Allianz Football League Division One round two
Tyrone 0-16 Donegal 0-8
THEY came in anticipation of witnessing a blood and thunder battle but instead saw Tyrone stroll to a surprisingly comfortable victory, Donegal suffering a double scores defeat.
The Red Hands were very good, controlled, disciplined, and in command for much of this match. Donegal, after the high of downing All-Ireland champions Kerry the previous weekend, slumped to a disappointing display.
The visitors were never in front after a strong start from the hosts, but Donegal should have been ahead after 25 minutes when a Conor O'Donnell effort came back off the woodwork to Jeaic McKelvey, but the Glenties man scuffed his shut and Tyrone midfielder Brian Kennedy kicked the ball off the goal-line.
Otherwise, though, Tyrone's defence was rarely threatened and they could have at least one goal themselves, but Kennedy, Frank Burns, and Cormac Munroe all chose to take their point when slick play helped them cut through the Donegal rearguard.
This match was effectively won when Tyrone carved out a 0-6 to 0-3 half-time lead against a strong wind. There was still work to be done, of course, but the Red Hands did it, outscoring their opponents by six points to two in the third quarter.
In changes from the team that lined out in Roscommon, Burns and Darren McCurry started, rather than David 'DD' Mulgrew and Mattie Donnelly, and both men brought in excelled, with 'the Dazzler' top-scoring with 0-7, six frees and a mark.
The Red Hands played very cleverly before the break, especially the Pomeroy duo of Burns and Kieran McGeary, who both handled plenty of ball and used the possession effectively.
Apart from the opening score, Darragh Canavan was kept fairly quiet by Caolan Ward, while Mark Curran was watching McCurry well, but Tyrone had scoring threats from other areas.
Michael McKernan, despite having defensive duties against first Hugh McFadden then Jamie Brennan, repeatedly raced up the right flank, to earn frees or punch openings in the Donegal defence.
Tyrone's nominal midfielders, Conn Kilpatrick and Kennedy both got forward too, the former up at full-forward on occasions, the latter powering through to take an early point.
Even though they had a strong breeze at their back, Donegal took almost 10 minutes to open their account, through a fine long range score from Brennan, but within 10 more minutes there was only a point between the teams, with points from McKelvey and O'Donnell.
Shaun Patton's quick, accurate kick-outs were providing the platform, but Niall Morgan's more patient outlet for Tyrone was also working for them, as they were able to build from the back against a very defensive Donegal line-out.
Tyrone punished McKelvey's failure to net that chance, with Burns and Munroe racing through for their points.
Donegal captain Paddy McBrearty got the first score of the second half, from a mark, but Cathal McShane replied in kind, and Tyrone added the next three scores to pull clear.
Tyrone were finding acres of space and Canavan notched a couple of lovely scores before the Red Hands had the luxury of replacing him.
Home defenders Padraig Hampsey and Cormac Quinn were able to get forward to take points as their side eased to victory.
Tyrone next head to last year's All-Ireland Finalists, Galway, while Donegal make the shorter journey to Monaghan; the latter really should be ding-dong.
Tyrone: N Morgan; M McKernan, C Munroe (0-1), P Hampsey (0-1); Cormac Quinn (0-1), P Harte, N Devlin; C Kilpatrick, B Kennedy (0-1); F Burns (0-1), K McGeary, C Meyler; C McShane (0-1 mark), D McCurry (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 mark), D Canavan (0-3).
Substitutes: N Sludden for Canavan (54); M Donnelly for Quinn (64); R Donnelly for Sludden (68); N McCarron for McGeary (72); E McNabb for McCurry (72).
Donegal: S Patton; M Curran, B McCole, C Ward; C McColgan, S McMenamin, J McKelvey (0-1); C McGonagle, J McGee; J McGroddy, D O Baoill, C O'Donnell (0-2); H McFadden (0-1), P McBrearty (capt.) (0-1 mark), J Brennan (0-2, 0-1 mark).
Substitutes: P Mogan for McKelvey (h-t); J Grant for McGroddy (51); J B Walsh (0-1 free) for McBrearty (58); B O'Donnell for McColgan (66).
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
