Gritty Display From Tyrone Secures Win Over Kerry

Sunday 05.03.2023

County

Allianz League Division 1
Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 2-9

Tyrone recovered from the concession of an early Sean O’Se goal against Kerry to record their second win in the 2023 Allianz League in a performance full of grit and determination. Badly needing a win to maintain their Division One status the Red Hands produced their best display of the season and were fully deserving of their 1-15 to 2-9 win.

Kerry looked sharp early on but Tyrone stuck to their task and fought for every ball. Darragh Canavan opened Tyrone’s account in response to the O’Se goal. Tyrone came close to wiping out that score when big Conn Kilpatrick took a high ball close to goal but his shot was blocked and the chance was lost.Points from David Clifford  and Tom O’Sullivan put Kerry five clear before Brian Kennedy chased a lost cause, pressured Shane Ryan in the Kerry goal  and somehow the ball ended up in the Kerry net.

Sean O’Se pointed for Kerry but Matty Donnelly’s score reduced the gap to two before Tony Brosnan converted a mark on twenty five minutes to stretch the Kerry lead to three. Tyrone may have been three behind but their work rate and commitment got the crowd right behind them and the players responded to the noise coming from the stand.

Darren Mc Curry and David Clifford swapped points to leave three between the sides with four minutes of the first half remaining. Tyrone pushed right up on the Kerry kickout and turned the ball over three times with each turnover resulting in points to leave the teams level at the break 1-7 apiece.

Those three points from Mc Curry, Cormac Quinn and Matty Donnelly sent Tyrone off at half time in positive mood. Matty Donnelly, who was having one of his best games ever for the Red Hands, was causing all sorts of problems for Kerry as they struggled to cope with his work rate and positioning. Kerry struggled at times for creativity as once more Conor Meyler did a superb job marking key man Paudie Clifford.

The second half saw Tyrone take the lead courtesy of a fine David Mulgrew point on forty one minutes but the home side were rocked back on their heels as Kerry broke through for a goal from wing back Paul Murphy two minutes later. Tyrone refused to panic and with Joe Oguz, Michael Mc Kernan and Paudie Hampsey leading the change they hit four in a row from Oguz, Peter Harte, Canavan and Mc Curry to lead 1-12 to 2-7.

Kerry had plenty of possession but they struggled to create chances and Jack O’Connor will be scratching his head wondering how they only managed to score 1-2 in forty minutes of second half football.

A fifty fifth minute free from Clifford reduced the gap to one but Matty Donnelly drove through the middle, held off a Kerry defender and slotted the ball over the bar. The Tyrone support erupted and once more the crowd lifted the players. A fantastic individual score from Donal O’Sullivan reduced the gap to a single point as Ruairi Canavan was introduced to the fray. Kerry pushed forward in search of the scores needed to take the win but Tyrone’s defensive qualities remained resolute and late frees from Ruairi and Darragh Canavan sealed the win on a final score of 1-15 to 2-9.