Tyrone retain their Ulster title in an extra-time thriller

Tyrone 1-19 (1-3-13) Donegal 2-14 (2-2-10) AET

By Michael McMullan

TYRONE retained their Ulster title with victory over Donegal on Wednesday night in Owenbeg.

They needed extra time a late, late save from goalkeeper Conan McGarvey to deny Conor McCahill a winning goal at the death.

It took extra time and it was Tyrone who came out with a bang with three two-pointers to shoot the champions seven points clear.

A Seanan Carr goal and the accuracy of Shane Callaghan pegged Donegal back to within a point with a minute to go.

After Donegal were pulled for a three versus three infraction, Tyrone nabbed the insurance point, a free from Ruairi McCullagh.

There was still time for Donegal to launch one last attack but McCahill was denied by goalkeeper McGarvey and Tyrone were champions for the 17th time.

McGarvey stepped in after an injury to Conor McAneney while senior star Finnbarr Roarty made a first start of the season.

Tyrone had a slight breeze and after a scoreless five minutes, opened the scoring with a McCullagh 45.

A fisted Noah Grimes point doubled the Tyrone advantage before Conor McGinty skipped inside to finish a neat Donegal move with a point in the 11th minute.

Tyrone played pass the parcel, stretching Donegal, before Matthew Quinn kicked a scored for a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

McCahill made a score for McGinty before another Four Masters’ man, Kevin Muldoon, hit a third Donegal score.

Muldoon added another point before Tyrone, like in their semi-final win over Derry, grabbed two stoppage time points.

Caolan Donnelly cut into score with McCullagh adding his second after Tyrone won just the second Donegal kick-out of the half, the Red Hands 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.

Shane Callaghan came in at half time for Donegal and landed a two pointer in the first play to put them ahead.

Conor McCahill, who missed three first half chances, added a second two pointer for a 0-8 to 0-5 Donegal lead.

Tyrone were soon level when Joey Clarke finished to the net after Liam Óg Mossey’s shot came down off the post. McCullagh then kicked then back Tyrone ahead in an exciting start to the second half.

A Sean Martin point had Donegal back to within point midway through the second half after a lively Tyrone third quarter.

Donegal hit the net with a goal started and finished in Gaoth Dobhair. Goalkeeper mac Giolla Bhríde saved a point with a moved finished by Cathal ‘Rua’ Ó Gallchóir, 1-9 to 1-7 after 50 minutes.

Two McCullagh frees levelled the game again with six minutes to play. Tyrone had the last chance to win the game in normal time but Conor O’Neill kicked their tenth wide after a spell of keep ball outside the scoring zone.

Two points scores from Eoin McElholm, Shane McDermott and Conall Sheehy shot Tyrone in the driving seat early in extra-time.

A Seanan Carr goal shot Donegal back in the game just before half-time in extra time.

Donegal pushed hard to save game with Callaghan points with McGarvey’s late save winning the game.

Tyrone scorers: R McCullagh 0-9 (4f, 1 tp, 1 45), E McElholm 0-3 (1 tp), J Clarke 1-0, C Sheehy, S McDermott (tp) 0-2 each, N Grimes, C Donnelly and M Quinn 0-1 each

Donegal scorers: S Callaghan 0-5 (2f, 1 tp), S Carr 1-1, C McCahill 0-3 (1tp), C Ó Gallchóir 1-0, C McGinty, K Muldoon 0-2 each and S Martin 0-1

Tyrone: C McGarvey; F Nelis, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; C Daly, J Clarke, C Donnelly; Cónán Devlin, C O’Neill; C Sheehy, E McElholm, M Quinn; N Grimes, R McCullagh, L Mossey
Subs: S McDermott for Grimes (54), D Donaghy for Sheehy (HT ET), S McCann for Mossey (75)

Donegal: P Mac Giolla Bhríde; A Neely, N Prendiville, C Ó Gallchóir; M Campbell, C McCrea, F Roarty; S Martin, K Muldoon; C McMenamin, C McGinty, M McDevitt; C McCahill, D Gildea, S Carr
Subs: D Monaghan for McMenamin (INJ 10), S Callaghan for Gildea (HT), D Mulholland for McDevitt (49), T Carr for Monaghan (56), D Gallagher for Neely (56), M McDevitt for Cambell (Started ET), Campbell for Muldoon (75), Muldoon for McDevitt (78), D Monaghan for McGinty (79)

Attendance: 2, 589

Referee: K Faloon (Armagh)