Red Hand do damage early

Tyrone survived a Down comeback at Casement Park last night to book their place in the Ulster U21 Football Championship final.

They led by seven points at one stage, but had to dig themselves out of a hole after Down hit back with a goal.

The Red Hand were ahead by 0-4 to 0-1 after just eight minuets and held a 0-9 to 0-4 interval lead, all of their scores coming from play.

Down gave themselves renewed hope with a superb Donal O’Hare goal, but Tyrone held on.

Scorers for Tyrone: D McCurry 0-4 (1f), C McAliskey (1 ’45), C Daly 0-3 each, T Canavan, R Donnelly 0-2 each, C Clarke, P Mallon 0-1 each

Scorers for Down: D O’Hare 1-0, D Savage 0-3 (3f), K McClorey, M Bagnall, C Gough R McGarry, S McArdle 0-1 each

TYRONE: D McAnenly; B Tierney, D McNally, HP McGeary; N Sludden, C Clarke, T McCann; H Og Conlan S Warnock; S Tierney, T Canavan, R Donnelly; D McCurry, C McAliskey, C Daly.

Subs: P Mallon for Tierney, P McNulty for McCann, C Grugan for Donnelly, J Munroe for Warnock, S McGuigan for Canavan.

DOWN: S Harrison; M Clarke, S McNamee, R McAleenan; K McClorey, G McGovern, D McKibben; N McParland, C Gough; J McClean, C Clarke, M Bagnall; D Savage, R McGarry, D O’Hare.

Subs: K Quinn for McClean, S McArdle for Gough, N Madine for McGarry, J Johnston for Savage.

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).