Tyrone Hurlers Ease To A Convincing Win Over Sligo

Sunday 26.02.2012

Gary Cadden with a consolation score for the Sligo men. 13 points between the sides and Cadden again with a free reduces it to the round dozen as the referee blows the final whistle and Tyrone get their National League campaign off to a winning start defeating Sligo 3-18 to 2-09.

Another super stop in the Tyrone goals by John Devlin denies Sligo centre half forward Keith Raymond a goal and then on the break Sean Og Grogan fires over a fine point to leave it 3-18 to 2-07 with 34 minutes played.

A free from Damian Casey and a fine point from play from the stick of Sean Og Grogan ease Tyrone further ahead as the game enters the final seven minutes .

Rory O’Neill receives a pass from Shea Mc Kiver and finishes to the net to make it 3-15 to  2-07 for Tyrone with the game entering the final ten minutes.

Damien Casey with a free from 30 metres makes it an eight point lead for Tyrone with less than 14 minutes left on the clock.

A change on the Tyrone team sees Rory O’Neill come into the game for Justin Kelly with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Aidan Kelly sends one over from a 65 and Tyrone now lead by 7.

A high floated free into the Tyrone defence once more causes panic and although a Tyrone stick gets to the ball it breaks to Damien Burke who finishes it to the net to leave only six points between the sides. Sligo have been much the better side in the second period.

Aidan Kelly lands a fabulous point from half way relieves the “pressure” on the Red Hands and with 15 minutes of the 2nd half played Tyrone lead 2-13 to 1-07.

A fine strike from Cadden seemed destined for the net but Tyrone keeper John Devlin makes a super stop and turns it round for a sixty five which causes mayhem in the Tyrone defence before being batted out for another 65.

Gary Cadden with another free makes it 1-07 for Sligo but they still have a long way to go if they are to turn this one around.

Jason Patton is on for Tyrone at the start of the second half in place of Stephen Donnelly and Gary Cadden closes the gap with a fine score from play. Justin Kelly responds with another fine point for Tyrone 2-12 to 1-06  eight minutes on the clock.

A couple of changes on the Tyrone team and a nervy start sees them concede a twenty metre free which is finished to the net by Keith Raymond. 4 minutes gone and the score reads 2-11 to 1-05 in favour of the home team.

35 minutes on the clock and Larry Cadden sends over from a very narrow angle and the score now reads Tyrone 2-11, Sligo 0-05. The referee blows his whistle to call an end to hostilities and Tyrone will be delighted with that first half display playing, as they did into a strong breeze.

A free after a foul on Sean Og Grogan is struck by Justin Kelly and sails over the bar to extend Tyrone’s lead to 2-11 to 0-04.

27 minutes gone and Casey makes it 2-10 to 0-04 with a fine strike from forty metres.

Referee Liam Mc Auley of Antrim issues his second yellow card of the afternoon to Gary Cadden following an off the ball clash with a Tyrone defender. Score remains Tyrone 2-09 Sligo 0-04 with 25 minutes played.

Twenty minutes in and Casey lands his fifth point of the day but Keith Raymond responds with his side’s 4th point.

Keith Raymond with a fine free from halfway sends over Sligo’s third point but as before back come Tyrone and corner forward Casey lands his 4th score of the afternoon. 17 minutes in and the score reads Tyrone 2-07, Sligo 0-03.

A second Tyrone goal from Shea Mc Kiver after great combination play from his half forward colleagues is followed by another point from play from Damian Casey. 15 minutes played Tyrone lead 2-06 to 0-02.

A well struck free from Stephen Donnelly is finished to the net by Sean Og Grogan and Tyrone lead 1-05 to 0-01. Sligo respond with a Keith Raymond free after he himself was fouled.

Sligo finally opening their account with a fine point from Gary Cadden but almost immediately Tyrone respond with a fine strike from Gary Fox and Tyrone lead 0-05 to 0-01 with 11 minutes gone.

6 minutes gone and Casey’s 2nd point makes it Tyrone 0-04 Sligo 0-00. The Red Hands have also hit five wides in the opening six minutes.

Justin Kelly from play makes it 0-03 to 0-00.

Great start. Aidan Kelly point on thirty seconds. Damien Casey also from play and with two minutes played Tyrone lead two points to no score.

Both teams are out on the park, the officials are busy warming up and making final preparations before the throw in. It is just a pity there is such a small crowd in Healy Park to see Tyrone’s first game in the 2012 National League.

Tyrone Senior Hurlers take to the pitch at Healy Park on Sunday afternoon faced with the task on how exactly to build on last year’s Allianz National League Division 4 title. First up is Sligo in Division 3A. Teamtalkmag.com will be coming LIVE from Healy Park with regurly updates from throughout the afternoon. Throw in time is 2.30pm.

The team named for Sunday afternoon’s clash with the Yeats Men is a nice blend of youth and experience. Last years minor star Damien Casey is named to start at top of the left in what’s sure to be the first in a long Tyrone career for the young Dungannon player.

Tyrone team – John Devlin, Sean Paul Begley, Damian Maguire, Ryan Winters, Mike O’Gorman, Stephen Donnelly, Martin, Grogan, Aidan Kelly, Mark Winters, Gary Fox, Justin Kelly, Shea McKiver, Conor Grogan, Sean Og Grogan, Damien Casey