Donegal saw off the challenge of Tyrone with a 1-13 to 1-10 win in a nail-biting Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie played in front of a crowd of over 17,400 at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey this afternoon.

Donegal cruised out of the blocks from the throw-in and effortlessly led by four points to nil after eight minutes with scores from play by Frank McGlynn, Patrick McBrearty, Christy Toye and Martin McElhnney.

Against the run of play, Tyrone bridged the gap to a solitary point with a goal from Darren McCurry, but Donegal continued to win the breaking ball around the middle of the park as Colm McFadden and Martin McElhinney took their tally to six points.

As the half passed the midway point, the game began to swing in Tyrone's favour as they committed numbers forward and forced Donegal deeper and deeper into their own half as three scores from Sean Cavanagh and points from Matty Donnelly and Justin McMahon had them two points ahead.

Donegal, playing against the strong wind, found an extra gear at the end of the half as a Martin McElhinney goal and a Colm McFadden point swung the game back in their favour on a scoreline of 1-08 to 1-06 at the break.

Tyrone made the better start to the second period, Cavanagh and Conor McAliskey bringing them level within three minutes.

Patrick McBrearty edged Donegal in front again with a brilliant point in the 43rd minute ahead of Karl Lacey extending the lead three minutes later.

However, two points from McAliskey had the sides level again by the 51st minute.

Donegal were reduced to 14 men in the 64th minute when Neil Gallagher was sent off after he was shown a second yellow card when tangling with Cavanagh who also went into the referee’s book.

Tyrone were reduced to 14 men two minutes later when an ill-disciplined Kavanagh was dismissed after receiving a black card.

Three Michael Murphy frees in the dying minutes wrapped up the game in favour of Rory Gallagher's side.

Donegal will now play Armagh in the first round proper in four weeks time while Tyrone will have to rely on the "back door" qualifiers in their bid to win the All-Ireland title.

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