Tyrone boosted their chances of avoiding joining Derry in being relegated from Division One of the Allianz Football League as they defeated an understrength Donegal 0-25 to 0-19 in Letterkenny.
Michael Murphy was in the Donegal line-up that took to the field at O’Donnell Park but Mark Curran, Hugh McFadden, Jamie Brennan and Niall O’Donnell were the only starters retained from the win over Derry two weeks ago.
Murphy’s early brilliance helped the home side initially keep pace with the Red Hands but the visitors hit the final three scores of the first half to lead 0-12 to 0-7 with Ciaran Daly notching his second score after the hooter after a Donegal attack had broken down.
A Niall Morgan two-point free helped Tyrone stretch their advantage to 0-17 to 0-8 as they dominated the 10 minutes after the resumption.
Caolan McColgan and Odhran Doherty two-pointers helped cut Tyrone’s advantage to 0-20 to 0-16 with 17 minutes left but Morgan’s second placed-ball two-pointer was a steadying score for the Red Hands.
Tyrone managed the game well in the closing stages as points from the impressive Mattie Donnelly and substitutes Seanie O’Donnell and Darren McCurry kept Donegal at bay.
Murphy was forced off with seven minutes to play and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he had picked up a knock.
The 2012 All-Ireland-winning skipper looked sharp early on as he battled with Tyrone full-back Peter Teague, who also got on the scoresheet for his side in the first half.
Despite the Football Review Committee’s midweek rule change aimed at curbing the 12v11 situation in attack, Tyrone keeper Morgan still regularly ventured into the Donegal half although he also stood tall in the own goals to beat away a Charles McGuinness first-half goal chance.
Despite having a better scoring difference than Armagh, who also have five league points, Tyrone remain in the relegations positions by dint of the All-Ireland champions’ win over them in round two going into the final round of fixtures next weekend.
Tyrone thus will have to avoid defeat against Dublin in Omagh to have any chance of avoiding the drop while Armagh will host relegated Derry.
Kerry are also not safe as they sit on six points and neither are Mayo on seven despite their win at Celtic Park on Sunday.
Donegal slip to third place in the table behind Galway and Dublin, with all three sides on eight points, and Jim McGuinness’ side face Mayo in Castlebar next weekend.
