EIRGRID ULSTER U21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

TYRONE 1-15  DONEGAL 2-8

By Chris McNulty at Celtic Park

Tyrone’s defence of their Ulster and All-Ireland Under-21 titles remains on course despite a big scare against Donegal in an action-packed semi-final at Celtic Park.

Ryan Coleman’s goal sent Tyrone on their way, but Donegal will reflect and wonder just how they didn’t have their tickets stamped for a fourth successive provincial decider at this level.

Tyrone goaled in the 38th minute. A shot from Mark Kavanagh careered off the upright, but fell neatly for Coleman, who smashed an effort into the top corner of the Donegal net.

Donegal’s response was instant and Conor Doherty shot low to the Tyrone net, but Tyrone hit back and landed seven-in-a-row, including a sideline kick from Lee Brennan.

Donegal had seen Sean Fox, the Tyrone goalkeeper deny Stephen McBrearty and Jamie Brennan with good saves, but Donegal were reflecting on how they weren’t more than 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

While McBrearty netted a penalty late in the night for Donegal, the damage had been done – and, agonisingly for them, it was largely of their own doing.

Donegal kicked six wides in the first half and were made pay as Brennan and Cathal McShane led the Tyrone fightback.

Although goalkeeper Fox was black carded before McBrearty netted the penalty, Tyrone reeled off the scores to give them the win. Donegal finished with 13 men as Stephen McMenamin and Bruce Waldron were sent off.

**Scorers for Tyrone: **R Coleman 1-2, L Brennan 0-5 (3fs) M Kavanagh, C McShane (1f) 0-2 each, S O’Donnell, S Loughran, F Burns, S Fox 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Donegal: **S McBrearty 1-5 (1-0pen, 3fs), C Doherty 1-0, C O’Donnell, C Bonner 0-1, C Thompson (f) each

**Donegal: **D Rodgers; C Morrison, K Gillespie, J O’Brien; S McMenamin, E McGrath, A McClean; C O’Donnell, C Thompson; C Bonner, E Gallagher, S McBrearty; J Brennan, C McGonagle, M Carroll.  

Subs: C Doherty for Brennan (32), M Coyle for Bonner (40), B Waldron for McGonagle (black card, 42), C Mulligan for McClean (46), A Neely for O’Donnell (54), Jack Scally for O’Brien (58).

**Tyrone: **S Fox; C McCann, P Teague, S Hamill; C Byrne, S Loughran, M O’Neill; C McShane, B McDonnell; M Kavanagh, F Burns, D Mulgrew; L Brennan, R Coleman, S Fox.

Subs: M McKernan for Teague (15), J Harkin for McDonnell (black card, 17), R McGlone for O’Neill (50), for McShane (54), S O’Donnell for Kavanagh (58) R McGeary for Fox (black card, 60).

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).