Allianz Football League Division 1

Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-6

By Kevin Kelly at Ballybofey

Donegal moved joint second in the Allianz League Division one table when they ended the unbeaten record of neighbours Tyrone with a commanding display in MacCumhaill Park Ballybofey on Saturday night.

The hosts were the better side throughout and were full value for their victory.

It was the home side who led 0-9 to 0-4 at the break as they laid the foundations for their victory playing superb football in testing conditions. Tyrone opened the scoring in the second minute with a close in free from team captain Sean Cavanagh but the superb Ciaran Thompson soon had the sides level with a brilliant effort from play from out on the right wing.

Thompson then edged the home side in front with another well taken point before centre half back Frank McGlynn ventured forward to make it 0-3 to 0-1 in the 9th minute. Mark Bradley then sold a dummy before laying the ball out for wing half back Rory Brennan to split the posts but Eoin McHugh soon left two between the sides again.

A long range Peter Harte free narrowed the gap to the minimum again before the same player levelled matters with a terrific effort from play in the 20th minute following a surging forty metre run.

Moments later Donegal broke up field at speed but with a goal on the cards Ryan McHugh elected to drive the ball over the bar for a 0-5 to 0-4 advantage. Michael Murphy then landed a wonderful 47m free before Donegal corner back Paddy McGrath got a fine point from out on the right wing.

It was all Donegal at this stage as they retained possession well with midfielder Hugh McFadden pointing from forty metres out. The score of the game though came deep into injury time when Thompson hit an outstanding point with the outside of his boot from out on the left wing for his third of the contest.

Cavanagh had the opening point of the second half for the visitors but that was as good as it got for them. Eoin McHugh, Ryan McHugh, McFadden and substitute Cian Mulligan all kicked points for the dominant hosts.

They held possession brilliantly and left their opponents chasing shadows although Tyrone didn’t help their cause by kicking twelve wides. A Cavanagh free was all that Tyrone had to show for almost forty minutes football as Donegal stretched their unbeaten record at Ballybofey to 17 games.

**Scorers for Donegal: **C Thompson 0-03, R McHugh 0-02, H McFadden 0-02, P McGrath 0-01, F McGlynn 0-01, M Murphy 0-01f, E McHugh 0-01, C Mulligan 0-1

**Scorers for Tyrone: **S Cavanagh 0-03 (1f), P Harte 0-02 (1f), R Brennan 0-01

**DONEGAL: **M A McGinley; P McGrath, N McGee, E Doherty; E Ban Gallagher, F McGlynn, Brennan; M Murphy, C Thompson; M O’Reilly, E McHugh, R McHugh; M Carroll, H McFadden, J Brennan. **Subs: **C Mulligan for McGlynn (ht); M McHugh for McGrath (BC 56); M McElhinney for McFadden (65); M Langan for P Brennan (65); B McCole for J Brennan (70); S McBrearty for E McHugh (75).

**TYRONE: **M O’Neill; C McShane. R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, J McMahon, R Brennan; C Cavanagh, D McClure; N Sludden, K McGeary, P Harte; M Bradley, S Cavanagh, M Donnelly. Subs: P Hampsey for McClure; C Meyler for McShane, (both ht); A McCrory for J McMahon (44); R O’Neill for Brennan (53); J Monroe for McCarron (59)

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)