Donegal’s Nickey Rackard hopes died in the last ten minutes of a tough encounter in Páirc Colmcille, Carrickmore this afternoon with the home side hitting the last four scores of the game to book their place against Roscommon next Saturday. It all went wrong for Donegal early on when Tyrone’s early Damien Casey goal gave the home side a lead they held until the 60th minute. With Casey converting 8 first half frees alongside a couple from play Tyrone led by 1-11 to 0-8 at the break. Donegal had sufficient chances but their radar was way off with twelve wides and two sliotars straight to the keeper in the first 35 minutes.
Early in the second half, things did not get much better with Tyrone hitting the first two scores to open up and eight point lead. Points from Daire O’Maoileidigh and Ruari Campbell started the second-half scoreboard ticking for Donegal and when the boot of Richie Ryan reduced the gap to four 1-14 to 1-10 Donegal were back in the game. With substitutes Campbell, Liam McKinney and Bernard Lafferty to the fore by the hour mark the sides were level. Quick-fire points from wing-back Chris Kearns and yet another free from Damien Casey halted the visitors momentum and while Donegal had further chances including a good goal opportunity they failed to score again and an insurance point late in additional time from a Casey sideline cut left four points in it 1-22 to 1-18.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Sat 14th May
