Goals from Niall Sludden and Mark Bradley either side of the break handed Tyrone a 2-13 to 1-10 victory over Donegal at Omagh.

Sludden's major in first-half injury time fired Mickey Harte's men ahead by 1-5 to 0-7 at the interval after Donegal had made all the early running. Man of the Match Sludden also won the hosts a 32^nd-minute penalty, when he was hauled down by visiting goalkeeper Shaun Patton, who miraculously escaped a black card.

Peter Harte uncharacteristically drove his spot-kick wide and Michael Murphy's third converted free instantly made it 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of the losers, but Tyrone recovered from that four-point swing to avenge their Dr McKenna Cup final defeat.

With Odhran MacNiallais on target twice, Donegal notched three of the first four points before Sludden closed the gap in the ninth minute.

Murphy (free) and corner back Eoghan Ban Gallagher steered the Tir Chonail men three ahead after 14 minutes and an exchange between Lee Brennan and Murphy left it double-scores in favour of the away team, 0-6 to 0-3. Frees from Brennan and Connor McAliskey reduced the arrears to the minimum as the Red Hands finally got to grips with their opponents, who were without the injured Patrick McBrearty tonight, with 5,850 looking on.

The Red Hands made a dream start to the second half when Bradley soloed in and planted a low shot past Patton in the 37^th minute, followed by a brace of McAliskey frees - 2-7 to 0-7 after 40 minutes. It was soon double scores as goalkeeper Niall Morgan got in on the act.

To their credit, Donegal refused to roll over and they were very much back in contention after MacNiallais palmed Gallagher's pass to an empty net and then substitute Stephen McBrearty pointed and captain Hugh McFadden's inspirational score from distance via an upright made it a two-point game with eleven minutes left.

But the Red Hands reeled off the last four points to record their second victory of the campaign, with Brennan (two frees), Cathal McShane and Harte all on target as the Ulster champions eased their relegation fears but pushed Declan Bonner's men closer to the trap door.

Tyrone - N Morgan (0-1f); H P McGeary, P Hampsey, C McCarron; C Meyler, F Burns, M Donnelly; C Cavanagh, P McNulty; P Harte (0-1), N Sludden (1-1), C McShane (0-1); L Brennan (0-5, 4f), C McAliskey (0-3f), M Bradley (1-1). Subs: M McKernan for H P McGeary, K McGeary for P McNulty, D Mulgrew for C McAliskey, D McCurry for M Bradley, C McCann for C McShane, R Brennan for C Meyler.

Donegal - S Patton; C Morrison, S McMenamin, E Ban Gallagher (0-1); T McClenaghan, C Ward, E Doherty (0-1); H McFadden (0-1), O MacNiallais (1-2); L McLoone, R McHugh, M McHugh (0-1); C Thompson, M Murphy (0-3f), J Brennan. Subs: D O Baoill for C Thompson, M McElhinney for T McClenaghan, S McBrearty (0-1) for M McHugh, F McGlynn for C Ward, N O'Donnell for J Brennan, M Langan for O MacNiallais.

Referee - D Coldrick.

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