Donegal deliver opening NHL Division 3 blow to hosts Tyrone at Garvaghey

Donegal hurlers made a huge early statement with this comprehensive win over old rivals Tyrone in an excellent NHL Division 3 clash at Garvaghey.

Goals win matches and clinically finished strikes from Ryan Hilferty in the first half and a well-executed brace from Ronan McDermott and John Kealy after the break were the key scores for the winners.

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Those goals gave Mickey McCann’s side a cushion Tyrone could never deflate. Points were at a premium here and Donegal had the brighter start with two apiece from marksmen Gerard Gilmore and Liam McKinney pushing them to an early 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

The first crucial goal came in the 20th minute when the predatory Hilferty cleverly first-timed the ball to the Red Hand net after his original shot was well saved by Conor McElhatton.

That put Donegal into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead but Tyrone hit back. Two points from Ciaran Magill, Aidan Kelly and Mickey Little left just a goal between the sides.

Kelly added another two points and a well-taken Shea Munroe strike left just two points between the teams at the break as Donegal led by 1-12 to 1-10.

Tyrone resumed on the front foot and points from Niall McGarel and Kelly levelled the match as the tempo increased.

Kelly and Gilmore swapped scores before Donegal’s deadly duo of McKinney and Gartland drove their men forward. And Gilmore was deadly accurate from frees.

But it was a rocketed goal from McDermott that put real daylight between the sides as Donegal led by 2-16 to 1-14.

But even though McElhattton brilliantly saved a penalty from Donegal ‘keeper Luke White, newcomer Kealy hit Donegal’s third killer goal.

This was a most impressive win for McCann’s men as they bounced back from the bitter disappointment of defeat to Derry last week in the McGurk Cup final and now take on Fermanagh in O’Donnell Park on Saturday

Tyrone scorers: Aidy Kelly 0-12 8f 1 ’65; Shea Munroe 1-0; Ciaran Magill 0-2; Mickey Little, Niall McGarel, Pierce Mullin and Aidan Woods 0-1 each.

Donegal scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-12, 5f 2 ’65; Liam McKinney 0-5; Ryan Hilferty, John Kealy 1-0 and Ronan McDermott 1-0 each; Peter Kelly 0-3; Declan Coulter, Gavin Browne and Josh Connolly McGee 0-1 each.

Tyrone: Conor McElhatton; Oran McKee, Cian McGuigan, Sean Paul McKernan; Shea Munroe, Fionn Devlin, Anthony Crossan; Feargal Donaghy, James McCann; Niall McGarel, Ciaran Magill, Aidan Kelly; Aidan Woods, Michael Little, Kiefer Morgan.

Subs: Turlough Mullin for M Little (48), Liam Griffiths for K Morgan (55), Rory Weir for SP McKernan (60), Pierce Mullan for A Crossan (62).

Donegal: Luke White; Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Bradley, Donal Farrelly; Ryan Hilferty, Gerard Gilmore, Gavin Browne; Liam McKinney, Conor Gartland; Conor O'Grady, Kevin Kealy, Richie Ryan; John Kealy, Peter Kelly, Declan Coulter.

Subs: Danny Cullen for D Coulter (41), Josh Connolly McGee for R Ryan (60), Oisin Marley for C O'Grady (61), Russell Forde for P Kelly (63).

Referee: Peter Owens (Down).