Donegal 0-21 Tyrone 0-14 as it happened: Jim McGuinness’ men too strong for Ulster rivals (2024)

Jim McGuinness impressed with his team's honesty

"Delighted that the team were able to express themselves tonight," he said.

"They played with that confidence you get from winning an Ulster title. It's obviously only one game in the group, but it sets us up nicely."

"They brought a lot of defensive intensity in the second half. They're a bit weary in there now."

Michael Murphy impressed with Donegal

"That was brilliant," says Michael Murphy.

"It was all Donegal.

"Tyrone had a bit of a purple patch but Donegal ground them down.

"They found Tyrone's weak spots, the cracks started to appear and when they did, it was an avalanche."

"Everybody knows their exact roles what they're doing, defensively when they don't have the ball and offensively when they do have it," he continued.

"It might be predictable but they're doing it so well and they're so in-sync that it's so hard to stop. The added bonus of being Ulster champions also gives them confidence."

"But they will not be getting carried away. They'll be keeping a lid on things. One day at a time. You seen the way they got off the pitch quick today," he added.

A reality-check for Tyrone

"It's going to be tough for themselves to pick themselves up," says GAAGO commentator Aaron Kernan.

"It's a reality check for them in terms of where they are in the pecking order."

Kernan still feels that they will qualify in the group in second place however.

That was a brilliant performance from Donegal, who close out the game with ease to win by seven.

Peadar Mogan was the star of the show with three points from play from wing back but this was a team effort.

Oisin Gallen, Shane O'Donnell and Ryan McHugh amongst others, were outstanding as the Jim McGuinness effect continues to take hold.

There's a pitch invasion in Ballybofey but the Donegal players are all running off the field towards the dressing rooms as a sign perhaps, that they've bigger fish to fry.

Cathal McShane wins the free which Darragh Canavan slots over.

It'll be too little too late, with four minutes of added time to play.

Their fitness is telling now.

Donegal continue to take the sting out of the game with some composed play. But then they go like a flash. Sub Odhran Doherty breaks the line this time and slices over off the outside of the boot.

Their direct lines of running has been very impressive throughout, and it's something Tyrone can't deal with.

It looks like an insurance score at this stage.

Donegal take the sting out of the game with a passage of slow, composed play.

It looks like they're only running down the clock but suddenly, Peadar Mogan comes off the shoulder with an injection of pace.

He cuts through to chip over his third point from play, capping off a brilliant individual display.

Tyrone are now ten minutes without a score, with Donegal locking this game down impressively.

The Tyrone fans in the crowd are booing after Joe McQuillan gives them a soft free. Brian Dooher isn't happy either.

Niall Morgan had made an inspirational catch under a dangerous dropping ball but McQuillan calls the play back to give a free in for a reason that remains unclear.

Inspirational from McGeary.

He kicks his third point of the day after some good link-up play in the Tyrone attack.

What a score.

Mogan shows incredible pace to cut through the heart of the Tyrone defence. He then shows composure in front of the goals to curl over off the left, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Marvellous score from Devlin.

He shows tremendous foot-work to create the space for himself, and slots over to keep Tyrone in the game.