Mickey Harte was far from downbeat after Tyrone's defeat to Donegal.

Beaten by 10 points by the same opposition in March, the Red Hands were much more competitive this time around as they came tantalisingly close to turning the tables.

"We didn't mind being written off because we didn't come here thinking that we couldn't win this game," the veteran Tyrone manager said.

"Our players are hugely disappointed because they put in a big shift and played some wonderful football. Donegal are a fine side so it's not as if we have been beaten by some kind of minnow.

"They battened down the hatches too when they had to and they probably got more of a battle than they anticipated, but they coped with it."

Harte, who played down the unruly scenes at half-time which involved selector Gavin Devlin, expects Tyrone to be a force to be reckoned with in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

"I've no doubt that when these men get their heads around the fact that we have to go the route of the qualifiers, if we get a favourable draw at all, I think will be a match for many," he predicted.

"We are no strangers to that particular avenue and what I saw today gives me great confidence to know we'll not be in a bad place when the dust settles on this."

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