Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-10:A superb injury time save from Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan after Martin Penrose shot through traffic saw the Ulster champions return to this year's final after an absorbing encounter.
The superb conditioning of Jim McGuinness’s men saw them gradually pull clear of Tyrone in the last quarter. Colm McFadden landed an outstanding point in the 63rd minute to push Donegal four points and won several key frees for his team.
McFadden was sent off after receiving a second yellow late in the game and watched Tyrone press hard for a goal through the nail-biting final seconds. “I would have preferred to have been out there,” he said afterwards. “My heart was in my mouth.”
Two quick points early in the second half from Rory Kavanagh enabled Donegal to establish control of the game. Tyrone landed several excellent points from distance n a first half that was intensely tactical, with a heavy emphasis on defence.
Donegal lost fullback Neil McGee to a hamstring injury in the third minute and had further readjust to Mickey Harte’s innovative alignment, which blocked the attacking passages which Jim McGuinness’s men had exploited in their win against Derry.
Tyrone led by 0-6 to 0-5 at half time but a half hour period in the second half when they failed to score left them trailing by four as the game entered its last ten minutes. Despite a gallant push, they were squeezed out by Donegal at this stage for the second year in succession.