Five seasons is a long time in the Red Hand county without so much as an Ulster final appearance but, on Sunday, they put that right.
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Holders Derry lost their grip on the Ulster Minor Football trophy when they were defeated by two points by Donegal in the this year’s final played at Clones this afternoon.
The game only began to open up in those closing stages, after more than an hour of tactical, caluclated defending on the part of both sides.
Ryan McHugh was also instrumental in Donegal’s first and last points of the half.
And after Murphy missed a free four minutes into added time for the lead, Tyrone kicked for home and Harte and McGeary proved the heroes for the new Ulster champions.
Donnelly walked after taking down Eoin McHugh with a late challenge, while McShane’s hand-trip on Eamonn McGee was also punished by referee David Coldrick.
That three point gap remained Derry’s advantage for the first 20 minutes.
The Red Hands then continued to eat away at the deficit with efforts from Harte and Seán Cavanagh and there was just a point between the sides after 45 minutes.
With sublime late points from Peter Harte and substitute Kieran McGeary finally sealing a white hot encounter. But they then failed to score for the next 21 minutes as Tyrone worked their way back into the game to level when Niall Morgan landed his second long-range free.
The game had belatedly caught fire, and a breathtaking finale from the Red Hands saw them force turnovers and nail the scores that were to bring back the Anglo-Celt Cup.
After eight minutes, it was Donegal 0-00 v 0-03 Derry.
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Tyrone: N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, J McMahon, P Harte; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; C McShane, N Sludden, R McNabb; C McAlliskey, S Cavanagh, R O’Neill.
