A win at last for Tyrone and suddenly they are genuine contenders for a place in the quarter-finals. Peter Canavan and Adrian Cush showed glimpses of their old and feared understanding yesterday, and Mattie McGleenan gained ample reward for the punishing training schedule he has undertaken.

Donegal were five points ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, after John Duffy (two) and Jim McGuinness scored from frees. McGuinness was always a force with his foraging runs forward from midfield, and Tyrone's inexperienced defence was frequently troubled by the speed of Duffy and Brendan Devenney. Tyrone finally opened their account through the busy Ciaran Loughran in the 12th minute and Aidan Cush tagged on a free and finished a fine move involving McGleenan and Canavan with an equally impressive score. The sides were level 0-5 each by the 20th minute, but Donegal dug in and reasserted themselves with points from McGuinness (two) and Devenney, and they led 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

Tyrone started the second half well and Cush brought the sides level with a brilliant point from far out on the right wing. A see-saw battle was laying on premium entertainment for the 7,000-strong crowd, and Devenney restored Donegal's lead with a well-taken score before McBride equalised again in the 43rd minute.

Only five minutes of normal time remained when Cush gave Tyrone the lead for the first time in the game with a free, but hungry Donegal again swept forward in search of scores. And Devenney appeared to be through for a certain goal only to be denied by a magnificent block by newcomer Ciaran Gourley.

Tyrone were inspired by the score of the game, a delightful point from Peter Canavan, who send two defenders the wrong way before curling over a left-footed beauty.

As the game moved into injury time, Donegal desperately needed a goal, and substitute Tony Boyle came agonisingly close to rescuing his side, but his snap shot was superbly saved by Finbar McConnell.

Tyrone: F McConnell; P Devlin, C Lawn, P McGurk; B Dooher, C Holmes, C Gourley; Pascal Canavan, C McBride (0-1); N McSorley, E Gormley, C Loughran (0-2); A Cush (0-4) M McGleenan (0-1), Peter Canavan (0-4). Sub: Gerard Cavlan for McSorley.

Donegal: P Callaghan; N McCready, E Reddin, M Crossan; O Reid (0-1), N Hegarty, D Diver; J Ruane, J McGuinness (0-3); B Roper, A Sweeney, B Ward (0-1); J Duffy (0-2), B McLaughlin, B Devenney (0-3). Subs: T Boyle (0- 1) for Duffy; N McGinley for Reid.

Referee: B Crowen (Cavan).