Mixed Fortunes For Tyrone Minor Sides In Championship

Saturday 13.05.2023

All Ireland Series

Tyrone minor footballers and hurlers were both involved in championship games on Saturday with mixed fortunes and outcomes. The footballers enjoyed a comfortable win over Fermanagh at O’Neills Healy Park while the hurlers run in the Celtic Challenge came to an end at the semi final stage against Antrim. The Antrim lads were just a bit too sharp for Tyrone and by half time were in total control leading 2-8 to 0-5. Tyrone were more competitive after the break but the lack of depth in the squad took a toll and Antrim eased to a 5-17 to 2-9 win.

Tyrone’s footballers were hotly tipped to win their quarter final and once Aidan Hegarty hit their first goal of the game after three minutes they did not disappoint. Further first half goals from Darragh Donaghy (2) and Conor O’Neill helped send Tyrone in at the break leading 4-11 to 1-2. The Fermanagh goal from Michael Burns came after hesitation in the Tyrone defence was punished by an excellent finish from the left half forward.

The returning Ruairi Mc Cullagh finished with six points but was one of several Tyrone substitutions during the second half. The changes did impact on the flow of the game but the Red Hands always appeared in control.

Oisin Swift broke forward to score Fermanagh’s second goal of the game midway through the second half but Tyrone wiped that out with three points inside two minutes followed by a Mattie Howe goal to leave the score 5-18 to 2-4 with ten minutes left. The highly impressive Sheehan Fay hit Tyrone’s sixth goal of the match before two points from Darragh Donaghy and a point from Mattie Howe wrapped up the scoring to leave the result Tyrone 6: 21 Fermanagh 2-4.

Tyrone will now face Monaghan in next weekend’s semi final with Cavan taking on Derry in the other one.