Tyrone took a significant step towards securing their Division One status with a vital six-point victory over Donegal in Letterkenny, in front of a crowd of 8,410.
With survival on the line, Malachy O’Rourke’s side produced a determined display to over-come a much-rotated Donegal team, who had already guaranteed their place in next sea-son’s top flight.
Despite fielding a weakened side, Donegal remained competitive for long stretches, aided by Michael Murphy’s first start since 2022.
However, Tyrone’s experience told in the latter stages, ensuring they took maximum points ahead of next weekend’s crunch clash with Dublin in Omagh.
A key turning point arrived 11 minutes from full-time when Murphy played a precise pass to substitute Eoin McHugh, whose effort cannoned off the crossbar. Tyrone capitalised on the let-off almost immediately, with Darren McCurry curling over an important point to ease any nerves and keep their survival hopes alive heading into the final round.
Knowing they needed a result to avoid being dragged into the relegation zone, Tyrone made a sharp start, with Darragh Canavan and goalkeeper Niall Morgan – later named Man of the Match – getting them off the mark within the opening four minutes.
Donegal boss Jim McGuinness made wholesale changes to his side, resting key players af-ter securing their top-tier status for 2026. Only Mark Curran, Hugh McFadden, Jamie Bren-nan, and Niall O’Donnell retained their starting spots from the team that defeated Derry two weeks earlier.
The first 25 minutes were evenly contested, with the teams level four times. However, Ty-rone took control in the final 10 minutes of the half, outscoring their hosts by five points to one. Murphy and Brennan led Donegal’s scoring with three points apiece, while Brennan came close to a goal in the 14th minute, his fierce shot narrowly clearing Morgan’s cross-bar.
Tyrone’s growing dominance was evident when Ciaran Daly and Mark Bradley, who re-turned to the squad at O’Rourke’s request during the winter, slotted over successive points to put the Red Hands 0-9 to 0-6 ahead. Though Brennan briefly reduced the deficit, Tyrone finished the half strongly, with a Bradley free and a fine strike from Kieran McGeary extending their advantage to 0-11 to 0-7.
Donegal had a golden opportunity for a goal just before half-time when Charles McGuinness forced a save from Morgan. However, with the ball still in play after the hooter sounded, Daly reacted quickest to stretch Tyrone’s lead to 0-12 to 0-7 at the interval.
Having let a late lead slip against Galway in their previous outing, Tyrone were determined to avoid a repeat. Donegal, too, had shown resilience in recent weeks, overturning an eight-point deficit to beat Derry, meaning the second half remained finely poised.
Morgan extended Tyrone’s advantage with a pinpoint long-range free in the 40th minute, making it 0-16 to 0-8. Additional points from Peter Harte, Michael McKernan, and Brian Kennedy saw the visitors step up a gear.
Even with several first-choice players missing, Donegal refused to fold. A superb cross-field pass from O’Donnell found Caolan McColgan, who struck a well-taken two-pointer. Further scores from Kevin McGettigan, Finnbarr Roarty, and Odhrán Doherty reduced the gap to just four points with 20 minutes remaining.
However, another well-struck Morgan free gave Tyrone further breathing space, before the goalkeeper demonstrated his all-round influence by soaring to claim a high catch that launched an attack finished by Seanie O’Donnell, putting the visitors 0-24 to 0-17 ahead.
Late efforts from Ciaran Moore and McHugh offered Donegal some consolation, while Jonny Carlin and Keelan McGroddy made their senior debuts from the bench. Nonetheless, Tyrone saw out the game comfortably, securing a crucial win to keep their fight for survival alive.
Scorers – Donegal: M Murphy 0-4 (1f), J Brennan 0-4, C McColgan and O Doherty 0-2 (2p), C Moore 0-2, H McFadden, K McGettigan, F Roarty, M Curran, E McHugh 0-1 each. Tyrone: N Morgan 0-5 (2x2p frees), D Canavan and M Bradley 0-4 (2f), M Donnelly 0-3, C Daly 0-2, P Teague, K McGeary, P Harte, M McKernan, B Kennedy, S O’Donnell, D McCurry 0-1 each.
Donegal: G Mulreany; M Curran, K McGettigan, P Mogan; O McFadden Ferry, F Roarty, C McColgan; H McFadden, D Mac Giolla Bhríde; J Brennan, J Mac Ceallabhuí, O Doherty; C McGuinness, M Murphy, N O’Donnell. Subs: E McHugh for Mac Ceallabhui (HT), C Moore for McColgan (48), K McGroddy for McGuinness (48), L McGlynn for Doherty (54), J Carlin for Murphy (63).
Tyrone: N Morgan; A Clarke, P Teague, N Devlin; M McKernan, R Brennan, J Oguz; B Kenne-dy, C Kilpatrick; M Donnelly, K McGeary, C Daly; P Harte, M Bradley, D Canavan. Subs: S O’Donnell for Oguz (48), C Quinn for McGeary (51), R Canavan for Harte (51), D McCurry for Bradley (57), S O’Hare for McKernan (67).
Referee: P Faloon (Down)