Hurlers Through To Nicky Rackard Semi Final

Saturday 16.05.2015

Club

Tyrone senior hurlers were forced to dig deep and show a bit of character on Saturday afternoon before they finally saw off the challenge of Fingal after extra time. The Red Hands finished with a winning total of 1-21 having hit twenty points last weekend on their way to defeat against Armagh. Fortunately today’s return was enough to ensure Mattie Lennon’s side made it through to the last four of the Nicky Rackard Cup.

Playing with the wind in the first half Fingal began strongly opening up an early four point lead. Scores from Damien Casey and Matthew Mulgrew halved that deficit but it was the home side that made the best use of the elements with Sheridan and O’Brien adding scores. Tyrone worked hard to come to terms with the wind and managed to close the gap to two points with twenty two minutes on the clock 0-7 to 0-5. However the home side upped the scoring rate and reached the break leading 0-13 to 0-6.

The Red Hands made a fast start to the second period with scores from Mulgrew and Casey again. A fine point from Brian Mc Carthy extended Fingal’s lead to six again before Conor Grogan landed an inspirational score. Grogan then set up Matthew Mulgrew for a well worked goal and suddenly there were only two points between the sides.

The teams swapped scores over the course of the next ten minutes but Tyrone were struggling to close the gap further. With less than six minutes on the clock Casey made a superb catch and finish to leave the bare minimum between the teams. A minute later and the sides were level as the Eoghan Ruadh ace struck again. As the game neared its end Matthew Mulgrew put Tyrone ahead for the first time in the game but Sheridan showed nerves of steel to take the game into extra time with a late, late equaliser.

The score at the end of the seventy plus minutes of normal time read Fingal 0-18, Tyrone 1-15.

At the start of the first period of extra time Fingal once again played with the breeze but could only manage two points during the opening eight minutes. Tyrone then showed great character and resilience to level the game at the break with scores from Casey and corner forward Gerard Gilmore. At half time in extra time the sides were once again tied Fingal 0-20, Tyrone 1-17.

The breeze eased for the second period of extra time but Tyrone’s fitness was beginning to tell. Casey landed his tenth point of the match to put his side in front before Conor Grogan stretched the lead to two with the next attack. Fingal were struggling and they were powerless to prevent additional points from Gilmore and Mulgrew as Tyrone finished strongly on a winning score of 1-21 to 0-20. Mulgrew finished the game with 1-5 on what was a very memorable game for him.

Next up for Tyrone is a semi final contest with old adversaries Roscommon. That game is expected to be played next Saturday at Athleague.