Donegal selector Neil McGee admitted his team was below par in their defeat to Tyrone.

Speaking to GAA+, he said: "It could have gone any way, but we weren't really at it from the start. We got caught too many times trying to play the ball over and I don’t know what our turnover count was. Tyrone probably deserved it.

"It’s a long season and you're going to the well every week. You try to get up there, but we just didn't get up to the pitch of it today.

"We were two points up after 64, 65 minutes and were on the attack, gave the ball away and Tyrone went up (to score). We didn’t touch the ball again after that and that’s what it came down to. It’s thin margins, but we have only ourselves to blame."

Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke hailed his side's character in their win over Donegal.

Speaking to GAA+ he said: "Probably the charachter the boys showed. We got a good start but at half-time we lost two leaders (Brian Kennedy and Padraig Hampsey) and it could have been a night where we said, 'we've put in a good show but it wasn;t going to be our night'.

"The way Donegal came back and we always knew they would as they are a quality team. They went ahead and again, we could have folded up our tents, but the composure the boys showed and willingness to fight for each other, get back ahead and hold it was really pleasing.

"It only gets us two points, but it's a good start to the group and we just have to settle down and look towards next week (against Mayo)."

What a see-saw battle that was. Just as it seemed Donegal were striking for home, Tyrone replied and that Peter Harte two-pointer was a huge score.

The Red Hands head home with a massive two points ahead of their home assignment against Mayo next week, while Donegal will now seek to regroup ahead of another Ulster derby when they travel to Cavan.

Tyrone get their hands on the kick-out and that is it. The ball is leathered off the pitch as the horn goes and Tyrone grab a huge win in Ballybofey against the Ulstet champions.

With that goes Jim McGuinness' record hof having nev er lost a championship game i MacCumhaill Park.

Cormac Quinn is through and kicks a score to put a goal between them. One last play left.

Tyrone have their hands on the ball and are seeking to drain the clock. 90 seconds left.

Peter Harte steps up and thumps over a two-pointer to give Tyrone the lead with three to play.

Darragh Canavan ties it up once again from a free.

Tyrone turn the ball over and counter at pace with Darren McCurry finishing.

Donegal hit the front and in superb style as Patrick McBrearty slings over a two-pointer from out on the left.

It's level again and it's Langan again. He is on fire this evening.

Eoghan Ban Gallagher's return to the field is over for today as he makes way for Odhran Doherty for the last 10 minutes.

Tyrone stright upfield and Ciaran Daly fists over. 11 to go.

Michael Langan is having a stormer and he levels it with his sixth point of the game.

Donegal with 11 wides now but that crossfield wind is causing havoc with the shots.

Tyrone have also just made their last switch with Frank Burns in for Rory Brennan.

Tyrone's Ciaran Daly goes into the book for an off-the-ball challenge.

Malachy O'Rouke makes his fourth change with Eoin McElholm in for Mark Bradley.

Into the final quarter and those two, two-pointers have Donegal right back in it. This is anybody's game at this stage.

Michael Langan now hits one from deep and the gap is suddently down to one.

Tyrone respond by bringing in Peter Harte to replace Mattie Donnelly.

Donegal really needed that and Michael Murphy steps up again to land his third two-point free of the game.