Donegal 2-19 Tipperary 0-15
Two missed goals rather than the two scored proved to be the difference between Donegal and Tipperary in the All Ireland senior football championship qualifiers in Croke Park today.
Twice Declan Browne, hugely influential throughout, put chances on a plate for his teammates only to see them to be squandered before late goals from Brendan Devenney and Brian Roper wrapped the game up with a slightly flattering scoreline for Donegal.
Donegal started the quicker of the two, pointing twice within two minutes through Brendan Devenney and captain Adrian Sweeney.
Alarming signs were already evident however as two wides were registered in the following two minutes, from relatively straight forward chances. Michael Hegarty the culprit on both occasions.
No such inaccuracies were evident in Sweeney's game however as he pointed again, this time with the left boot
Having struggled to come to terms with the opening pace of the game Tipperary gradually found their feet and as the Donegal front men pushed more chances wide they opened their account through Browne.
The 25 year old was at the forefront of nearly every Tipperary attack and when his cheeky pass under pressure found its way inside to Benny Hickey a goal looked imminent. Hickey however recklessly blazed the ball high and wide.
Donegal managed to keep the advantage as Steven McDermott and Hegarty put early wides behind them to get their names on the scoresheet.
Still dominating midfield and creating chances, they did threaten to open up the gap on occasions but were always pegged back by the Premier County whose endeavour was typified by a thumping point from Fergal O'Callaghan. Equally impressive was the score that reduced the halftime deficit to one point from Eamonn Hanrahan.
The six foot seven inch midfielder claimed a loose ball a long way out and drilled straight between the posts to give Donegal plenty to think about at the break.
Hanrahan picked up where he left off at the start of the second period and levelled the scores before Browne, scorer of nine points on the day, gave Tipp the lead for the first time.
The two teams traded points for a time from then on until what may well be seen as the turning point. Browne brilliantly drew the Donegal defence in before fisting the ball over to Damian O'Brien. O'Brien hesitated slightly allowing time for Tony Blake to advance and get down low and fast to hold on to the Tipperary man's shot.
Moments later Devenney, after pointing another, was sent through to score the first goal of the game with only ten minutes left. Tipperary heads inevitably dropped slightly as Donegal added two more points.
Roper then rounded Phillie Ryan to nail the lid the shut on a Tipperary revival and keep Donegal championship hopes alive.