Its often been said that championship games can turn on the slightest thing. A breathtaking score, an inspirational block or a miss. Well on Saturday last it was the latter that inspired Donegal to come back from the dead and once again prove to be Tyrone’s nemesis in the Ulster minor championship.
Tyrone had dominated for long periods and led by eight points with fifteen minutes to go.. Donegal pulled them back to six but then Claire McAlliskey rattled the crossbar. A goal then and it was, as Tyrone joint manager Michaela O’Neill suggested the end for the visitors to Healy Park.
“ We looked drained in the extra-time, the adrenalin was pumping for Donegal once Claire hit the crossbar, that was the turning point for us, we led by six if that had have went in it was nine with seven odd minutes left, game over, but Tyrone will bounce back” Donegal it is then who will meet Monaghan in this weekends Ulster minor final. But into the last quarter against Tyrone, it certainly didn’t look that was the pairing.
The Kenny Griffin managed Donegal side indeed looked dead and buried, They trailed by eight points but somehow turned it around with Niamh Hegarty once again proving to be the catalyst in there revival.
An eight-point deficit turned   into a ten-point victory with one of ladies footballs greatest ever turnarounds. Plenty of drama but heartbreak for Tyrone who must have thought the final berth was secured.In perfect conditions Tyrone were 0-5 to 0-3 down before two quick goals turned the game in their favour. Senior squad members Sarah Connolly and Claire McAlliskey found the net and 0-2 from Connolly added too by 0-2 from Jolene Donnelly put Tyrone 2-5 to 0-7 in front.

In the third quarter they increased their dominance to eight points. Drumquins Sarah Louise McLaughlin netting her first goal of the season with McAlliskey and Donnelly getting points. Donegal had threatened at times in that spell but solid defending from McGillion , Hunter and Kelly as well as a brave save from Sinead McVeigh kept the Tyrone advantage. Turning points though often come in strange forms and the crossbar proved to be the defining factor in this game. Claire McAlliskey rattled the Donegal crossbar on twenty-four minutes and that signalled the Donegal revival. Niamh Hegarty scored a goal and two points in that last couple of minutes and the sides finished level with extra time looming.

It was gut wrenching as Tyrone tried in vain to get a vital last gasp score. Credit though to the reigning champions, they marshalled Connolly and the entire forward unit as Tyrone pressed with Donnelly and Woods firing in the supply.There was no doubt though admitted Kenny Griffin the Donegal manager that his side had the edge mentally going into the extra time.

“ Our girls had just bounced back from eight points down, they went into the break before extra time bursting to get back out, I noticed the Tyrone heads were down and we had the edge” That was indeed the way it panned out too. Moville club member Hegarty hit two goals in the first period of extra time Aileen Ward added a third and there was just no way back for Tyrone. Laura McGreesh did manage a point but it was an almost impossible task. Second period points from Feeney and Hegarty compounded the Tyrone misery.  Michaela O’Neill joint Tyrone manager felt the comeback had done it for Donegal. “ It was hard for us in extra time, Donegal just had the edge and pressed home the advantage”

Tyrone will only lose around ten or so from this panel because of age next season and the determined effort for them is to secure an Ulster title at this grade .

This Saturday though it will be Monaghan and Donegal who will battle it out, it would be hard though to see past Donegal after Saturday’s performance.