DONEGAL’S UNDER-17 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD lost out by two points to Tyrone this afternoon in the Ulster Under-17 League.
Donegal 0-08 Tyrone 1-07
PT Cunningham hit 1-3 for Tyrone, but Donegal were architects of their own downfall in many ways, from the way they allowed Cunningham get in for his goal after just eight minutes to their ponderous attacks and sometimes gift-wrapped defence.
It was a day that will have taught Brian McGeehin’s team some harsh, yet valuable lessons going forward.
Donegal had led early in the second half, but after Shay Doherty pointed in the 33rd minute they didn’t troubled the scoreboard operator.
Tyrone pulled clear with Cunningham Cahair Gallagher leveling and it looked liked finishing that way only for Matthew McGuigan, a nephew of the great Frank McGuigan, to keep his cool for the lead point.
It was a chaotic conclusion.
Donegal sub Luke Devlin fired wide and Donegal lost some composure at times when they might have forced themselves back on level terms.
When Ciaran Cuddy was hauled down by Michael McGroary, whi was black carded for his trouble, and Cunningham converted the free, it was curtains for Donegal.
After early points from Doherty and Paul Murphy got the home side off and running, Tyrone got in for a goal that will haunt the Donegal rearguard when they watch the re-run.
Ciaran Brolly off-loaded to Cunningham who rounded Donegal netminder Sean Taylor and, despite the best efforts of full-back Darragh Byrne on the goal-line, he sliced to the back of the net.
Donegal had opened two weeks ago with a nine-point win, 0-13 to 0-4, over Fermanagh on a day when Michael Gallagher hit five points.
Here, Gallagher fired over an early brace for Donegal, but with Cunningham and McGuigan on target, Tyrone held the upper hand.
Donegal got back on an even keel in the 19th minute when Killybegs midfielder Shaun Gorrell boomed over a fine point from distance.
Thomas McGowan slammed Donegal ahead, but a Mark Donnelly free had them all square, 0-6 to 1-3, at the break.
Gallagher, from a free, restored Donegal’s lead and Doherty, from a near-impossible angle out on the right-hand side, close to the endline, raised the roof with a massive point.
Tyrone stayed in touch, though. Cunningham and a Cahair Gallagher free leveled the tie and teed up a grandstand finale with 14 minutes remaining.
Conditions were horrible for the participants. Handling and underfoot conditions were testing, at best, while a deluge at the end of the first half ruined the remainder of the game as a spectacle.
Donegal’s Gallagher screwed a 52nd minute free to the right and wide and it was Tyrone who came out of the pressure cooker on the right side of the scoreline.
They, too, were devoid of composure, but they just had a little bit more than their hosts.
Donegal: Sean Taylor (Aodh Ruadh): Aaron Deeney (St Eunan’s), Darragh Byrne (Naomh Ultan), Danny Walsh (Ardara); Michael McGroary (St Eunan’s), Paul Murphy (Bundoran, 0-1), Ryan McMahon (Milford); James Breslin (Naomh Padraig, Muff), Shaun Gorrell (Killybegs, 0-1); Michael Gallagher (Killybegs, 0-3, 1f), Cian McEniff (Bundoran), Shay Doherty (Letterkenny Gaels, 0-2); Johnny Sweeney (Ardara), Thomas McGowan (Four Masters, 0-1), Shane Gillespie (Kilcar). Subs: Luke Devlin (Urris) for Byrne (44), Barry Gallagher (Termon) for Breslin (47), Patrick Dolan (St Mary’s, Convoy) for Doherty (49), Matthew McGovern (St Eunan’s) for Sweeney (51).
Tyrone: Conor Woods; Ciaran Breen, Conor Quinn, Stephen Talbot; Peadar Mullan, Daniel McGuigan, James Taggart; Ruairi Gormley, Oran Mallon; Ciaran Brolly, PT Cunningham (1-3, 1f), Matthew McGuigan (0-2); Paddy McElduff, Mark Donnelly (0-1, 1f), Liam Hughes. Subs: Ciaran Cuddy for Hughes (39), Daniel Doherty for Brolly (43), James Morgan for McElduff (43), Cahair Gallagher (0-1, 1f) for Donnelly (43), Caolan McCarron for McGuigan (60), Cahair Quinn for Gallagher (black card, 60).
Referee: Dan Mullan (Derry).
