Tyrone 3-16 Donegal 2-16 (AET)
Tyrone survived Donegal's furious comeback in an epic at Celtic Park, but needed extra-time to get over the line and book a meeting with Cavan in the Ulster U20 Football Championship final.
A late Conor Cush goal sealed it for the Red Hands in one of the most enthralling ties seen at this level for several seasons.
Inspired by an imperious midfield performance from Michael McGleenan, they produced enough steel and flair to finally see off Donegal in a memorable encounter.
Donegal didn’t find the lead until extra-time, but they were undone by goals from Niall Devlin and Cush.
Tyrone raced into an early lead, using the advance mark to good effect through Lorcan McGarrity and Ruairi Canavan, before the latter floated over from wide on the right.
Nine minutes had elapsed when Donegal got off the mark through Jonny McGroddy, and they continued to press with a running game, probing for openings through Jack Gallagher, McGroddy and Richard O'Rourke.
But it was a route one approach which gave Bobby McGettigan a scoring chance which he executed, and after 20 minutes, just a point separated the sides, after Ciaran Bogue’s Tyrone point was cancelled out by Keelan Dunleavey.
Another Red Hand flourish produced scores from McGarrity and Canavan, and Donegal were reduced to 14 men for the final ten minutes of the half when defender Kiearn Tobin was shown a black card.
However, they conceded just one point during that closing spell, a Conor Cush effort sending Tyrone in with a 0-08 to 0-04 interval lead.
Canavan pushed the Red Hands out to a five point lead, but Donegal came roaring back for Bobby McGettigan to fire home two goals, and they were right back in it.
Tyrone responded with a goal from substitute Gavin Potter, and led by three going into the final three minutes.
Donegal displayed courage to hit the last three scores, sub Carlos O’Reilly levelling at 1-13 to 2-10 deep into stoppage time.
They went ahead for the first time through McGroddy, but Tyrone responded with a goal from skipper Niall Devlin as an epic contest took another twist.
A 2-15 to 2-14 lead midway through the added stretch had the advantage back in their hands, and it was Cush, just back on the field after being earlier substituted, who sealed it with an 80th minute goal.
Tyrone will now face Cavan who are back in the final for the first time since 2014. They won that decider seven years ago to complete an incredible four in-a-row at the then U21 level, and they'll be hoping that their 0-11 to 0-09 win over Derry is a sign of more underage success to come.
It was a tight affair at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh and with six minutes to go, the sides could not be separated.
However, Damien Donohoe's side finished the stronger with Fionntán O'Reilly (two) and Conor Casey nailing the scores that earned progression.
The sides had been level at the break, 0-05 to 0-05, with O'Reilly impressing for Cavan while Charlie Diamond and imposing midfielder Dan Higgins among the Derry scorers.
Diamon tagged on two frees to move Paddy Bradley's side ahead early in the second half, but Cavan would manage six of the next seven points with another Diamond score late on leaving them two shy at full time.
Tyrone: S McMenamin; M Rafferty, B Conway, E Corry; J Donaghy (0-01), S Donaghy, N Devlin (1-00); R McHugh (0-01), M McGleenan; C Cush (1-01), C Bogue (0-02), C Daly; S O’Donnell, L McGarrity (0-02, 2m), R Canavan (0-07, 4f, 1m).
Subs: G Potter (1-02) for McGarrity, C Devlin for Cush, Cush for Bogue
Donegal: D Roberts; K Tobin (0-01), J Grant, R McShane; C McColgan, J Gallagher, K Dunleavey (0-04); E Dowling (0-03, 2f), D McBride; P O’Hare, J McGroddy (0-03, 1f), E Carr (0-01); B McGettigan (2-02), R O’Rourke, L McGlynn.
Subs: C Moore for Gallagher, C O’Reilly (0-02) for Carr, D McKinney for McBride, D Boyle for O’Hare, O Caulfield for McGlynn, O’Hare for Dunleavey,
Referee: A Marron (Monaghan).
