2 (0-2f), Darren McCurry, Ronan O’Neill, Connor McAlliskey and Sean Cavanagh (0-1f) 0-1 each.
DONEGAL
16. Michael Boyle
7. Eamonn Doherty
3. Neil McGee
4. Eamon McGee
4. Frank McGlynn
6. Karl Lacey
12. Ryan McHugh
8. Neil Gallagher
11. Odhran MacNiallais
9. Christy Toye
20. Martin McElhinney
10. Marty O’Reilly
13. Patrick McBrearty
14. Michael Murphy
15. Hugh McFadden
Subs:
Colm McFadden for Gallagher (57)
Anthony Thompson for Murphy (black card 61)
Daniel McLaughlin for McElhinney (68 black card)
Mark McHugh for R McHugh (68)
Gary McFadden for N McGee (70)
David Walsh for O’Reilly (70)
TYRONE
1. Niall Morgan
3. Ronan McNamee
6. Justin McMahon
4. Cathal McCarron
2. Aidan McCrory
5. Ronan McNabb
17. Conor Clarke
8. Colm Cavanagh
9. Padraig McNulty
10. Tiernan McCann
11. Mattie Donnelly
7. Peter Harte
13. Darren McCurry
25. Ronan O’Neill
15. Connor McAliskey
Subs:
Sean Fox for Morgan (20)
Sean Cavanagh for O’Neill (half-time)
Conall McCann for McAliskey (41)
Niall McKenna for Clarke (43)
Peter Hughes for C Cavanagh (61)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
