Tyrone progress in Dr McKenna Cup

2005 All-Star full-forward Stephen O’Neill was sent-off but Tyrone’s newcomers did enough to claim a 2-14 to 0-9 win over Queen’s University in an entertaining clash in Omagh today.

Mickey Harte’s men got off to a winning start in the Gaelic Life-sponsored competition despite O’Neill’s straight red card for his part in an off-the-ball incident.

The holders led 0-6 to 0-2 at the break at Healy Park, and made an excellent start with three successive points before James McGovern and Justin Crozier replied for the Belfast students.

Niall Gormley, who was making his first appearance for Tyrone, landed two of the Red Hands’ first half points, while Owen Mulligan (0-2), O’Neill and Colm Donnelly chipped in with the others.

However it was Coalisland goalkeeper Jonathan Curran who caught the eye the most for Tyrone.

The county’s U21 stopper, a late call-up to the senior ranks this week, made three superb saves, denying Kevin Niblock and Ciaran O’Reilly twice, during the first half.

Four straight points from Aidan McCarron, Gormley, Sean Cavanagh and another new player Christy Colhoun raced Tyrone into a 0-10 to 0-2 lead before Queen’s rallied.

Gavin Donaghy and Michael Ward (0-2 each), Niblock and Down attacker Aidan Carr all hit overs as the underdogs, recent winners of the Ryan Cup, mounted a big challenge.

However two Tyrone quick goals – with a classy pass from O’Neill setting up a major for Gormley and then Donnelly rasping home the second after a set-up from Declan Trainer – killed off the game.

The game’s finish was marred as O’Neill and Paddy Courtney both received their marching orders for separate incidents, with Courtney walking in injury-time for his second bookable offence.

Cavan, meanwhile, pulled off an excellent 0-17 to 0-12 win over Derry in what was Donal Keoghan’s first game at the helm.

Paddy Bradley landed five points for the Celtic Park hosts but Michael Cunningham, making his first start for Cavan, turned in a man of the match display to help the Breffni men to an encouraging win.

At Ballyshannon Donegal edged their Section C battle against UUJ, winning 1-6 to 1-4.

Michael Herron grabbed an early goal for Jordanstown, after a slip-up by Donegal ‘keeper Ciaran Sharkey, but the Tir Chonaill men pulled it back to lead 1-2 to 1-1 at the break.

In driving rain, Sharkey failed to hold onto a high dropping ball from Mark Lynch and Herron was on hand to slot home to an empty net.

An excellent strike from new recruit Johnny McLoone, who was teed up by Brian Roper, steadied the home side and two Kevin McMenamin points landed them in front.

UUJ, who retook the lead for a short time, suffered when they lost Rory Murray to a red card and Donegal, who were without flu victim Christy Toye and the injured Adrian Sweeney, saw out the win with three late points from substitute Michael Murphy, McMenamin (free) and Roper.

Also in Section C, a huge, late free from Fintan McGreevy rescued a 0-9 to 0-9 draw for Down against Antrim.

Ross Carr’s first game in charge of Down ended in a stalemate but there was plenty for the two-time All-Ireland winner to get his teeth into, especially the performance of county hurler Brendan McGourty.

The Saffrons, backed by the breeze, led 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval in Downpatrick, with Ciaran Close, one of only two survivors from their Ulster championship defeat by Fermanagh last summer, landing three points.

Brendan Loughran, Bryansford’s Conor Gribben (0-2) and Stephen Kearney scored for Down in the first half.

Scores from Mickey McCann and Close extended the Antrim lead but Down hit back through McGreevy and Gribben before Daryl Martin’s 55th-minute point, pushing Antrim 0-9 to 0-7 ahead, looked like handing new boss Jody Gormley a first day win.

Using the wind to great effect, Down bounced back again as Kevin Gracey and McGreevy bisected the posts.

Section A saw Ulster champions Armagh bag a 0-10 to 0-4 win over St. Mary’s, despite being without a host of regulars.

Steven McDonnell got off the mark early on in Crossmaglen – the Orchard men led 0-5 to 0-2 at the break. Monaghan were too good for Fermanagh in Irvinestown, Seamus McEneaney’s men won 1-10 to 0-5.

GAELIC LIFE DR. MCKENNA SF CUP RESULTS:

FIRST ROUND:

SECTION A -

St. Mary's 0-4 Armagh 0-10, Crossmaglen

Fermanagh 0-5 Monaghan 1-10, Irvinestown

SECTION B -

Derry 0-12 Cavan 0-17, Celtic Park

Queen's University 0-9 Tyrone 2-14, Omagh

SECTION C -

Donegal 1-6 UUJ 1-4, Ballyshannon

Down 0-9 Antrim 0-9, Downpatrick.