Football

How the Donegal players rated against Tyrone

Donegal's Michael Langan is taken down by Frank Burns's challenge. Picture Margaret McLaughlin
Donegal's Michael Langan is taken down by Frank Burns's challenge. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Donegal's Michael Langan is taken down by Frank Burns's challenge. Picture Margaret McLaughlin

Shaun Patton: Good saves from McCurry and McGeary. Got away with one off-target kick-out after the break. Tried to make up for Murphy’s absence by making the extra man in defence. 6.5

Brendan McCole: Covered Frank Burns’s runs and restricted him to a point. Did his job while the Donegal defence struggled in other areas. 6

Neil McGee: In bravely to win a break in fourth minute. Injured in the process and subbed. Not on long enough to be rated.

Ryan McHugh: Got forward in the move that led to McGonigle’s goal. Apart from that he had his hands full picking up Tyrone runners. 6

Odhran McFadden-Ferry: A battler. He nipped in to win a break in midfield but then lost the ball for over-carrying. That sort of day for him. 5.5

Eoghan Ban Gallagher: Darren McCurry gave him a tough time of it and Tyrone blocked the channels for his forward breaks until the second half. Vital part in Donegal goal and won two dubious frees with pacey runs. 6

Hugh McFadden: Assist for Donegal’s first point. Operated as sweeper and his driving runs forward were a feature of the first half. Showed a cool head under pressure. 6.5

Caolan McGonigle: Good tussle with Tyrone giant Kilpatrick. Hammered home the Tyrone goal when he switched to full-forward and almost had another one. 6

Ciaran Thompson: Earned Donegal’s penalty. Superb point off his left foot and assist for Jamie Brennan score was class. Could have been in the game more. 6

Niall O’Donnell: Picked up Peter Harte and did his defensive job well – popped up on 21-yard line to make one vital interception. Points in both halves. 6

Michael Langan: An elegant player who often seems to have more time than others with the ball in his hands. Superb point and created goal chance for himself before he was taken down by Frank Burns. Crowded out by the Tyrone midfield at times and missed a straightforward free. 6.5

Patrick McBrearty: Ronan McNamee shadowed his every move. McBrearty landed two points in first half and two frees in the second. With no Murphy, Donegal needed more from him. 6

Michael Murphy: Scored two frees but fumbled under pressure and then missed a penalty – hitting outside of the post. Frustrated by that, he aimed a wild hack at a loose ball and caught McGeary. Sent off. 5

Peadar Mogan: A talent but he promised more than he delivered. Scored a fine first half point but lost Tiarnan McCann in the second half. 5

Jamie Brennan: Scored the first point of the game. Found space hard to come by afterwards. Contributed to one McBrearty point and scored a second after the break. 5.5

Substitutes:

Stephen McMenamin: On for McGee. Caught under a high ball that Mattie Donnelly broke for McCurry’s goal chance. Donnelly finished with two points. 5.5

Paul Brennan: Had an immediate impact when he came in for McFadden-Ferry. Grabbed a kick-out and played in McBrearty for a score. Lots of energy but couldn’t turn game Donegal’s way. 6.5

Odhran MacNaillais: Replaced the tiring McFadden for the last quarter. Did what he could to stop Tyrone runners bursting into shooting positions. 6

Eoin McHugh: Not on long enough to be rated.

Andrew McClean: Not on long enough to be rated.