An under-strength Donegal Under-17s went down to Tyrone in the Ulster Under-17 Competition at Healy Park this afternoon.
Donegal 1-7 Tyrone 2-9
By Charlie Collins at Healy Park
Tyrone, inspired by Darragh Canavan – son of Tyrone legend Peter – took the win with Daniel Miller netting a brace of goals on a day when Donegal were missing their minor contingent and they make their way out of the competition.
All of Tyrone’s scores came from play and Donegal will rue the absence of some stellar figures.
Tyrone took the lead in the fifth minute of the second half when, after Donegal lost possession, Canavan sent Daniel Miller on his way and he fired past Eoin O’Boyle.
Donegal were level heading into the last 18 minutes as Glenswilly forward Shane McDevutt – Donegal’s top scorer on the day – finished to the net from a narrow angle after a good move involving Peter McEniff, Danny Gallagher, James Kelly and Odhrán Duggan.
Canavan clipped three points in succession as Tyrone moved into command.
Donegal were within touching distance, but Miller rattled in a second goal after a four-man move in stoppage time to put a gloss on the scoreline.
Donegal had started well with Shane McDevitt and Fionn Gallagher steering over and the Tir Chonaill lads were 0-5 to 0-3 ahead at the break.
Tyrone, with Canavan and Thomas Hoy on the mark, drew level, but McDevitt restored the advantage for Donegal with a brilliant free from out on the sideline.
Another wonderful McDevitt free, this time from a more central position, but still some 40 metres out, added to it.
Hoy stemmed the flow but Glenswilly man McDevitt sent Donegal two in front at the changeover, but with Canavan driving them on Tyrne turned the tables to take the win and advance.
Donegal: Eoin O’Boyle; Fionn Gallagher (0-1), Cian Doherty, Ciaran Doherty; James Kelly, Odhrán Duggan, Peter McEniff; Conor O’Donnell, Conor McHugh; Shane McDevitt (1-5, 4f), Shane O’Donnell, Danny Gallagher (0-1); Conor O’Donnell, Ben Bradley, Oisin Bonner. Subs: Jamie Crawford for Bonner (45), Matthew McKenna for O’Donnell (49).
Tyrone: Lorcan Quinn; Conor Ward, Matthew McCusker, Antoin Fox; Tarlach Quinn, Cormac Munroe; Matthew Murnaghan, Darragh Canavan (0-4); Aaron Montgomery, Daniel Millar (2-1), Cormac Donaghy; Michael Conroy, Ethan Jordan (0-1), Thomas Hoy (0-2). Subs: Joe Oguz (0-1) for Montgomery (half-time), Cormac Donnelly for Donaghy (40), Liam Gray for Conroy (40), Oisin McHugh for Slone (46), Ronan Holywood for Quinn (53), Kevin Barker for Jordan (53).
Referee: Michael Moore (Down)
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