TYRONE 1-13, DONEGAL 0-12 TYRONE proved too strong against 13-man Donegal in a controversial Divison One clash at Healy Park in Omagh this afternoon.
The Red Hand county eventually won 1-13 to 0-12 but it was their cynical off the ball play and some of the referee’s decisions which were the main talking points among Donegal fans at the end.
Donegal faced a second-half uphill battle after captain Michael Murphy was sent off at the end of the first half and when club mate Neil Gallagher saw red with five minutes left, it was all over for the All-Ireland champions.
Murphy was sent off when he followed up after his penalty was saved just before the break and was given a second yellow for a foul on a Tyrone defender.
Tyrone were ahead by six points to four at half-time after a scrappy 35 minutes littered with fouls and some cynical off the ball challenges.
The hosts took the lead in the first couple of minutes, goalkeeper Niall Morgan coming up the field to point from a free kick.
There were some scrappy challenges early on, one one occasion Tyrone’s Stephen O’Neill holding onto the ball on the ground well after the whistle as the Red Hand county attempted to disrupt the Donegal play.
Donegal drew level with a Colm McFadden point, again from a free in the seventh minute.
Tyrone then had a goal chance, rattling the upright before Higgins pointed to give them the lead again, with Cavanagh pointing in the 15th minute to extend the lead to 0-03 to 0-01.
Michael Murphy then followed up with a stunning point from out on the right after twisting and turning the Tyrone defence.
Jim McGuinness on the sidelines appeared upset with the officials as Cavanagh appeared to over-run the ball. Tyrone went on to score a fourth point from a subsequent free given to them.
Murphy then hit the upright with a 21st minute free, leaving the score four points to two for Tyrone.
But he didn’t miss from play two minutes later, McFadden winning the ball and laying it off to the Glenswilly man for another wonderful point.
Donegal started getting into a decent rhythm, with the officials finally taking action against Tyrone players for off the ball hits on Donegal players, and Patrick McNiece went into the book.
Ryan Bradley, who had a good first half, then saw a chance of an equalising point turned away by the Red Hand keeper.
However Murphy then pointed the 45 to tie the sides at four points apiece in the 28th minute.
Just before the half hour mark keeper Morgan pointed from another free, with McLoone joining Murphy and McHugh in the book.
And in the 33rd minute Tyrone extended the lead to two points.
Ross McWherity then ran through on goal, was dragged to the ground and the referee awarded a penalty.
Murphy missed the subsequent penalty and when he went to follow up he was adjudged to have fouled a Tyrone defender.
And he was shown a red card and sent off.
Despite one Donegal player clearly being punched in the face in the melee that followed, the referee took no action against Tyrone.
And as the players headed for the tunnel at half-time, Donegal No2 Rory Gallagher could be seen remonstrating with the referee.
Despite the advantage, Donegal played some wonderful possession football at the start of the second half.
But it wasn’t long before Tyrone’s extra man started to show, with Stephen O’Neill scoring the all important goal.
Donegal did show great spirit throughout; with McWherrity almost bagging a goal.
But Cavanagh and O’Neill were in fine form for Tyrone, Colm McFadden frees just keeping the Donegal men in touch.
What a pity though that there was so much off the ball and niggling incidents throughout the game.
At one point ten minutes from the end there was a wrestling match in yet another off the ball incident – four players going into the referee’s notebook, among them O’Neill.
And with five minutes to go Gallagher was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Just a minute later Stephen O’Neill, who had already been booked, wrestled a Donegal player to the ground yet again but the referee took no action.
Jim McGuinness can take a lot of positives from this game, McWherity and Ryan McHugh stepping up into the first team and giving good performances.
But two red cards ruined Donegal’s chances.
And there was more controversy after the final whistle as the McGee brothers appeared to clash with some of the Tyrone players as they headed for the tunnel.
Allianz FL Division 1
Tyrone 1-13 0-12 Donegal, Healy Park FT
Kildare 2-08 0-12 Kerry, Newbridge FT
Down 1-17 3-12 Cork, Newry FT
Allianz FL Division 2
Wexford 0-10 0-19 Derry, Wexford Park FT
Galway 0-13 1-10 Westmeath, Salthill FT