Declan Bonner’s Donegal U21 side have exited the Ulster Championship at the hands of reigning Ulster and All-Ireland champions Tyrone.
Donegal squandered a number of chances in the first-half, and should’ve led by more at the interval.
Donegal kicked three wide’s in the opening two minutes, before Tyrone notched two scores on the trot.
However, Donegal took control with Stephen McBrearty and Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher dominating proceedings and scored five points on the spin.
They should have scored more and Bonner’s charges played some superb football and their dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard at half-time.
Donegal went in at the break leading by two points – Donegal 0-06 Tyrone 0-04.
At the beginning of the second-half Donegal were then presented with a glorious opportunity.
Tyrone failed to deal with a quick free and Bundoran’s Jamie Brennan was left one-on-one with Red Hands keeper Sean Fox but he failed to convert the chance and was rather harshly immediately replaced.
Tyrone then edged level, before finally making the crucial breakthrough when Ryan Coleman buried past Danny Rodgers and into the top corner after an attempt at a point hit the upright and fell kindly to Coleman.
However, Donegal responded superbly and Michael Carroll reacted quickly to a poor kick-out and fed Conor Doherty who finished expertly.
It was all level and in the balance but then Donegal had two players dismissed and that really turned the game against Declan Bonner’s men.
Referee Barry Cassidy dismissed Stephen McMenamin and Bruce Waldron and Tyrone kicked on scoring six unanswered points.
Donegal did pull a goal back through a penalty from Stephen McBrearty, but Tyrone got the insurance point deep into injury-time to book their place in the final.
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