VICTORY ALL OF A SLUDDEN
Red Hands back to winning ways as Niall’s goal edges them near safety
GOALS either side of half-time helped Tyrone to a deserved six point win over Ulster rivals Donegal at Healy Park last night.
The visitors led for most of the first half but a late major from Niall Sludden (right, with Jamie Brennan) put the Ulster champions in front for the first time and a 1-5 to 0-7 interval advantage.
Mark Bradley found the net just after the restart as well and Tyrone were well on their way to victory.
Donegal were missing division one top scorer Paddy Mcbrearty due to injury.
Odhran Macniallais opened the scoring with a fine effort for Donegal but Tyrone responded with a superb 40m point from forward Bradley.
Donegal though were looking the sharper side and quality efforts from Mark Mchugh and Macniallais gave them a deserved 0-3 to 0-1 advantage.
Sludden replied for Tyrone but back came the visitors with Michael Murphy converting a free and corner back Eoghan Ban Gallagher getting forward to hit a fabulous score.
Brennan and Murphy swapped points before Brennan replied for Tyrone. Niall Sludden then won a penalty but Peter Harte sent the spot kick wide with Donegal goalkeeper Sean Patton lucky to escape a black card.
On the stroke of half time though a Padraig Mcnulty placed Sludden for a goal.
The second half was only two minutes old when Bradley traded passes with Cathal Mcshane before he finished in style and the hosts never looked back. Mcaliskey added two frees and keeper Niall Morgan left seven between the sides from a free before Donegal hit back when a flowing move ended with Macniallais palming the ball to the net from close range.
It was very much game on again with substitute Stephen Mcbrearty leaving a score between them before a great score from distance from Hugh Mcfadden closed it to two.
Tyrone didn’t panic and the accurate Brennan knocked over another free before the hard working Cathal Mcshane then weighed in with a fine point.
Peter Harte drilled the ball over the bar before Brennan brought the scoring to a close with his fifth score of the night, a fourth from a free to open up daylight between Tyrone and the bottom two.