Donegal v Tyrone: Match details, news, and where you can watch it

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that the National Football League has got people talking. 

The Division 1 campaign is nearing its climax, with Jim McGuinness’s Donegal are on the verge of securing a place in the final, while Malachy O’Rourke’s Tyrone are fighting to retain their top-flight status. 

This season has been one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, with teams shifting positions week after week. With a congested season, a championship around the corner, managing injuries, dealing with new rules, and the possibility of league finals, there’s no end to these subplots. 

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Few would have expected Tyrone to find themselves in a relegation scrap under O’Rourke’s leadership, just as Donegal’s push for back-to-back National League titles might have seemed ambitious at the outset. That said, given their impressive form last year under McGuinness, their strong position is hardly a shock. 

It’s a weird position to be in that we have a team playing in a competition and we’re not sure if they want to win it or not. 

While Donegal may not be desperate for another fixture at the end of the league campaign — especially with just a week to prepare for their Ulster Championship opener against Derry — they now have the chance to establish themselves firmly at the top.  

Having only been promoted from Division 2 last year, reaching the summit of league football so quickly would be a statement of intent. A win in Letterkenny would move them closer to securing a place in Croke Park once again whether they like it or not. 

With Galway dropping points against Tyrone in Tuam, Donegal now sit level at the top of the National Football League alongside their All-Ireland semi-final opponents from last season. 

For Tyrone, however, the situation is far more precarious. They must win this match and next week’s clash with Dublin if they are to have any hope of avoiding relegation.  

O’Rourke has been unable to field a full-strength team for much of the campaign, with several key players from Errigal Ciarán’s All-Ireland final journey given time to rest at the start of the season. 

Now, with the Canavan brothers, Peter Harte, Joe Oguz, and others back in action, Tyrone has rediscovered their rhythm. They pushed Kerry to the limit last time out, requiring a moment of brilliance from David Clifford to salvage a draw, and also shared the spoils with Galway, one of the league’s frontrunners. 

O’Rourke and his squad are well aware of the stakes in these final two fixtures. Their fate remains in their own hands, but they must focus on the immediate challenge if they are to remain in Division One. 

Tyrone has the possibility of snatching precious two points at a venue that has been somewhat of a graveyard for Donegal over the past decade and a half. Will that continue, will Donegal now rest key players in preparation for the championship now that their league status is safe? All will be revealed this Sunday.   

Match Details     

Fixture: Donegal v Tyrone 

Competition: Division 1 National Football League, Round 6 

Date and Venue: Sunday, March 16, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny  

Throw-in: 3.30pm      

Live Broadcast: TG4 will show the game live