Tyrone goals kill off Donegal in All-Ireland Masters final

Tyrone remain the masters of All-Ireland Masters football with a comprehensive win over Donegal in the final in Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan.

Three first half goals, which were all disappointing from a Donegal point of view, put Tyrone on their way. The Red Hand men led by 11 at half-time and as the wind calmed there was no way back for Donegal in the second half.

But despite that there were some outstanding Donegal performances from Conor McShane, Damien Browne, Ciaran Scanlon, Shaun Maguire and Benny Boyle among others.

Donegal were hit by sucker early goals with a long ball into Mark Donnelly ending in the net after just 43 seconds. Donnelly was in behind his man but Carl O'Brien made a wonder save but the ball broke kindly for the Tyrone man to tap to the net.

It got worse on 10 minutes when an effort for a point dropped short and Barry Daly followed it in and contested with O'Brien and the ball ended in the net for a second goal.

Johnny O'Neill added a point before Shaun Maguire got Donegal on the board on 12 minutes. Nicky McGarrigle added another after a lovely dummy by Damien Browne, as Donegal began to recover from the whirlwind Tyrone start.

But they found it difficult to transition the ball against the wind and the very intense Tyrone press with scores difficult to create.

But the second quarter proved disastrous for Donegal as Tyrone piled on the pressure. Stephen O'Neill added a free and then after a promising Donegal move which almost had Benny Boyle in for a goal, the ball  was transferred in double quick time for Stephen O'Neill to find Barry Daly with a lovely pass and Daly pointed.

Damien McDevitt came forward from corner back to point and then disaster struck for Donegal as Mark Donnelly got a third goal in controversial circumstances. The referee was up at the Donegal goal consulting an umpire as play resumed with a free and Donegal lost possession, but the referee allowed play to continue even though he hadn't signalled it to resume. Mark Donnelly found himself one on one with Carl O'Brien and he easily found the net.

Damien Browne pointed a free before Mark Donnelly then added the final point from a forward mark to leave it Tyrone 3-5, Donegal 0-3 at the break.

The pattern continued in the second half with a Stephen O'Neill free on 36 seconds and a minute later Marty McGrath had Tyrone's fourth goal.

From then on it was damage limitation for Donegal. They did get a penalty goal from Benny Boyle and points from Damien Browne (2), Shaun Maguire, Eunan Keaveney and Stephen Coyle but Tyrone had a fifth goal from Shane McCann while they also had points from McCann, Gary Coney, Bary Daly and Martin Conway.

But overall Tyrone were much the better side and were worthy winners of their fifth All-Ireland Masters in-a-row.

Donegal scorers: Benny Boyle 1-0, pen; Damien Browne 0-3,3f; Shaun Maguire 0-2; Eunan Keaveney, Stephen Coyle, Nicky McGarrigle, Paddy McNulty (fm) 0-1 each.

Tyrone scorers: Mark Donnelly 2-1,1f; Barry Daly 1-2; Shane McCann 1-1; Marty McGrath 1-0; Stephen O'Neill 0-2,2f; Damien McDevitt, Gary Coney, Johnny O'Neill, Martin Conway 0-1 each.

Donegal: Carl O'Brien; Sean McDaid, Eamon Ward, Aaron Thompson; Martin Donaghey, Conor McShane, Gary Dunnion; Brian Doherty, Brian McLaughlin; Nicky McGarrigle, Benny Boyle, Damien Browne; Ciaran Scanlon, Shaun Maguire, Gerard McBrearty.

Subs: Pauric Conaghan, Paddy Joe Doohan, Hugh Foy, Eunan Keaveney, David McShane, Donnacha Gallagher, Stephen Coyle, Paddy McNulty, Kevin McBrearty, Lawrence McMullan, Eamon J McHugh, Leon Thompson, Barry Nelis, Enda Bonner, Gavin Doherety, Ronan Lowther, Cathal Gallagher, Diarmuid Slevin, Stephen McGlynn, Gavin McConnell, Martin Mooney, Stephen Doherty, Michael Canning, Gary Gillen, Ronan Kennedy, Steven Nairn, John Doherty, Seamus Hegarty, Adie Britton, Andrew McMorrow, Charlie Creevy, Danny McGowan, Paul Lynch, Charlie Doherty, Toirleach McGinley, Johnny McCafferty.

Tyrone: Martin McCreesh; Damien McDevitt, Aidan Brady, Liam Patterson; Shane McCann, Conor Gormley, Gary Coney; Barry Collins, Johnny O'Neill; Oisin McAteer, Stephen O'Neill, Mark Donnelly; Barry Daly, Michael Anderson, Damian Kelly.

Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo)