Donegal through to Ulster Final

Ulster GAA Senior Football Championship Semi-final:
Donegal 2-6 Tyrone 0-9

A last gasp goal from Dermot Molloy sealed Donegal’s passage to the Ulster GAA Football Championship final.

Tyrone were comfortably in the lead throughout the game but everything changed when Colm McFadden rattled home Donegal’s first goal of the afternoon on 56 minutes.

A late change was made to Mickey Harte’s team when Martin Penrose was withdrawn due to flu and was replaced by Owen Mulligan, who he had an immediate impact with a score inside the opening minute.

It could have got even better for Red Hands when they looked to have an early goal chance. Seán Cavanagh was dragged down by Rory Kavanagh outside the square with the goal at his mercy. Canvanagh slotted over the free, and Philip Jordan and Brian Dooher chipped in with further scores as they raced into a four point lead.

It took 15 minutes before Donegal opened their account, and it came from the young star Paddy McBrearty. Tyrone continued to pressure and they never looked troubled as the long balls being played into Michael Murphy were not up to their usual standard.

Harte’s men extended their lead through Stephen O’Neill and looked to be only one team in it with a score line of 0-1 to 0-6. However Donegal managed to rack up further scores from Kevin Rafferty, McFadden and Kevin Cassidy to send the sides in at the break 0-4 to 0-6.

Murphy got himself off the mark after fine work from Cassidy and his score left just a single point between the teams.

Tyrone did extend their lead but the game completely turned around when McFadden got the game’s first goal. Youngster McBrearty, who was proving to be a handful, combined well with Murphy. The Donegal captain then hit a brilliant pass to find Karl Lacey and he set up McFadden to fire high into the Tyrone net.

The game got even better for Jim McGuinness’ men when Tyrone were reduced to 14 men after Kevin Hughes received a second yellow for his tackle on Michael Hegarty.

Peter Harte and Ryan McMenamin both wasted good chances for Tyrone with the game nearing an end. But a draw looked to be on the cards when sub Martin Penrose restored parity in the first minute of injury-time.

But Martin Swift was guilty of fooling around with the ball in his own defence and his mistake led to an incredible end. Second half sub Dermot Molloy dispossessed Swift and he had the choice of taking the easy option and going for point. But he made sure of the win by blasting his effort into the net, even though Tyrone keeper Pascal McConnell almost did enough to keep out the ball.

Tyrone: P McConnell, M Swift, J McMahon, R McMenamin, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh, B Dooher, B McGuigan, P Harte, O Mulligan, M Donnelly, S O’Neill. Subs: M Penrose for Mulligan (51), T McGuigan for B McGuigan (62), A Cassidy for O’Neill (62), C Cavanagh for Dooher (68)

Donegal: P Durcan, K Lacey, N McGee, P McGrath, F McGlynn, A Thompson, K Cassidy, R Kavanagh, K Rafferty, M McElhinney, M McHugh, R Bradley, P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden. Subs: M Hegarty for McElhinney (23), L McLoone for Bradley (45), D Molloy for McLoone (62).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).