Donegal got the better of Tyrone by just a single point to set up a meeting with Wicklow in the Allianz Hurling League 2B meeting at O’Donnell Park today.
Donegal . . . 1-18, Tyrone . . . 1-17
This was a close game right from the beginning and in the end of an absorbing contest, it was Donegal who just got over the line.
And after last week’s heavy defeat at home to Wicklow, this was the perfect response from Mickey McCann’s side.
The teams exchanged six points evenly in the opening 15 minutes – Liam McKinney, Daire O’Maoileidigh and Jack O’Loughlin for Donegal while Ciaran Lagan, Lorcan Devlin and Dermot Begley replied for Tyrone.
Tyrone then broke through for a well taken Sean Duffin goal.
O’Maoileidigh replied with a point but points from Begley and Duffin put Tyrone four ahead, 1-05 to 0-04 in the 20th minute.
Back came Donegal with points from O’Loughlin and sub Sean Ward. Lorcan Devlin got his second point to leave a goal between them.
Two minutes later the sides were level. A long range free from Luke White dropped short and was contested by a number of players before landing in the path of Brian McIntrye who slotted it low to the net to leave the score 1-06 apiece.
Begley and Duffin quickly put Tyrone two ahead again but Donegal finished the half strongly with three points in a row, two from the excellent Jack O’Loughlin and in between one from Brian McIntyre. It meant they led by a point at half-time, 1-09 to 1-08.
Brian McIntyre opened the second-half scoring but two Dermot Begley frees left it all square again at 1-10 apiece.
Richie Ryan responded with two points for Donegal but back came Tyrone again with frees from Begley and sub Mickey Little and the score was 1-12 apiece.
Sean Ward restored Donegal’s lead but two Mickey Little points and one from Chris Kearns had Tyrone two ahead, 1-15 to 1-13.
Ronan McDermott’s fine score left a point in it again but another Begley free restored Tyrone’s two point advantage.
The drama continued in this cracking game of hurling with three Donegal points in a row, Jack O’Loughlin with his fifth, Ronan McDermott and sub Oisín Marley to lead by one, 1-17 to 1-16.
Chris Kearns levelled it up yet again as time ran out but young Oisín Marley showed his class with a super angled score to give Donegal the victory and a semi-final spot against Wicklow next week.
Donegal: Luke White; Stephen McBride, Michael Donaghue, Padraig Doherty; Christopher McDermott, Bernard Lafferty, Jack O’Loughin (0-05); Brian McIntyre (1-02) Ciaran Bradley; Liam McKinney (0-01), Ronan McDermott (0-02), Gerry Gilmore; Daire O’Maoileidigh (0-02), Richie Ryan (0-02), Ruairi Campbell.
Subs: Sean Ward (0-02) for Gilmore (16 mins); Oisín Marley (0-02) for O’Maoileidigh (42).
Tyrone: Conor McElhatton; Oran McKee, Ruairi Devlin, James McCann; Ruairi Slane, Dermot Begley, Conal Devlin; Sean Paul McKernan, Chris Kearns; Bryan McGurk, Sean Og McGrugan, Sean Duffin; Aidy Kelly, Lorcan Devlin, Mickey Little.
Subs: Fionn Devlin and Liam Dunphy for Kelly and Lagan (both half time), Turlough Mullin for Lorcan Devlin (60).
