After a fantastic display of football, Donegal overcame Tyrone for the second time this year and got their Group 3 campaign in the All-Ireland series up and running in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.
They needed extra-time to overcome Tyrone in the Ulster championship semi-final but this time they were comfortable 0-21 to 0-14 winners, pushing for home in the second half.
There was little between the sides in the opening half but the Donegal running game cut holes in the Tyrone rearguard in the second period.
In a classic first half of football just a point separated the sides at the break with Tyrone responding every time Donegal pulled ahead.
Tyrone had the better opening with points from Darragh Canavan (free) and Darren McCurry inside four minutes.
Donegal's running game then kicked into life and they hit the next four points through Jason McGee, Ciaran Thompson, Oisin Gallen and Peadar Mogan.
McCurry and Eoghan Ban Gallagher traded scores as did Patrick McBrearty and Mattie Donnelly before a McBrearty free left Donegal ahead by 0-07 to 0-04 on 24 minutes.
Two quick Kieran McGeary points cut the deficit and even though Osin Gallen pointed a free, two more from McCurry had the sides level as the game entered added time.
Donegal did create the one big goal chance of the half on 30 minutes, cutting through the Tyrone defence but Thompson's effort went just inches past the post.
The final point of the half came just on the whistle with Gallen firing over with his left to leave it 0-10 to 0-09 in favour of Donegal at the break.
Ryan McHugh squeezed over the first point of the second half and Gallen put three between the sides from a free.
Niall Morgan pointed from a 45m free after great work by Darragh Canavan but the margin was out to four for the first time in the game when Gallen (free) and McGee found the range.
Niall Devlin pulled a point back but Mogan cut through to point for Donegal and Thompson from a mark left it 0-16 to 0-11 on the 53rd minute.
Darragh Canavan (free) and McGeary cut the lead but Gallen replied for Donegal.
From there to the finish it was all Donegal wth Mogan adding his third point and Odhran Doherty hitting another special with the outside of his right. Darragh Canavan had a lone free while Shane O'Donnell and Michael Langan completed the Donegal win.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Eoghan Ban Gallagher (0-01), Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh (0-01), Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan (0-03); Jason McGee (0-02), Michael Langan (0-01); Shane O’Donnell (0-01), Ciaran Thompson (0-02,1mark), Dáire Ó Baoill; Patrick McBrearty (0-02,1f), Oisin Gallen (0-07, 0-05f), Niall O’Donnell.
Subs: Odhran Doherty (0-01) for O Baoill (45); Jamie Brennan for P McBrearty (54); Aaron Doherty for N O’Donnell (61); Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for E Ban Gallagher (66); Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhride for Gallen (68)
Tyrone: Niall Morgan (0-1,f); Niall Devlin (0-01), Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Ben Cullen, Matthew Donnelly (0-01), Kieran McGeary (0-03); Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Ciaran Daly, Michael O’Neill, Sean O’Donnell (0-01); Darren McCurry (0-04,1f,1m), Darragh Canavan (0-03,0-03f), Ruairi Canavan.
Subs: Joe Oguz and Cormac Quinn for R Canavan and B Cullen (both ht); Cathal McShane for McCurry (50); Peter Harte for Kilpatrick (58)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).
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