Donegal’s excellent run in the Ulster Under 17 League ended in disappointment in the final in Maghera as impressive Tyrone proved too strong on the day.
Tyrone 0-15 Donegal 0-7
The winners led 0-08 to 0-03 at the break, scoring a number of well constructed and taken points.
Oisín Bonner had given Donegal an early lead but four points in a row had Tyone three points ahead by the 12th minute.
Bonner added a second Donegal point a minute later but perhaps could have gone for goal after good play by Shane O’Donnell and Mark McAteer set him up.
Two minutes later Donegal had a let-off when Cormac Donaghy got on the end of a good Tyrone move but his shot came back off a post.
Michael Conroy pointed two frees before Mark McAteer point a Donegal free to leave three between in the 28th minute.
Conroy and Tarlach Quinn added two late Tyrone points to make it a five point gap at the break.
In the first quarter of the second-half McAteer, Ben Bradley, and Shane O Donnell added Donegal scores but scores by Quinn and sub Ethan Jordan had Tyrone six ahead at 0-11 v 0-06. In the final quarter other subs Cormac Gormley 0-2 , Liam Gray 0-1 and Jordan again all added Tyrone points, with Bonner kicking Donegal’s final score.
DONEGAL: Eoin O Boyle, Kaolan Mc Monagle, James Kelly, Cian Doherty, Odhran Duggan, Conor O’Donnell ( Dungloe), Shane O Donnell 0-1, Ciaran Doherty, Jamie Crawford, Oisín Bonner 0-3, Ben Bradley 0-1, Peter Mc Eniff, Danny Gallagher, Mark Mc Ateer 0-2 , Conor O Donnell ( St. Eunans). Subs used; Shane O Donnell, Ian Campbell, Matthew Mc Kenna.