Narrow win for Tyrone over Armagh in a lively Dr McKenna Cup tie

Kieran McGeeney fielded an established side with his counterpart Malachy O'Rourke opting for an experimental approach. 

OPENING WIN: Tyrone's Ruairi Canavan in action against Armagh's Conor Magennis. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Dr McKenna Cup: Armagh 0-17 (0-1-15) Tyrone 2-13 (2-0-13)

Tyrone’s young guns rang in the new year with a comeback win over Armagh in a lively Dr McKenna Cup first round tie at the Box-It Athletic Grounds, turning on the power in the second half to make a positive start to the season.

The home side held a three points lead heading into the final quarter, but a second Tyrone goal, scored by veteran Mattie Donnelly, turned the game in his side’s favour.

Despite the sizeable crowd – 7,180 in all – that turned up to shake off the winter cobwebs, a pre-season vibe permeated the chill January air, not that anyone ever expected this early meeting of the fierce rivals to bear any relevance to the mouth-watering preliminary round opener that will launch this year’s Ulster Championship.

Kieran McGeeney, clearly keen to make a strong start to the league later this month, fielded a strong side packed with established stars such as Oisin Conaty, Aaron McKay, Jarly Og Burns, Andrew Murnin, Ethan Rafferty and Conor Turbitt, while Malachy O’Rourke opted for an experimental approach, handing Tyrone debuts to a handful of new recruits, Armagh brought energy to the opening stages, with their entire half back line of Ross McQuillan, debutant Daniel Magee and Jarly Og Burns hitting their opening three points.

But with Mattie Donnelly and Ruairi Canavan working hard in withdrawn roles, the Red Hands began to move with purpose, narrowing the gap through Ben Cullen and Canavan.

And when Joe Oguz produced a defence-splitting pass, Michael Conroy crossed for Lorcan McGarrity to finish to the net in the 11th minute, before Canavan pushed the visitors four clear.

But that sparked an Orchard reaction, with Callum O’Neill a powerful force at midfield as he claimed a string of possessions.

They dominated the second quarter, out-scoring their opponents by 0-7 to 0-1, strong running from Andrew Murnin, McQuillan, Burns and Oisin Conaty stepping up the pressure on the Tyrone defence.

Oisin O’Neill landed a couple of gems, with Murnin and Conaty also on target, while Conor Turbitt punished a breach with a two-point free.

They could have had a goal as well, but Magee just failed to connect with a loose ball after goalkeeper Oisin O’Kane failed to deal with O’Neill’s long range effort.

Armagh led by 0-10 to 1-5 at the interval, and a couple of Conaty efforts stretched the advantage to three, but Tyrone got themselves back level with a second goal, punched to the net from close range by Mattie Donnelly from Canavan’s 38th minute assist.

Armagh’s response was instant, a volley of scores from O’Neill and Fergal O’Brien, with two each, restoring their position of strength, while Conaty was denied a goal by O’Kane’s save.

Aaron O’Neill came off the bench to replace older brother Oisin, and scored with his first touch, but the home side was unable to shake the stubborn Red Hands, who brought Darren McCurry into the action, the former All-Star hitting three points on the spin, before Lorcan McGarrity brought them level going into the final five minutes.

Wing back Ben Cullen shot Tyrone ahead three minutes from the end, and they held out in the face of a late Orchard charge.

Scorers for Armagh: O O’Neill 0-4, O Conaty 0-3, F O’Brien, J Og Burns, C Turbitt (2pf) 0-2 each, A Murnin, D Magee, R McQuillan, A O’Neill 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tyrone: M Donnelly 1-2, L McGarrity 1-1, D McCurry (1f) R Canavan (1f) 0-3 each, B Cullen 0-2, J Oguz, M Conroy (f) 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: E Rafferty; P McGrane, A McKay, J McElroy; R McQuillan, D Magee, J Og Burns; C O’Neill, A Murnin; D McMullan, D McCarthy, F O’Brien; O Conaty, O O’Neill, C Turbitt.

Subs: C Magennis for McQuillan (h-t), P O’Keefe for McElroy (40), A O’Neill for O O’Neill (48), S Conlon for McCarthy (53), R Duffy for McMullan (63).

TYRONE: O O’Kane; N McCarron, M McKernan, P McCaughey; B Cullen, F Burns, C Quinn; J Oguz, C O’Neill; R Cassidy, R Canavan, O Gormley; M Conroy, L McGarrity, M Donnelly.

Subs: C Donaghy for Gormley (h-t), S O’Donnell for Quinn (h-t), N Devlin for Burns (h-t), O McCann for O’Neill (37), D McCurry for Conroy (37) A Clarke for McCaughey (40), M Og McGleenan for Cassidy (49) 

Referee: D Boylan (Monaghan).