DONEGAL WON THE ULSTER MINOR HURLING SHIELD at Celtic Park on Friday night thanks to a five-point win over Tyrone.
Donegal 3-14 Tyrone 3-9
A hat-trick of goals by the ever-dangerous Conor McGettigan ensured that Donegal never got too far away from Tyrone, but it was Lorcan O’Toole’s men who were celebrating at the conclusion.
A pair of first half goals, by Kevin Brady and Ciaran Randles, were followed by a third Donegal goal, netted by Buncrana’s Macauley Carr in the second half, when Donegal survived a sustained period of Tyrone pressure.
At one stage, Tyrone were back to within a point, but Donegal pressed on through Carr’s goal.
The win means that Donegal advance to the A competition where they be away to Armagh in a quarter-final.
Kevin Kealy popped over for Donegal after only 20 seconds, but Tyrone had a purple patch, clipping 1-2 by the seventh minute, the goal from McGettigan after he collected a long ball into the square.
Points from Rian McCaul and Piaras McErlean had started the Red Hands’ ball rolling, but Donegal took over with 1-5 in an eight-minute spell.
That run was kick-started by a Brady goal, firing home after taking a pass from Randles.
Carr scored three points in quick succession with Randles and Jamie de Ward on the mark.
However, Tyrone hit back when McGettigan bagged his second goal, which was a replica of his first – fetching a raking Hail Mary pass before slotting past Ciarán Bradley, the Donegal goalkeeper.
In the final minute of the half, Randles and Brady reversed roles from the first Tír Chonaill goal as Randles applied the finish this time after being set up by Brady to put Donegal 2-8 to 2-4 ahead at the break.
Kealy stretched the lead early in the second half, but Tyrone reeled them in.
McGettigan bagged a third goal when he turned away from Christopher Gallagher before slicing a low shot to the Donegal net.
McElean and McGurk struck and Tyrone were now on Donegal’s coat tails but they got a third goal on 43 minutes.
Randles shot from wide on the right and, after the Tyrone goalkeeper, Ciaran Tanney, completely misjudged the shot, Carr showed superb reactions to turn home.
Although Dearcán O’Donnghaile, McGurk and McErlean kept Tyrone’s hopes alive, Donegal closed out with a pair of Doherty frees and a superb effort by midfielder Stephen Anderson to secure a famous win.
Donegal: Ciarán Bradley; Brian McHenry, Christopher Gallagher, Brian Diver; Ryan Hilferty, Fiachra McLaughlin, Cathair Doherty; Kevin Kealy (0-4), Stephen Anderson (0-1); Caolan McDermott (0-1), Cathal Doherty (0-3, 3f), Jamie de Ward (0-1); Kieran Brady (1-0), Cian Randles (1-1), Macauley Carr (1-3). Subs: James Monagle for Diver (40), Sean Halvey for Brady (40).
Tyrone: Ciaran Tanney; Oisin Daly, Jarlath Kerr, Matty McCollum; Ciaran Langan, Lorcan Devlin (0-1, 1f), Michael Gormley; Lochrann O’Donnghaile, Jack Campbell; Rian McCaul (0-1), Piaras McErlean (0-4, 2f), Sean McGurk (0-2); Liam Flanagan, Conor McGettigan (3-0), Michael Murray. Subs: Dearcán O’Donnghaile (0-1) for Flanagan (45) Jack Fee for Murray (45), Rory Nugent for Campbell (52).
Referee: Cathal Murray (Down).
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