Donegal lead Tyrone by two points on a scoreline of 1-08 to 1-06 at half-time in their Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey.

Defending champions Donegal proved too good for Mickey Harte’s side in the opening period and raced into a four point lead.

However, Tyrone fought to take the lead only for Donegal to dramatically regain the lead seconds from the end of the half.

Frank McGlynn fired Rory Gallagher’s ahead after only 30 before a fine solo run resulted in Patrick McBrearty doubling the lead two minutes later before Christy Toye extended the lead with a fine score from distance in the fifth minute.

Martin McElhinney put four between the sides when he finished off a brilliant team move in the eighth minute

Almost immediately Tyrone got their first score of the game when Darren McCurry took advantage of poor marking in the Donegal defence to find the back of the net when left one on one with Paul Durcan.

Colm McFadden (pictured) fired over from 25 yards as Donegal hit back three minutes later and a long distance point from McElhinney put three between the sides after 14 minutes.
Justin McMahon reacted quickest to a brilliant save by Durcan to reduce the deficit in the 20th minute.

Sean Cavanagh reduced the deficit when he converted a free in the 27th minute.

Toye put two points behind the sides once more when he opted to punch the ball over the bar when he had an opportunity to find the net in the 28th minute.

Cavanagh reduced the deficit almost immediately with an excellent free before points from Mattie Donnelly and Cavanagh (2) saw Tyrone turn the game on its head to go in at the break in the lead.

McElhinney pounced in added time to drive low into the corner of the net before McFadden fired over to put two between the sides on a scoreline of 1-08 to 1-06.

Players on both sides squared up to each other as they left the field as tensions rise ahead of the second period.

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