Efficient Tyrone getting to grips with advantage rule
The Oak Leafers created half a dozen goal chances at Healy Park, Omagh, but managed to take just one in yesterday’s semi-final.
The hosts, with goals in each half from Niall McKenna and Peter Harte, were more efficient in their finishing, and held on for a clash with Cavan in next weekend’s title decider at Brewster Park.
Tyrone boss Mickey Harte admitted he’s still coming to terms with the new rules. While his side picked up a first black card of the season, it was the advantage rule which un-nerved his defence.
“This is the first time I have seen this advantage rule applied, and this is our fourth game,” he said. “Some of the tackles seemed reasonable, and then they were pulled up for the advantage rule, which was a bit surprising.”
Tyrone crafted a superb goal after 15 seconds, cutting the Derry defence open for McKenna to finish with a bullet-like shot to the net. They moved into a seven-point lead when McKenna, Connor McAliskey and Darren McCurry points.
Derry didn’t get their opening score until the 16th minute when Ciaran McGoldrick pointed but they got on top in the final 10 minutes of the half, with Fergal Doherty and Niall Holly stepping up their game in midfield.
Gerard O’Kane (2), Doherty and Declan Mullan all slotted over points, and they could have had two goals, but Ciaran McGoldrick and Aaron Kerrigan both fired wide.
Tyrone were denied a second goal when Thomas Mallon produced a superb save to deny Conan Grugan.
The Red Hands led 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval, and grabbed their second goal seven minutes after the restart when Peter Harte slotted home a penalty after Mattie Donnelly was fouled by Mallon.
But Derry battled back, with James Kielt coming off the bench to hit three quality points. They finally found the net in the 64th minute when Emmet McGuckin flicked home Benny Heron’s delivery to narrow the gap to three.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men when Derry’s Patsy Bradley and Tyrone’s Donnelly were black-carded, with all 12 subs having been used.
Scorers for Tyrone: N McKenna (1-1), P Harte (1-0 pen), D McCurry (0-6, 0-3f), C McAliskey (0-3), C Grugan, E McKenna, PJ Lavery (0-1).
Scorers for Derry: E McGuckin (1-0), J Kielt (1f), F Doherty (0-3), C McGoldrick, G O’Kane (0-2), D Mullan, B Heron (1f), M Lynch (0-1).
TYRONE: M O’Neill, R McKenna, C Clarke, R McNamee, T McCann, P Harte, R McNabb, N McKenna, C Grugan, K Gallagher, P Hughes, E McKenna, D McCurry, M Donnelly, C McAliskey.
Subs: B Tierney for McNamee (13), C McGinley for McCann (h-t), McNamee for McNabb (h-t), PJ Lavery for McNamee (61), R O’Neill for McAliskey (63).
DERRY: T Mallon, O Duffy, D McBride, M McShane, C Kielt, M Craig, K Johnston, F Doherty, N Holly, G O’Kane, E McGuckin, SL McGoldrick, C McGoldrick, D Mullan, A Kerrigan.
Subs: B Heron for McShane (h-t), A McAlynn for Craig (43), M Lynch for Holly (48), J Kielt for C McGoldrick (49), P Bradley for Doherty (59), C McFaul for O’Kane (64).
Referee: S McLaughlin (Donegal).
