Donegal retain Dr McKenna Cup

February 1st, 2010

donegal-mckennacup-2010 Donegal retained the Barrett Sports Lighting McKenna Cup after edging out Tyrone in the Brewster Park decider.

It was a tight first-half but Tyrone took the last two points to go in 0-9 to 0-7 ahead at the break.

The gap increased to four before Red Hands forward Stephen O’Neill suffered a dislocated elbow, which will keep him out for at least three months.

Donegal fought back to level and David Walsh netted deep into added time to ensure a narrow victory.

Tommy McGuigan and Kyle Coney scored the final points of the first half to give Tyrone a two-point lead at half-time.

O’Neill, who fired over three first-half points, sustained his injury after colliding with team-mate Kevin Hughes early in the second half.

After 10 minutes of treatment he was taken off the field by an ambulance.

Donegal clawed the four points back but Tyrone went ahead again thanks to a superb point from Niall Gormley.

Walsh pounced on a loose ball and shot low into the net in the ninth minute of injury-time.

The Reds Hands managed to make it a one-point game but time ran out and it was a second straight success in the competition for Donegal.

There was some good news for Tyrone after the match as manager Mickey Harte revealed that captain Brian Dooher is expected to return for the National League campaign.

Report: bbc.co.uk/ni

Video:

Donegal captain Kevin Cassidy receives the Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup from Ulster President Tom Daly after defeating Tyrone in Enniskillen:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fGgQUGV0qE[/youtube]

Colm McFadden says victory for Donegal over Tyrone in a Final is a first for him, so winning the Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup on Saturday in Enniskillen was a welcome boost ahead of the National League:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNPTo5g9OEo[/youtube]

Donegal’s winning Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup captain says the victory was for the fans who travelled far and wide in support of their team:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EEktgX3VLo[/youtube]