Ulster sides dominant in Lory Meagher Cup openers

There was a brace of Ulster wins in the opening round of the Lory Meagher Cup today as Tyrone and Fermanagh recorded victories.

Tyrone made the long journey to Ballinamore in Leitrim count as the Red Hands beat the hosts by 4-22 to 1-6 this afternoon.

The visitors led by 1-8 to 1-2 at the interval with Damien Casey netting Tyrone's opening goal in the 12th minute.

Casey, Conor Grogan, Aidy and Justin Kelly were impressive for the hosts in the opening half, and despite 12 first half wides Tyrone held a commanding six-point lead at the break.

The visitors failed to eased up on the restart and held Leitrim to just four second half points as they coasted to victory.

Grogan, Shea McKiever and Sheamus O'Hagan claimed a goal each in the closing 35 minutes as Tyrone registered a 19-point win.

In the other opening round tie, Fermanagh were 1-19 to 1-8 winners over Longford at Brewster Park in Enniskillen tonight.

Longford failed to field a team for the corresponding league fixture earlier this year and while numbers have been low in training of late, Frank Browne's charges travelled with a squad of 24 for this fixture.

The visitors got off to a sluggish start, as powered by strong displays from the likes of Ryan Bogue, Fermanagh took a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

The Division 3B champions failed to ease up on the restart, netting their only goal of the contest from John Paul McGarry.

Longford bounced back with a goal from top scorer Eoin Donnellan's 21-metre free, but Fermanagh held out