Donegal 2-10
Tyrone 0-10
DONEGAL issued a strong statement of their intentions in their opening 2013 championship tussle in Ballybofey this afternoon.
The reigning All-Ireland champions squeezed the life out of Tyrone’s challenge in the second-half to triumph in their Ulster quarter-final clash.
In a match that had been heavily billed beforehand, it took goals from Colm McFadden and substitute Ross Wherity to help Donegal claim the spoils against a Tyrone team that finished the game with 14 men after Joe McMahon was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.
In a high quality opening period – despite the wet weather conditions – Donegal lead by 1-6 to 0-7 at the interval. Both Mark McHugh and Karl Lacey were late pre-match withdrawals for Donegal yet both players still came on as substitutes during the match.
McFadden’s 32nd minute goal was the key score of the half as he slotted home a right foot shot after a beautiful knock down into his path by Patrick McBrearty. McFadden and Michael Murphy also fired over some excellent points but Tyrone kept in touch thanks to quality efforts from the likes of Colm Cavanagh, Stephen O’Neill and Mattie Donnelly.
Tyrone began the second-half impressively as they tied the game through early points from Sean Cavanagh and Justin McMahon. But they would then endure a scoring drought of 32 minutes with their shooting letting them down in attack and goalkeeper Niall Morgan enduring a poor afternoon from frees.
Donegal took control aided by a 50th minute goal by substitute Ross Wherity as he palmed the ball to the net after a terrific run by Patrick McBrearty cut open the Tyrone defence.
From there Donegal closed out the game and ran out convincing victors to set up a semi-final meeting with Down or Derry.
Tyrone’s Joe McMahon involved in an incident with Ross Wherity of Donegal.
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Scorers for Donegal: Colm McFadden 1-3 (0-2f), Ross Wherity 1-0, Michael Murphy 0-3 (0-2f), Patrick McBrearty 0-2, David Walsh, Rory Kavanagh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tyrone: Sean Cavanagh (0-1f), Mattie Donnelly 0-2 each, Conor McAliskey, Niall Morgan (0-1f), Justin McMahon, Martin Penrose, Stephen O’Neill, Colm Cavanagh 0-1 each.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan (Four Masters); Paddy McGrath (Ardara), Neil McGee (Gweedore), Eamonn McGee (Gweedore); Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill), Declan Walsh (Malin), Frank McGlynn (Glenfin); Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly), Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s); David Walsh (St Brigid’s), Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill), Ryan Bradley (Buncrana); Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), Colm McFadden (St Michael’s).
Subs: Mark McHugh (Kilcar) for McGlynn, Martin O’Reilly (Sean MacCumhaill’s) for Bradley, Karl Lacey (Four Masters) for Thompson, Ross Wherity (St Eunan’s) for McLoone.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan (Edendork); PJ Quinn (Moortown), Conor Clarke (Omagh), Cathal McCarron (Dromore); Justin McMahon (Omagh), Joe McMahon (Omagh), Conor Gormley (Carrickmore); Colm Cavanagh (Moy), Sean Cavanagh (Moy); Mark Donnelly (Carrickmore), Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran), Matthew Donnelly (Trillick); Martin Penrose (Carrickmore), Stephen O’Neill (Clann na Gael), Conor McAliskey (Clonoe).
Subs: Patrick McNeice (Coalisland) for McAliskey, Dermot Carlin (Killyclogher) for Quinn, Kyle Coney (Ardboe) for Mark Donnelly, Aidan Cassidy (Augher) for Justin McMahon.
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Tyrone’s Stephen O’Neill dejected.
Pic: INPHO/Presseye/Russell Pritchard
