Tyrone defy Ulster Council with understrength side

Tyrone stayed on course for a place in the Gaelic Life Dr. McKenna Cup semi-finals as they chalked up their second win of the 2007 competition by dominating Derry in Omagh.

The Red Hands claimed a 1-15 to 0-9 success but could be in hot water after they fielded four college players in their side, defying a recent order from the Ulster Council that colleges should have "first call" on these players for the McKenna Cup.

Mickey Harte included UUJ stars Colm Cavanagh, the younger brother of Sean, Brendan Boggs and Damien McCaul in his line-up, while Cathal McCarron of St. Mary's was also used.

Derry brought back memories of their shock Ulster championship win over Tyrone last summer when Paddy and Eoin Bradley landed early points.

However Paddy Crozier's men were simply overrun for the remainder of the first half with the hosts ending it with a 1-11 to 0-3 buffer.

Busy midfielder Mickey Murphy hit three points, while there were also white flags from Tommy McGuigan, Damien McDermott, Paul Rouse and new boys Cavanagh, McCarron and Damien McDermott.

Paddy Bradley replied late in the half but Tyrone struck a crucial blow in injury-time when McCarron goaled at the second attempt.

Owen Mulligan and Sean Cavanagh combined to carve out the chance and when McCarron's first shot was parried by Shane O'Kane, he reacted well to wallop the loose ball home.

Derry mounted a comeback through scores again from the Bradleys, who shot 0-7 between them, and Conleth Gilligan but the home win was sealed by a late brace of frees from McCarron (1-3, 3f).

Harte's men face Cavan next weekend in an enticing Section B decider at Breffni Park.

In Section A, Monaghan continued to show good form in Clones this afternoon as they turned over St. Mary's College, Belfast by 2-16 to 0-11.

The students hit the front in the sixth minute when Barry McGoldrick landed a free but Monaghan soon gained a lead they never let go of.

Seamus McEneaney's Farney men powered into a commanding 1-9 to 0-4 lead by the break with Dick Clerkin netting in the eleventh-minute.

The result might have been different had Ryan Keenan not missed a gilt-edged goal chance on 24 minutes when he blasted over the Monaghan crossbar from eight yards out.

But Monaghan strung five successive points together before the interval and although Antrim minor Conor McGourty came off the bench to hit four second half points for Mary's, Monaghan bossed the closing stages to see out the win.

The introductions of the Mone brothers, Dessie and John Paul, who rejoined the Monaghan panel last week after opting out in 2005, inspired the hosts.

McEneaney's outfit hit 1-3 without reply in the final minutes with the goal coming when Mary's net minder Michael O'Kane looked to have plucked a Damien Freeman delivery out of the sky but agonisingly, he stepped back over his goal line and the green flag was raised.

Freeman finished with 1-1 as Monaghan's top scorer, while McGourty (0-4) and Justin McMahon (0-3) led the way for the students.

Armagh, who meet Monaghan next weekend, were made to battle hard for a 0-9 to 10-5 win over Fermanagh in Lurgan.

Joe Kernan's Orchard men charged into a 0-8 to 0-2 lead for half-time, as a blustery wind helped them put the visitors under an amount of pressure.

Steven McDonnell and Peadar Toal bagged three points each, with Martin O'Rourke registering a brace as Armagh looked destined for their second win of the competition.

However Charlie Mulgrew's Fermanagh side dug deep and Eamon Maguire's 53rd-minute was just rewards for some effective football.

With Maguire and Barry Owens impressing as second half substitutes, the Ernesiders dominated the final 35 minutes with McDonnell's 36th-minute point proving to be Armagh's final score.

Fermanagh's Marty McGrath and Damian Kelly both missed out on goals with Kieran Toner and Alan Hearty coming to the hosts' rescue.

Peter McSherry even missed a late point-scoring chance to equalise as Armagh ended the game with 14 players - Paddy McKeever was handed a straight red card for kicking out at a player.

Donegal made it two wins out of two in Section C as they pipped Antrim 0-9 to 0-8 at Casement Park this afternoon.

The sides ended the first half on terms at 0-5 apiece, but the 20th-minute sending-off of Antrim corner back Lawrence Higgins really hindered the Saffrons' chances.

They had led 0-5 to 0-2 with Mickey McCann on target three times, but then lost Higgins who received his second yellow card for clashing with Johnny McLoone.

During a dour second half, the Tir Chonaill men edged into a 0-9 to 0-7 lead with Ryan Bradley and Kevin McMenamin amongst the scorers.

Antrim hit back through substitute Paddy Logan, who landed his second point, but Donegal held on for the win as Cargin clubman Thomas McCann miscued with a late goal chance.

UUJ stunned Down by beating them 1-19 to 1-6 in the other Section C game played today.

In what was new Down manager Ross Carr's second competitive game in charge, the Jordanstown students gave their opponents a lesson in point-taking at Burren.

UUJ, with Down's James Colgan starring in midfield, led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break, firing over seven unanswered points. They tagged on a goal through Mark Lynch who found the net from a free.

Ten minutes from time, Conor Gribben struck Down's only goal but there was denying UUJ who had Lynch in top-scoring form - the Derry forward grabbed a personal haul of 1-5.

Packie Downey and John Boyle shared out six points for the victors while Down's goalscorer Gribben, who hails from the Bryansford club, finished with 1-2.

Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup Second Round Results:

Section A:

Armagh 0-9 Fermanagh 1-5, Crossmaglen

Monaghan 2-16 St. Mary's 0-11, Clones

Section B:

Tyrone 1-15 Derry 0-9, Omagh

Section C:

Antrim 0-8 Donegal 0-9, Casement Park

UUJ 1-19 Down 1-6, Burren.