Tyrone 2-15 Donegal 1-7:Tyrone booked their place in the Ulster SFC final with a thoroughly convincing display which saw Mickey Harte's men simply up the ante in the second period as they dispatched Donegal with ease at Clones this afternoon.
Today's performance will surely make others sit up and take notice as the 2003 and 2005 All-Ireland champions put down a marker, showing their intent that they plan to go all the way this campaign too.
Although Brian Dooher put the first point on the board for Tyrone in the first minute it was Donegal who started the better of the two sides. In fact there was a contentious decision as early as the eighth minute when Colm McFadden collected a long ball over the top before firing past John Devine for what looked like the game's opening goal.
However, the referee blew-up for an earlier infringement and pointed to the spot and disallowed the goal. As fate would have it McFadden stepped up but his effort was saved by Devine. Seconds later Kieren Bonner picked up and secured a consolation point for Donegal from the right side.
Donegal were quickly rewarded for just one minute later Kevin Cassidy picked up just outside Tyrone's left goalpost, and in a busy box, he somehow managed to squeeze the ball into the net with the outside of his left boot. Donegal got what they deserved and led 1-2 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.
From there Donegal strangely took their foot off the pedal while Tyrone remained composed and set about putting points on the board, mainly through Owen Mulligan and Dooher. It was a full 30 minutes before Donegal got their next point as too many wides proved costly. When Mulligan fired over the bar on the half hour mark Tyrone were on level terms at 1-2 to 0-5.
Tyrone forged further ahead after they were awarded a penalty when Paul Durcan clumsily threw the ball to his own player inside the area when he had already gathered to safety from a high cross. Up stepped Colm McCullagh who slotted past Durcan in the 33rd. Even that was a contentious score for it appeared Durcan was distracted by an off the ball incident. The goal stood and Tyrone led 1-6 to 1-2.
Brendan Devenney kicked a free just before halftime to end Donegal's scoreless patch, Donegal trailed 1-6 to 1-3 at the break.
Tyrone then put on a masterclass in the second period and Donegal were no match. Yet again Dooher was first on the score sheet (1-7 to 1-3) before Ciaran Bonner replied for Donegal.
Kevin Hughes was clear on goal but somehow only pointed instead of taking his goal for Tyrone but when McCullagh scored from a free Tyrone were in full flow and opened up a 1-10 to 1-4 lead after 10 minutes of the restart.
Tyrone totally dominated and when Raymond Mulgrew completed a four-man move and fired past Durcan for Tyrone's second goal the writing was on the wall (1-05 to 2-11). Tyrone had upped the pace and Donegal had no answer as Dooher was the mainstay, pulling the strings all over the park.
Donegal's frustrations were epitomised when McFadden connected cleanly with a punch to Dooher's face when the Donegal man had already been awarded a free in front of goal. In a congested exchange McFadden struck Dooher and the referee was left with no option but to send him off.
Seconds later Harte took the decision to take Tyrone's talisman Dooher off for the contest was over and the hard work was done.
Kevin McMenamin became the second Donegal player to be sent off when he needlessly struck out in an off the ball incident in injury time before Mulgrew scored the final point of the game as Tyrone powered their way past Donegal 2-15 to 1-7.
The Red Hands will now take on either Monaghan or Derry in the Ulster final on July 15th.
In the day's other early throw-in Wexford ran out 0-16 to 2-8 winners against Louth in the Leinster SFC Quarter-final at Croke Park.