COUNTY| Tyrone Defeat Derry

Sunday afternoon witnessed a pulsating championship style encounter at Owenbeg as old rivals Tyrone and Derry locked horns in the second round of the Dr Mc Kenna Cup. This no holds barred encounter was the perfect fillip for a brisk January day as almost 6,000 packed into the Dungiven venue. In the end playing with an extra man for most of the second half proved crucial to Tyrone’s win as they used all their experience and quality to edge the contest 1-16 to 4-6. This win all but seals the Red Hands place in the semi final of the competition.

For long periods in the opening half it was Derry who looked the better side and at one stage the home team led by nine points. However the loss of Emmett Mc Guckin to a second yellow card and Tyrone’s improved second half display ensured Mickey Harte’s side took the win and with it the top position in the group.

With Derry controlling the midfield sector and Tyrone struggling to get a grip in the first period it was no surprise that the home side made their territorial dominance tell on the scoreboard. A converted 23rd minute penalty from Ryan Bell put Derry   2-4 to 0-1 clear.

By this stage Tyrone had lost Justin Mc Mahon to a black card for dissent and a comfortable home win appeared to be on the cards. However Matty Donnelly was introduced to the game and with his arrival Tyrone’s fortunes began to change. The Red Hands hit 1-4 without reply to reach the break trailing by two points. Tyrone’s first half goal was a fine finish from the boot of Patrick Quinn following superb work by Matty Donnelly.

Mark Lynch opened the Derry account six minutes in after both teams had hit a couple of early wides and Derry found the net for the first time on the quarter hour mark. Benny Heron’s effort trickled towards the goals and appeared to have been cleared by Tyrone full back Padraig Hampsey but the goal was awarded after the hesitant umpire eventually raised the green flag.

This was a controversial decision but it was perhaps no more than Derry’s play had deserved and they continued to control the game. Mark Craig and Mark Lynch landed points before man of the match Richard Donnelly got Tyrone up and running with his first point sixteen minutes in.

At this stage Derry were dominant all over the park and they pressed home their advantage. Ryan Bell pointed when a long ball in from Lynch was touched on to the crossbar by Emmett McGuckin before falling to Bell. Bell was on target from the penalty spot with his team’s second goal a moment later.

Mickey O’Neill was adjudged to have fouled McGuckin as he closed in on goal. The spot kick was delivered crisply to the net to leave the hosts 2-4 to 0-1 up as Tyrone squandered several other good chances. Munroe, and McAliskey again going to the right and wide.

Tyrone eventually found their range though and landed quick fire points from Mc Aliskey and the returning McCurry before  Dungannon’s Patrick Quinn finshed superbly to the net.

Mc Aliskey and the impressive Munroe added to Tyrone’s first half tally and the Red Hands finished the half  just two behind.

Derry were reduced to fourteen men when Emmett McGuckin picked up a second yellow card while fine scores from Richard Donnelly and Niall Sludden were separated by a well taken Ryan Bell point during an industrious opening five minutes.

Sean Cavanagh fresh from the bench levelled matters with a long range point before Richard Donnelly’s wonderful outside of the boot brace and a Mark Bradley free gave Tyrone a three point lead. As the game entered the final quarter Derry snatched a lifeline when Ryan Bell converted a second penalty after Lynch had been fouled .

David Mulgrew and Peter Harte were on target to put Tyrone ahead  but almost immediately Mark Craig’s goal at the other end after Lynch had gone close changed things again.

Chris Bradley made it a two point game in favour of Derry with a well taken long range point to put the home side in the ascendancy. However there was still time for further drama and another late twist.

Conor McAliskey converted three superbly taken  frees to leave Tyrone in the driving seat in the closing seconds.

With time running out Tyrone managed to hold possession and secure a single point win in a real ding dong battle in front of a bumper January crowd.

Derry: Thomas Mallon, Ryan Ferris, Dermot McBride, Oisin Duffy, Danny Heavron, Chrissy McKaigue, Mark Craig 1-1, Emmett Bradley, Mark Lynch 0-2, Ciaran McFaul, Christopher Bradley 0-1, Benny Heron 1-0, EmmettMc Guckin, Ryan Bell 2-2, Conor Murphy. Subs Karl McKeigue for Duffy, Enda Lynn for Heron, James Keilt for Murphy, Conor McAtameny for Lynch, Shane Mulgrew for Bradley, Peter Quinn for Ferris

Tyrone: Michael O’Neill,  Aidan McCrory,  Padraig Hampsey, Jonathan Munroe 0-1,  Conor Clarke,  Justin McMahon, Niall Sludden 0-1, Padraig McNulty, Richard Donnelly 0-4, David Mulgrew 0-1, Peter Harte 0-1, Kieran McGeary, Darren McCurry 0-1, Conor McAliskey 0-5, Patrick Quinn 1-0.

Subs Cathal McCarron for Hampsey, Mark Bradley 0-1 for Clarke, Sean Cavanagh 0-1 for Quinn, Ronan O’Neill for McGeary, Cathal McShane for Munroe

Referee: Ciaran Brannigan.