DONEGAL AND TYRONE enter the white-heat of battle in the Ulster SFC final at Clones on Sunday.
Donegal have won five out of the last six meetings – 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013 and then last year – with Tyrone winning 2-15 to 1-7 in the 2007 Ulster semi-final in Clones. Here’s the best of those Donegal victories.
[adrotate group=”53″]In 2004, Tyrone were the defending All-Ireland champions having defeated Armagh in the final the previous September. Brian McEniff’s Donegal, despite the sending off of Niall McCready in the first half caused something of a shock in Clones with Colm McFadden excelling in the Ulster SFC semi-final. The St Michael’s forward scored 1-7 in the 1-11 to 0-9 win.
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By 2011, Tyrone under Mickey Harte had three All-Ireland titles and five Ulsters under their belt but Jim McGuinness’s appointment in Donegal saw something of a sea change. And although Tyrone led 0-6 to 0-1 at one stage in the first half, goals from Colm McFadden and Dermot Molloy sealed a 2-6 to 0-9 victory in the Ulster semi-final as Donegal went onto win the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time in 19 years.
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A year later, in 2012, Donegal were on their way to winning the Sam Maguire for only the second time. Arguably their toughest test that year came in the Ulster semi-final against Tyrone. The Red Hands were 0-6 to 0-5 up at half-time but Donegal went ahead with Ryan Bradley and Rory Kavanagh coming up on top at midfield. Jim McGuinness’s team ended up winning 0-12 to 0-10 in Clones but were indebted to Paul Durcan’s brilliant late save to deny Martin Penrose.
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As All-Ireland champions, in the Ulster SFC preliminary round of 2013 Donegal continued to have the Indian Summer over Tyrone. A first half goal from Colm McFadden set Donegal on their way in Ballybofey before substitute Ross Wherity slapped home a second goal after the break from a centre from Patrick McBrearty. Donegal were 2-10 to 0-10 winners.
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There was no meeting in 2014 but once again in 2015, Tyrone had to make the journey to Ballybofey in the Ulster SFC preliminary round. Rory Gallagher was now the man at the helm for Donegal but he kept the winning streak going. Darren McCurry’s early Tyrone goal was cancelled out before half-time when Martin McElhinney swept home a Donegal goal in what turned into a 1-13 to 1-10 win for Gallagher’s side.
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