Tyrone signal their intent

Tyrone 0-17, Derry1-5

Although Derry were reduced in numbers and spirit by that stage, the league champions still managed to string almost 20 passes together before Sean Marty Lockhart dispossessed Peter Canavan. It was a wonderful move, illustrating everything positive in Tyrone’s display on Saturday afternoon. The player in possession was always supported, sometimes by two or three players; the player with the ball always took the right passing option; the move was always composed and never rushed.

“The scoreline might have suggested it was easy, but each of our players had to battle hard out there,” Mickey Harte gushed afterwards. His Tyrone team certainly held on together for 70 minutes and were taking the right options right until the end. Ger Cavlan had a goal-scoring opportunity at the death to glorify the result. He took a point instead. Outside Casement Park, Tyrone supporters were calling it the finest they have seen the county play in years.