Tyrone minors made light work of a uninspired Down side in their preliminary round championship game on Sunday afternoon before emerging 1-18 to 2-6 winners. The game was over as a contest by half time following the home side’s very impressive opening thirty minutes when they established a 1-11 to 0-3 lead. Fintan Mc Clure and Lee Brennan scored 1-5 between them as Down struggled to cope with the pace, movement and finishing power of Mickey Donnelly’s side.
Tyrone maintained their territorial dominance throughout the second period with both Macauley Quinn and Enda Mc Garrity bagging a brace of points each. Down did find the net twice in the second half but Tyrone at no stage looked under any real threat from the visitors.
The young Red Hands now have seven days to prepare for their first round fixture with defending champions Monaghan next weekend.
It was a slightly more testing situation for the Tyrone seniors as they were forced to come from behind late in the game to earn a draw in their championship clash with the Mourne men.
Mickey Harte’s side looked in total control for long periods of the game and reached the break leading 1-05 to 0-3 after Peter Harte converted a penalty following a foul on Mark Donnelly. The Carrickmore man had come into the team in place of Paddy Mc Neice who withdrew due to injury. Tiernan Mc Cann was also forced to withdraw following a hamstring tear twenty minutes into the game.
In spite of these setbacks and the loss of goalkeeper Morgan to a black card, Tyrone looked to be in pole position for the win as they moved seven points in front. A surging run by Aidan Mc Crory helped set up Darren Mc Curry for Tyrone’s second goal it seemed the home team was set for victory.
However Down responded immediately with two quick goals of their own and Tyrone’s challenge began to fall apart as Down grew in confidence and self belief.
Benny Coulter bagged a late point to put his side two in front and Tyrone looked leggy and disjointed. Down were keeping possession well but Tyrone managed to narrow the gap to one. However with time almost up and the Mourne men on the attack it seemed that James Mc Cartan’s team was destined for victory.
Fortunately for Tyrone substitute Conor Gormley dispossessed Conor Lavery close to the Tyrone goals and set his colleagues up for one final push. Stevie O’Neill was blocked as he tried to deliver a pass to his inside forwards with the resulting side line ball some distance from goal. Just as O’Neill was preparing to take the side line ball referee David Colderick spotted a holding foul on Sean Cavanagh and moved the kick forward. With time almost up the captain stepped up and slotted the forty yard free kick over the bar to tie the game and set it up for a replay next weekend. It was the least Tyrone deserved but credit should go to both sides who produced an exciting end to end game that was the perfect start for this year’s Ulster Championship.
Final score Tyrone 2-11, Down 3-8.
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