Harte comes up trumps as Tyrone deal Donegal defeat in Ballybofey

Peter Harte came off the bench to hit a brilliant late two-pointer that helped Tyrone to seal a hugely impressive 2-17 to 0-20 victory over neighbours Donegal in Ballybofey this evening.

After the hosts had started brightly by sending over the first two points of the game, they were rocked after those were wiped out by Seanie O’Donnell’s fisted goal for the Red Hands in the ninth minute.

O’Donnell would repeat the trick a dozen minutes later and, while Donegal got it level, the scores of Mark Bradley, Darren McCurry (a two-pointer) and Kieran McGeary moved Malachy O’Rourke’s men towards a 2-7 to 0-11 lead at half-time.

Ciaran Thompson reduced the Ulster champions’ arrears to one early on in resumption prior to Ben McDonnell and McCurry (3, 2 frees) stretching the Tyrone lead out to five points by the 51st minute.

Darren McCurry puts @TyroneGAALive 4⃣up in Ballybofey against @officialdonegal #DONVTYR pic.twitter.com/EM8aLIP2Ik

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 24, 2025

Jim McGuinness’s side responded well as Michael Murphy’s two-pointer from a free was backed up by Michael Langan sailing one over from outside the arc, with the minutes that followed seeing O’Rourke introduce two-time All-Star Harte and U20 ace Eoin McElholm to the fray.

Donegal levelled through Langan on the hour mark and he’d square matters again after Ciaran Daly had fisted over the visitors’ 12th point of the evening.

Substitute Patrick McBrearty shot the Tir Chonaill men in front a minute afterwards with his side’s fifth two-pointer of the game prior to a brace of Darragh Canavan points (one from a free) levelling the sides for the fourth time.

Harte came up with a huge two-pointer for the Red Hands down the home stretch and Cormac Quinn would add what proved to be the insurance point as O’Rourke’s men secured themselves the hard fought victory.

Group 1⃣ Just became even more interesting in the Football Championship 🏆@officialdonegal 0-20@TyroneGAALive 2-17

Watch the highlights here 🎥 #DONVTYR pic.twitter.com/LAQQ4HurIf

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 24, 2025