Tyrone hit their groove to book Croke Park spot and leave Donegal down and out

While there was a certain element of predictability when Donegal and Tyrone were paired together last Monday morning, their indifferent form this season meant their All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final mightn’t have been so easy to guess.

Donegal 0-13 Tyrone 1-18

After Donegal’s winter of discontent off the field spilled into matters on the pitch in spring, they had a change of management and relegation from Division 1 before a limp Ulster exit to Down in Newry. Their coordinates, which were pretty south, did show an ascent in the round-robins, which cumulated in a fine win over Monaghan last weekend.

Tyrone had a few of their feathers shaved at Breffni against Westmeath and that draw meant that since winning Sam Maguire in 2021, the championship record had read two victories from seven. Derbies, formbooks, windows, though. It’s all been said before.

In their 27th meeting, 50 years to the day on from the infamous ‘Battle of Ballybofey’ that was so gorey Donegal considered joining the Connacht championship with towns wrecked along the border, Tyrone left no doubt. Maybe, just maybe, they’re getting into that groove like they can do.

Having gone right at Donegal, with Cormac Quinn the one on the gallop from the moment referee Conor Lane threw the ball into the air, they almost managed a goal within 12 seconds, only for Ruairí Canavan to skew wide.

Donegal didn’t heed the warning and in only the second minute, Tyrone had their goal when Shaun Patton couldn’t grasp a floater from Darren McCurry and Canavan, after shuffling his feet, poked home. After such a messy opening, it was a goal Donegal deserved to concede as much as Tyrone deserved to score.

With McCurry, Michael McKernan and Darragh Canavan, from a monster Brian Kennedy turnover, all scoring by the ninth minute, Tyrone were 1-3 to 0-1 to the good. Donegal’s only score by that juncture was from Patrick McBrearty, who was such a late change it was four minutes into the match by the time it was announced with Conor O’Donnell injured in the warm-up.

With Tyrone right on top of Patton’s kick-outs, dictating the bulk of the play with the wind and having more turnovers than you’d see at the local bakery, Donegal had to cling in. They were always kept at arm’s length, although McBrearty, Oisín Gallen and Odhrán Doherty got the home crowd going. Eight minutes before half-time, at 1-5 to 0-6 behind, the glass half-fullers of them in the 11,971 crowd would’ve been content enough, considering the elements and the outset.

The Red Hands showed why they had the upper hand late in the half, with Darragh Canavan bringing his first 35 total to four points, while Mattie Donnelly and Brian Kennedy with a late beaut, got in on the act for a 1-10 to 0-8 interval advantage for Tyrone. It was the least their play warranted.

Jason McGee was absent against Monaghan and thrown in by Aidan O’Rourke for part two, but it was Tyrone who again showed their dominance with McCurry and then, brilliantly, cutting inside from the right, Darragh Canavan scoring to push it out to 1-12 to 0-8.

Moments of jeopardy there were of course with Niall Morgan having to go full-stretch as McGee tried to place on one the run. Caolan Ward, the Donegal defender, took one for the team at the other end just beforehand to keep Brian Kennedy’s rasper out.

Donegal, a bit like in spells in the first half, got close enough without really getting that close. Tyrone always had more gears. Ciaran Thompson hit two long-rangers for Donegal. Overall, they were sloppy and the plans that Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher would’ve laid out at Garvahey for Tyrone over the last week were, presumably, executed not far from how they were laid. McCurry kept it ticking and Donnelly struck a marvellous last score just to make sure.

Donegal, a bit like Donegal of late, were a rabble at the end and Patton was sent off in injury time for kicking McKernan. Their season eventually unravelled and unless they get things sorted out off the field and reestablish the academy set-up, losing to the likes of Tyrone will become even more familiar at all levels.

With the All-Ireland series now resembling more of a tournament than a championship, the course might be a little longer and Tyrone know their way. To get the highest mark in the exam, you don’t have to be the best student all year. Their success was emphatic and they’ll have a few of the group winners whispering who they don’t want to draw come Monday.

Donegal scorers: O Gallen 0-4, 1f; P McBrearty 0-3, 2f; O Doherty 0-1; C McColgan 0-1; C Thompson 0-2; S Patton 0-1,  45;  L McGlynn 0-1.
Tyrone scorers: R Canavan 1-1; D McCurry 0-5, 4f; M McKernan 0-2, D Canavan 0-5, 1f; M Donnelly 0-3, B Kennedy and C Kilpatrick 0-1. 

Donegal: Donegal: S Patton; M Curran, B McCole, C McColgan; C Ward, E Gallagher, S McMenamin; C McGonagle, H McFadden; D Ó Baoill, C Thompson, O Doherty; J Brennan, O Gallen, P McBrearty. Subs: J McGee for Doherty (h-t), L McGlynn for Ó Baoill (44), R O’Donnell for McFadden (47), B O’Donnell for McColgan (62), G Mulreany for Curran (70+3)

Tyrone: N Morgan; M McKernan, R McNamee, P Hampsey; C Quinn, M O'Neill, P Harte; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; C Meyler, K McGeary, R Canavan; D McCurry, M Donnelly, D Canavan. Subs: F Burns for McGeary (56) R Donnelly for   D Canavan (62); N Devlin for R Canavan (70+2).

Referee: C Lane (Cork).