Donegal come up just short against Tyrone in Ulster Minor League final

Donegal minors put up a great effort but just came up short against a physically strong Tyrone team in the Ulster Minor League final at Watty Graham Park, Maghera.

Barry Ward's charges looked to be really up against it in the opening half as Tyrone threatened to run away with the contest but the Donegal boys stuck to their task and really put it up to the Red Hand side in the second half.

They turned around a seven point deficit to edge in front at one stage in the second half and in the end there was very little between the sides.

Tyrone had the aid of the strong diagonal wind in the opening half and Peter Colton opened their scoring with a two pointer. James Mulgrew added another before Thomas Leneghan got Donegal on the board after a great ball from Kalvin McLaughlin.

But Tyrone were dominating at midfield and Joel Kerr (bound for West Ham next week) added to their total. James Daly looked dangerous coming forward from centre half-back and he made it 0-5 to 0-1 on 12 minutes.

Donegal had a narrow escape when Tyrone had the ball in the net but the referee ruled that Mark Kennedy was in the square when punching home.

Peter Colton added another two pointer and after Thomas Meenan managed to hit the Donegal post with the goal gaping, Eoin Long added a free to leave it 0-8 to 0-1 and it wasn't looking good for Donegal.

Cathal Doherty came forward for a rare point but after Ronan O'Donnell was penalised for overcarrying, Eoin Long added the ninth point from a free.

But then Donegal finished the half strongly. Thomas Leneghan pointed a free and then intercepted the kick-out to set up Shane Sweeney for another.

Tyrone were penalised for having one of their mentors on the field and Leneghan tapped ocer from 20m and on the stroke of half-time Tomas Carr hit a great point from distance to leave just three between them at the break.

While Joel Kerr had the opening score of the second half for Tyrone, by the 39th minute Donegal were in front.

Joe Gibbions showed how it was done pointing and then hitting a two pointer. And in the 39th minute Donegal worked a goal from a kick-out. Shane Sweeney won the break and found Tomas Carr who passed to Thomas Leneghan on the right of the goal to fire low to the net.

The Tyrone response was immediate with points from Thomas Meenan, Kerr (free) and Matthew F Daly.

Shane Sweeney levelled and Joel Kerr and Kalvin McLaughlin  traded scores to leave it 1-11 to 0-14 on 45 minutes.

Then came the killer score as Tyrone found the Donegal net. Initially Donegal blocked the first effort but it fell to Cathal Farrelly to fire home from close range.

Again Donegal responded with Thomas Leneghan (free) and Shane Sweeney cutting the lead to the minimum with nine minutes left.

In a frantic last ten minutes amazingly there was just one score, a point from Eoin Long for Tyrone. Joe Gibbions thought he had pointed for Donegal but the referee overruled the umpire and Tomas Carr and Danny McCready also had chances.

Donegal scorers: Thomas Leneghan 1-4,3f; Shane Sweeney, Joseph Gibbions (1tp) 0-3 each; Cathal Doherty, Tomas Carr, Kalvin McLaughlin 0-1 each.

Tyrone scorers: Joel Kerr 0-4,2f; Cathal Farrelly 1-0; Peter Colton 0-4, 2tp; Eoin Long 0-3,2f; James Daly, James Mulgrew, Matthew F Daly, Thomas Meenan 0-1 each.

Donegal: Ronan O'Donnell; Christopher O'Donnell, Jamie Gavigan, Daithi Molloy; Cathal Doherty, Evan Daly, Conor Farrell; Kalvin  McLaughlin, Cathal McGee; Conor Gallagher, Tomas Carr, Joseph Gibbions; Shane Sweeney, Mathew Enright, Thomas Leneghan.

Subs: Callum McGilloway for E Daly (16); Jack Gallagher for C Gallagher (48); Danny McCready for Leneghan  (52); Peter McLaughlin for Farrell (57)

Tyrone: Ronan Donnelly; Elliott Kerr, Padraig Goodman, Ciaran McChrystal; Aodhan Quinn, James Daly, Cathal Farrelly; James Mulgrew, Padraig Donaghy; Matthew F Daly, Peter Colton, Thomas Meenan; Joel Kerr, Eoin Long, Mark Kennedy.

Subs: Peter Garrity for Kennedy (45); Darren McAnespie for M Daly (52); Pearse McDonald and Harley Patton for Long and Farrelly (59).

Referee: Neil McGeown (Armagh)