WE witnessed another nail-biting encounter between old rivals Donegal and Tyrone at the weekend and it certainly lived up to the hype.

When you look at the game as a whole, I don’t think too many people would disagree that Tyrone deserved to win.

The game ebbed and flowed and I suppose the major turning point was the dismissal of Michael Murphy towards the end of the first half. People will look at the penalty and say that was a pivotal moment in the match, but had Michael stayed on the pitch I have no doubt that he would have made up for that miss.

Games between these two great rivals take on a life of their own and how many times have we seen them turn in one team’s favour after a red card? Sunday was no different.

These two teams are so evenly matched that it was going to take something like that to swing it one way or another. I felt particularly sorry for Michael because knowing him he would have went to unimaginable lengths to ensure that he could lead his team out on Sunday.

Sometimes when that happens and you’re so driven to take to the field your composure and calmness can be lost. The first yellow card was probably a bit harsh but the second came shortly after the penalty miss and at that stage the head would have been a bit fuzzy.

Credit to Tyrone they got their match-ups and tactics spot on and for me the key score of the game was when Conor McKenna turned the ball over on his own 20-metre line and galloped the length of the field to set up an easy tap-over score for the impressive Darren McCurry.

Massive credit must go to Donegal given how they battled right to the bitter end and they hung in the game even though they were down to 14 men in that sweltering heat.

Question marks will now hang over Donegal manager Declan Bonner not due to the fact that he underperformed, but because he has now spent four years at the helm and that takes its toll mentally and physically on any manager given the time that is needed to manage at this level nowadays.

Declan will no doubt take some time to speak to his family and loved ones before making his own decision and he deserves all the time he needs and we wish him well whatever he decides.

From a Tyrone point of view it was a seriously impressive display and perhaps the best of the season but the big question for them is can they lift it another gear? If they can manage to get McShane, Canavan and McKenna on the pitch at the one time I think they can become a formidable force.

Tyrone’s bench contributed massively to the game – and indeed to the scoreboard – and that’s something that will please Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher as they try to piece together a plan to stop this free-scoring Monaghan team in the final.

We had another humdinger of a game on Saturday evening between Monaghan and Armagh and it was a seriously enthralling encounter to watch.

Credit to Armagh for battling their way back into the contest and at one stage it looked as if they would get over the line, but Monaghan came back once again and who else but ‘Mr Consistent’ Conor McManus kicked some massive scores to settle his team down.

I was at the Monaghan and Donegal league encounter earlier in the year when Monaghan tore Donegal to shreds. They could have scored at least eight goals that day and they have continued with that scoring threat right through the year so this will be a different type of challenge for Tyrone.

It’s a game that we are all looking forward to and once again it’s a game that could go either way depending on what team can get the key men firing and, indeed, keep their key men on the pitch for the duration of the game.

At this time of year we can sometimes lose the run of ourselves and think that sport is all that matters. On Saturday morning we all heard the news that none of us wanted to hear and I have no doubt that it rocked the entire GAA community.

Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh lost his life in a tragic accident hours after leading his young Monaghan team into the Ulster U-20 final.

There are no words to make the situation any easier on Brendan’s family, friends or teammates and all they can do is stick together and try and help each other as best they can.

I did not know young Brendan but I know I know his father Brendan Duffy who has done massive work for the Irish language in our area over the last 20 odd years and at this time there is very little I or anyone else can say to help Brendan and his family.

One thing we are particularly good at as a GAA community is helping one another and at times like this the GAA really stands tall and can help families during times like this.

I would like to pass on my condolences to Brendan and his family, Brendan Óg’s friends and teammates and we pray that God gives them strength over the next few days and weeks. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.