A second-half burst by Tyrone condemned Donegal’s Under-17s to defeat in Strabane this afternoon in the Ulster Minor League.
Donegal 1-9 Tyrone 1-11
By Charlie Collins in Strabane
Gary Duffy’s team, thanks to a Johnny McGroddy goal from a penalty, led by three points at half-time, but were outscored by eight points to three in the second half.
Paul O’Hare had a big chance of a second Donegal goal two minutes into the second half, but he just missed out on getting a touch on a Senan Rooney ball across, after great work by Eoin Dowling.
Daithi Roberts and McGroddy had Donegal five up by the 36th minute, but Tyrone hit back.
Oran McGrath, Ethan Neill and Sean Donnelly inched them back and they were the much stronger side in the last quarter.
Mark Devlin, Ruairi Campbell and Ronan McHugh levelled things up and the Red Hands took the lead for the first time four minutes from the end via Michael Quinn. Luke Donnelly’s late free sealed the win.
Donegal began with two points from McGroddy before a Tyrone goal rocked Gary Duffy’s boys back on their heels as Mark Devlin beat Daithi Roberts, the Donegal goalkeeper, with a super finish in the fifth minute.
The end-to-end start continued as Donegal hit back in perfect fashion, McGroddy netting from a penalty following a foul on Jamie Grant.
Shay Daly levelled for Tyrone, but with Rooney, Dowling – with two wonderful long-range points – and Rooney again on target, Donegal led 1-6 to 1-3 at the interval.
Donegal: Daithi Roberts (0-2f); Conor Roarty, Kieran Tobin, Ryan McShane; Conor Coyle, Jack Gallagher, Ciaran Moore; Eoin Dowling (0-2), Kealan Dunleavy; Richard O’Rourke, Johnny McGroddy (1-3, 2f), Carlos O’Reilly; Jamie Grant, Senan Rooney (0-2), Paul O’Hare. Subs: Eric Carr for Rooney (52), Shane Whyte for O’Rourke (45), Luke Doherty for O’Hare (58).
Tyrone: Stephen McMenamin; Conor Cuddy, Michael Quinn (0-1), Michael McCann; Aran McGrath, Niall Devlin, James Donaghy; Shay Gallagher, Ruairi Campbell (0-1); Packie Quinn, Shay Daly (0-1), Conor McGillion; Oran McGrath (0-1), Mark Devlin (1-2), Ronan McHugh (0-1). Subs: Ethan Neill (0-1) for Quinn (39), Sean Donnelly (0-1) for McGillion (39), Ruairi Canavan for McGrath (45), Shay Quinn for McHugh (55), Luke Donnelly (0-1f) for Donaghy (60), SP McKernan for Devlin (60).
Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)
