There was plenty of niggle during the Tyrone Donegal match on Saturday night

Donegal’s win over Tyrone was not merely two points on the board for Rory Gallagher’s side, it was a statement.

The Tir Chonaill men are a team in transition, and had went into Saturday night’s game as slight underdogs.

Many of the fans will have been thinking of last year’s guttting defeat to Tyrone in the Ulster final.  Tyrone hadn’t been beaten in the league since 2015, and as a result they were the fancied team.

Yet Donegal fans expected a big game from their team. Kevin Cassidy said in his Gaelic Life column that the rivalry had increased in intensity of late and he expected his county men to make a statement.

That is what they did, as they made life very difficult for Mickey Harte’s team.

The response to the win was one of joy from Donegal quarters, in particular Eamon McGee’s simple response to the win.

See the reaction that was on Twitter:

I enjoyed that.

— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) March 18, 2017

You’d swear Donegal & Tyrone were the best of chums going by those highlights. Are RTÉ following Sky, i.e. it’s all about the product? #GAA

— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) March 19, 2017

Not easy for players or supporters last night-easy to use excuses: fixtures,weather&Coldrick but really Donegal far better all over thepitch

— The Red Hands (@gaaTyrone) March 19, 2017

Donegal beating Tyrone convincingly & Ireland stopping England from a Grand Slam, what a beautiful sporting day ?#AllianzLeagues #IrevEng

— Donna Martin (@DonnaMartin03) March 18, 2017

Much made of ill-discipline in #GAA, but discipline – restraint even – shown by Michael Murphy at times is amazing. Immense again last night

— Chris McNulty (@chrismcnulty86) March 19, 2017

Never mind Ruby Walsh. Best rider this week was Justin McMahon on Michael Murphy. Says a lot about Tyrone that he got a standing ovation.

— Niall McCauley (@Nially1988) March 18, 2017

Ciaran Thompson has an absolute wand of a left foot. Donegal 0-9 Tyrone 0-4 at the end of the first half, and thoroughly deserved it is

— Cahair O’Kane (@CahairOKane1) March 18, 2017

@KCsixtyseven seriously impressed the past 2 performances. Ciaran Thompson was excellent

— Conor Murray (@notpropaganda73) March 18, 2017