Allianz Football League: Tyrone boost hopes of avoiding drop by beating understrength Donegal
Tyrone increases chances of avoiding joining Derry When they beat Donegal of intensity 0-25 to 0-19 at Letterkenny.
Michael Murphy was on the Donegal roster at O’Donnell Park, but Mark Curran, Hugh McFadden, Jamie Brennan and Niall O’Donnell were the only starters to beat Derry two weeks ago.
Murphy’s early talent initially helped keep home in sync with the red hand, but the visitors led 0-12-0-7 in the final third of the first half, while Ciaran Daly scored a second point after Hooter after the Donegal attack.
Niall Morgan’s two-point free, Tyrone dominated their advantage within 10 minutes of recovery, improving to 0-17.
Caolan McColgan and Odhran Doherty cut Tyrone’s advantage to 0-20 to 0-16 with 17 minutes left, but Morgan’s second-shot two-pointer was a steady score for the Red Hand.
With impressive Mattie Donnelly’s score and substitute for Seanie O’Donnell and Darren McCurry, Tyrone did a good job in the ending phase.
Murphy was forced to play for seven minutes and it is not clear whether he had knocked on the door.
When he fought Tyrone defender Peter Teague, the captain, who won in 2012 in All Ireland, looked sharp when fighting Tyrone’s defender Peter Teague in the first half.
Despite the mid-week rule changes of the Football Review Board aimed at curbing the 12V11 situation in the attack, Tyrone goalkeeper Morgan still often ventures into the half of Donegal, although he also stood in his own goal, beating Charles McGuinness for a first-half goal.
Despite the better score difference with Armagh, who also scored five league points, Tyrone entered the second round of the final round next weekend with the All-Ireland champions defeating their victory in the second round.
Therefore, Tyrone will have to avoid a downfall in Omagh’s defeat against Dublin, while Armagh will host the downgraded Derry.
Kerry is also not safe as they sat for six points and Mayo didn’t have seven points despite winning Sunday at Celtic Park.
Donegal is third in the table behind Galway and Dublin, with eight points in all three aspects, and next weekend Jim McGuinness is the side of Mayo.
