Tyrone hold off late Donegal rally to secure priceless victory

TG4 All Ireland SFC Round 2

Tyrone 3-12

Donegal 3-9

By Daire Walsh

Tyrone produced an outstanding display at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar to get the better of provincial rivals Donegal in Group 4 of the TG4 All-Ireland SFC.

Chloe McCaffrey and Maria Canavan — niece of Tyrone legend Peter — finished with a combined tally of 1-8 as the 2018 intermediate champions defied the odds to claim victory.

The majestic Geraldine McLaughlin led the way for Donegal with 2-5, but Maxi Curran’s outfit will now need to defeat Mayo next week to keep their interest in the Brendan Martin Cup alive.

Eager to make amends for their defeat to Donegal in the Ulster championship — as well as last week’s reversal to Mayo — Tyrone moved into a surprise six-point lead by the end of the opening quarter.

In addition to Maria Canavan, Niamh McGirr and Emma Jane Gervin points, McCaffrey palmed to the net at the end of a 12th-minute move.

Donegal finally opened their account through Geraldine McLaughlin’s pointed free and the Termon sharpshooter finished the half with 1-2 her name

Nevertheless, with Niamh O’Neill, McCaffrey and Aoibhinn McHugh all on target, Tyrone brought a 1-6 to 1-4 advantage into the break.

Niamh McLaughlin cut Donegal’s deficit to a minimum on the resumption, but Tyrone spectacularly fired back by registering 2-1 without reply.

After a McCaffrey free dropped short, substitute Maeve Mallon was on hand to fire home. Niamh Hughes’ speculative strike also raised a green flag and Canavan claimed her second point to further increase their buffer.

The sin-binning of Nicole McLaughlin on the half-hour mark had left Donegal hamstrung during this period, but Tyrone also lost McGirr to a yellow-card. This preceded another 1-1 salvo for McLaughlin, in addition to a maiden point for Donegal captain Karen Guthrie.

Although the pressure was now back on Tyrone, they gave themselves significant breathing space with unanswered scores from McCaffrey and two from Canavan. As expected, Donegal ramped up the tension in a frantic finale and a Niamh McLaughlin penalty reduced the gap to two points.

However, Tyrone held firm and McCaffrey’s last-minute free put the seal on their magnificent triumph.

Scorers – Tyrone: C McCaffrey 1-3 (0-1f), M Canavan 0-5 (4f), N Hughes, M Mallon 1-0 each, N McGirr, EJ Gervin, A McHugh, N O’Neill 0-1 each.

Donegal: G McLaughlin 2-5 (0-2f), N McLaughlin 1-1 (1-0 pen), K Guthrie 0-2 (2f), N Hegarty 0-1.

Tyrone: S Lynch; C Hunter, J Barrett, C Conway; E Brennan, T McLaughlin, N McGirr; EJ Gervin, S McCarroll; N Hughes, M Canavan, A McHugh; N O’Neill, C Kelly, C McCaffrey.

Subs: M Mallon for Kelly (h-t), S Byrne for Hughes, S Sheerin for O’Neill (both 51).

Donegal: A McColgan; AM McGlynn, E McGinley, N McLaughlin; T Doherty, E Gallagher, N Carr; K Herron, N Boyle; N Hegarty, A Boyle Carr, N McLaughlin; K Guthrie, G McLaughlin, M Ryan.

Subs: K Keeney for Boyle (50), S McGroddy for Ryan (51), N McDonald for Hegarty (55).

Ref – Barry Redmond (Wexford).