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Tyrone crowned Ulster champions after narrow victory over Donegal

Peter Harte's late score from range earned Tyrone their first Ulster crown since 2010 as they bea...



Tyrone crowned Ulster champion...
Football

Tyrone crowned Ulster champions after narrow victory over Donegal

Peter Harte's late score from range earned Tyrone their first Ulster crown since 2010 as they beat Donegal by 13 points to 11 in Clones this afternoon.

The match itself lived up to it's billing, with both sides set-up defensively and the compact back-lines forced forwards from both sides to kick from range.

Early shooting did little to inspire, each team racked up three wides in the opening 10 minutes. Tyrone took an early lead thanks to efforts from Niall Morgan and Cathal McShane.

Donegal managed to find their rhythm as Michael Murphy, Patrick McBrearty and Odhrán Mac Niallais all found their range.

Ryan McHugh in particular, who pointed himself, was involved in five of Donegal's seven points as they went in leading by three at the break.

They were also aided by the dismissal of Mattie Donnelly and Cathal McShane in the opening half. Donnelly was dismissed for a collision with Eoin McHugh, while McShane was saw the line after a kick out at one of the Donegal defenders while he was one the ground.

Donegal picked up where they left off at the beginning of the second period, McBrearty sending one over almost instantly from the throw-in. 

Tyrone then began to pick up the momentum, they scored the next three points and Sean Cavanagh's effort to cut the gap to a solitary point was the boost that Mickey Harte's side needed.

The play was patient and possession based, with both sides happy to recycle the ball and execute short handpasses while they waited for an opening.

The opening, it proved, never came for either side in terms of goals and at the hour mark Tyrone had racked up a massive 14 wides from their efforts from distance.

From their it was tit-for-tat, no team went more than one score ahead and after Cavanagh levelled things at 11 points apiece in the dying minutes with a huge hanging effort, Donegal captain Michael Murphy had the chance to put his team ahead from a 45.

His effort was wide and Peter Harte seized the initiative up the other end, shooting from distance and sinking what proved to be the pivotal score. Tyrone turned over possession and added another to secure the victory.

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