Tyrone 2-15 Derry 0-12
Tyrone made it four wins out of four in division two with a convincing nine point victory over Ulster neighbours Derry at Healy Park on Saturday night.
Tyrone led 0-10 to 0-6 at the end of an entertaining opening half that was played at breathtaking pace. The hosts had the opening score after only twenty seconds through Kieran McGeary but Derry were level in the next attack with a well worked point from defender Chrissy McKaigue.
Richard Donnelly edged Tyrone back in front but then the visitors enjoyed a purple patch which yielded points from Ciaran McFaul, Emmet Bradley and a Ryan Bell free for a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.
Derry were looking good at this stage but then Tyrone got a grip on proceedings in the key areas throughout the field. Ronan O’Neill knocked over a couple of long range frees to level matters before team captain Sean Cavanagh hit an outstanding point from distance after going past a couple of challenges.
Tyrone now had the bit between their teeth with Peter Harte getting his name on the scoresheet with a fine point with his weaker right foot before another O’Neill free made it five without reply.
Bell stopped the rot for Derry with a free but moments later they had keeper Eoin McNicholl to thank for an outstanding save to deny Tyrone defender Barry Tierney.
It was Tyrone who closed the half out well on top with Richard Donnelly splitting the posts with a superb effort with the outside of his boot from forty eight metres out. That was followed by another O’Neill free and a second McGeary effort from play to leave the home side in good shape at halftime.
Tyrone picked up where they had left off on the restart with a superb Donnelly brace before Kielt replied from a free. The home side were still in control and in the 50th minute it was effectively game over when Sean Cavanagh blasted to the roof of the net.
Substitutes Conor Meyler and Christopher Bradley exchanged points before Emmet McGuckin blasted over for Derry. The visitors lost full back Chrissy McKaigue to a second yellow card late on before defender Aidan McCrory put the icing on the cake with a well taken goal from the last kick of the game.
Scorers for Tyrone: R O’Neill 0-6 (5f), R Donnelly 0-4, S Cavanagh 1-1, A McCrory 1-0, K McGeary 0-2, P Harte 0-1, C Meyler 0-1
Scorers for Derry: R Bell 0-3 (3f), J Kielt 0-2 (2f), C Bradley 0-2 (1f), C McKaigue 0-1, D Heavron 0-1, E Bradley 0-1, C McFaul 0-1, E McGuckin 0-1
TYRONE: N Morgan, A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron, B Tierney, R Brennan, T McCann, C Cavanagh, M Donnelly, K McGeary, P Harte, R Donnelly, C McAliskey, S Cavanagh, R O’Neill. Subs: C Meyler for Brennan, J Monroe for Tierney, M Bradley for McGeary, D McCurry for McAliskey, J McMahon for McNamee, C McCann for Harte
DERRY: E McNicholl, O Duffy, C McKaigue, K McKaigue, G McKinless, B Rogers, M Craig, N Holly, E Bradley, D Heavron, C McFaul, SL McGoldrick, R Bell, E McGuckin, J Kielt. Subs: R Ferris for Craig, C McAtamney for Bradley, C O’Boyle for Kielt, S Heavron for K McKaigue (bc), C Bradley for Bell, B Heron for McGuckin
Referee: D Coldrick, Meath
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