Donegal do just enough

Dr McKenna Cup SF/Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-11:A good second-half performance from Donegal saw them overcome Tyrone at Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon yesterday.

The Donegal men returned from holiday the previous day - their reward for winning the National League - and they looked less than sharp in the opening half as they trailed by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

But in the second half they were the better side against an understrength Tyrone, who fought to the finish in defence of their McKenna Cup crown.

The standard of play in the opening half was poor but the 3,000 attendance got plenty to shout about in the second period.

Donegal led early on through Brian Roper and Ryan Bradley points and both could have been goals. But Tyrone took control around midfield and points from Cathal McCarron and Aidan McNally left them ahead by two points at the end of the opening half which lasted 48 minutes.

That was due to a neck injury sustained by Aidan McCarron two minutes from the break and every precaution was taken with the injury before the player was removed from the field by ambulance.

Donegal emerged for the second half a much better side with Ryan Bradley winning everything in the opening minutes. Colm McFadden also began to find the range and by the 50th minute the home side were back on level terms at 0-7 each.

Tyrone missed a golden chance when Shaun O'Neill failed to find the target from 10 yards. With Kevin Cassidy beginning to direct matters in midfield, Donegal added four quick points to open up a crucial gap.

Apart from the established players, Donegal had good performances from newcomers David Walsh, Paddy McDaid and Shane McGowan. For Tyrone Dermot Carlin, PJ Quinn, Enda McGinley, Cathal McCarron and Tommy McGuigan impressed.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McCready, N McGee, P McDaid; S McGowan, E McGee, S McHugh; K Cassidy, C Toye; K Rafferty, D Walsh (0-1), B Roper (0-2); C McFadden (0-6, four frees), R Bradley (0-3, one free), J McLoone. Subs: F McGlynn for McHugh; K McMenamin for Roper; J Friel for Rafferty.

TYRONE: J Curran; PJ Quinn, D Carlin, M Swift; F O'Neill, C Holmes, P Jordan; E McGinley (0-1), C Martin; G Reilly (0-1), C McCarran (0-4, two frees), A McCarron; K McNally (0-2, two frees), T McGuigan (0-2), S O'Neill (0-1). Subs: K Hughes for Martin; C McCullagh for A McCarron; P Rouse for Reilly; M McGee for O'Neill.

Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh)