Donegal captain Conor Garland content to get off the mark with Tyrone win

This was supposed to be a bit of shadow boxing between two teams who have a much more important NHL Division 3 clash at Garvaghy in a fortnight’s time. 

But both of these transitional sides quickly forgot about the league and gave it a good lash in trying conditions.

For Donegal captain Conor Gartland it was always going to be a battle between these two great rivals.

“You know what you get from Tyrone and it’s an absolute dog fight and we were talking about it inside there,” he said after his side’s McGurk penalty shootout win over the Red Hands.  

“But we started much slower than we would have liked. We have been working really hard in training and sometimes that can lull you into a false sense of security that you can repeat that on game day and sometimes that just does not happen.”

The sides finished deadlocked at the end of extra-time, 3-13 apiece, and with the tie needing to be decided on the night, it went to pucks from the spot. In the end, Donegal squeezed through 4-3. 

“We improved in the second half all right, but they were six points up early in the second half, but wee Dan Donnelly scored a very crucial goal for us. It was great for Dan, and he is just such a talented hurler.

“He settled in very well and he is only 18. He put his hand up to hit a penalty and even though he did not score, it says a lot about his character”.

Gartland, who had a fantastic season with Burt, had a chance to put Donegal up by two points at the death but unselfishly tried to find John Kealy, but the pass went astray.

“John was in a good position, and he had a very good game as well.

“There is always great rivalry between us and Tyrone played with great heart as they always do and they never give in and have a real warrior spirit.

“And the success of Carrickmore in winning the Ulster title has given them even more confidence.

“Their full forward line was very promising in the opening half, and they asked a lot of questions of our defence.

“Stephen McBride is a huge loss to us on the edge of the square and we are a team in transition, but we have some good younger lads coming through. I am very proud of them as they really stood up.”

The next test is a semi-final against  Jordanstown at the Belfast venue on Sunday when he will be hurling against a clubmate.

“Our own Kevin Curran is hurling with Jordanstown so it will be a bit strange seeing him in a jersey other than the Burt or Donegal one.

“I don’t know a lot about them otherwise, but they will be young and fit and will have skillful hurlers but maybe the close bond of a county team that has been together for years is more difficult for them to achieve.”