Donegal U-16s beaten after strong Tyrone comeback in Buncrana Cup semi-final

Donegal Under-16s were beaten by a strong second-half performance by Tyrone in the semi-final of the Buncrana Cup in the Donegal GAA training centre in Convoy. 

Karl Lacey’s side stormed into an early lead with four points from Tadhg McDaid and a goal from Finn Gillespie as they led by 1-9 to 0-2 at the break. 

But Tyrone hit the next nine scores of the game, including a brace of two-pointers, to go ahead. 

And while Donegal did go ahead again, a late penalty from Aodhan Corry gave the away side a two-point cushion. 

Mark Anthony McGuinness left a point in it before three wides from Donegal, and Tyrone punished them with the last kick out as Matthew Daly sealed the win. 

Despite the Donegal domination, it was Tyrone who pointed first through Conan Canavan, and they had the ball in the net as Canavan’s free was punched in by Conor Taggart but Pat Barrett signalled for a square ball. 

And once Donegal got going with a two point free from Finn Gillespie, they surged into the lead with Tadhg McDaid and Oisin Mullen kicking points. 

They then hit the net as Conor Griffin found Finn Gillespie, who powered home past Jamie Kelly. 

Matthew Mulholland then received a black card for Tyrone, with Canavan adding a second point after a great team move. 

But Donegal were really clicking with Danny Óg Cooney firing over after a good counter, while Thomas McHugh converted from the right. 

The impressive Tadhg McDaid then hit a couple of scores in quick succession, the second from outside the arc to put Donegal ten ahead at the break at 1-9 to 0-2. 

The half time break did change the game, and Tyrone hit the next four scores, first with Charlie Meenan firing over from outside the arc, but Cormac Crossan got a touch to prevent the two pointer. 

Shea O’Donnell kicked a ‘45 before a Canavan free, while Odhran Barrett squeezed over after shooting from range. 

Matthew Daly and a Canavan two pointer followed, and a Shea O’Donnell score left just a point between the sides as we entered the final quarter. 

And while it was all Tyrone at this point, a red card for Cillian Ellis for a high tackle on Daire O’Hare reduced the Red Hands to 14 men for the rest of the game. 

They still went ahead on 50 minutes through a two point free from Canavan, but Donegal finally got off the mark in the second half as Conor Griffin helped a Gillespie free over. 

Donegal retook the lead as O’Hare converted from a free that was brought forward. 

But a goal for Tyrone changed the game as substitute Eoin Spence, just on the pitch, won a penalty, with Aodhan Corry firing low into the bottom left corner. 

Mark Anthony McGuinness made it a one point game as he fired over from close range, but Donegal had a trio of wides in the four minutes of added time. 

And after a long kick out by Tyrone, Thomas Gallen won it and played in Matthew Daly to make it a two point game, with the final whistle sounding soon after. 

Donegal scorers: Finn Gillespie 1-2,1tpf; Tadhg McDaid 0-4,1tp; Oisin Mullen, Thomas McHugh, Danny Óg Cooney, Conor Griffin, Daire O’Hare and Mark Anthony McGuinness 0-1 each. 

Tyrone scorers: Conan Canavan 0-7, 1tp,1tpf,1f; Aodhan Corry 1-0; Shea O’Donnell and Matthew Daly 0-2 each; Charlie Meenan, Odhran Barrett and Ruairi O’Neill 0-1 each

Donegal: Cormac Crossan; Raynne Rowan, Mark Wilkinson, Niall McBrearty; Thomas McHugh, Tadhg McDaid, Matthew McGinley; Conor Griffin, Rory Gill; Oisin Mullen, Danny Óg Cooney, Louis Cunnea; MJ Ward, Daire O’Hare, Finn Gillespie. 

Subs: Evan Daly for Gill (ht), Charlie McLaughlin for Ward (38), Mark Anthony McGuinness for Cunnea (48), Fionnan Coyle for McLaughlin (51). 

Tyrone: Jamie Kelly; Flynn Neeson, Thomas Gallen, Eoin Kelly; Ruairi O’Neill, Sean Donnelly, Aodhan Corry; Cillian Ellis, Charlie Meenan; Matthew Mulholland, Odhran Barrett, Matthew Daly; Conan Canavan, Shea O’Donnell, Conor Taggart. 

Subs: Ciaran McChrystal and Vincent Gormley for Taggart and Mulholland (35), Eoin Spence for O’Donnell (58).

Referee: Pat Barrett.