NY GAA: The week's action at Gaelic Park

Tyrone 3-6 Donegal 1-11

Tyrone made the most of three goals to defeat Donegal in a robust senior football encounter last Sunday.

Despite a 12 score output to nine for the winners, Donegal will rue the soft goal that was given to Tyrone at the opening of the game. They battled hard throughout, but after they had tied the contest, they were overtaken in the last five minutes by a brace of points by Tyrone.

Donegal had two goal chances to open the game, and they made full use of the second. John McGinley stopped Anton Toner on the first after a nice three-player move, but the keeper was helpless in the second minute when Conor Brosnan latched on to a C.J. Molloy pass and drove it into the net.

It was a short held lead, however, as Tyrone punished a defensive slip with a goal by John Murtagh. Donegal settled and took the rebuttal in stride and had the next two points of the game through Brosnan again and Tom Hardwick, an excellent score.

A point in reply by Murtagh from a free that scrapped its way over was quickly cancelled out by Kevin Lilly, and with 15 minutes gone Donegal had a 1-3 to 1-1 lead.

The ugly side of the game reared its head in the moments thereafter, and when the dust had settled it was a surprise that the sides still had 14 each on the field.

It began when Molloy found the floor, and a large melee started. While the county under-21 would certainly have had valid reason to retaliate, he was subject to further abuse.

Now Donegal were not entirely innocent, but when calm was restored in round one Molloy and Conor McNabb both had straight reds.

Within moments round two began, full-fledged shots were given and taken but the game resumed with all still on the field. It had in fact been just as intense as the first round.

Most certainly one player should have gone as the shots he landed could be seen from 70 yards away; he remained, however. 

Donegal came out of the donnybrook far livelier. They had three of the next four points as Tyrone were punished by four balls coming out of their defense, but going straight into Donegal hands.

Aiden Downes, Niall Bradley and Sean Carr all had timely interceptions and worked the ball out effectively. Bobby McDonald had a goal chance, but he blasted wide on the run from a very capable position and it allowed Tyrone to stay within earshot.

​
Nster.com