DONEGAL CAUGHT RED-HANDED

Tyrone earn fighting chance to beat drop

- BY CHRIS McNULTY

TYRONE gave themselves a fighting chance of staying in Division 1 with victory over an understrength Donegal in Letterkenny.

Goalkeeper Niall Morgan starred as Malachy O'Rourke's men had six points to spare.

Morgan aced a pair of two-point frees in the second half as Tyrone, for now at least, avoided making the drop.

With 15 minutes to go, Donegal — who made 11 changes to their line-up were within five points having trailed by nine.

Mattie Donnelly and Seanie O'Donnell stretched that lead before Donegal sub Eoin McHugh rattled the crossbar.

After Galway fought back to draw with Tyrone two weeks ago, Red Hands boss O'Rourke arrived in O'Donnell Park knowing his men needed to win or Division 2 would call.

"All of our games are knock-out games so we can't sort of chop and change and not worry about the result," O'Rourke said.