Tyrone Account for Down in Ulster MFC

Saturday 06.04.2024

County

Ulster Minor Football Championship
Tyrone 2-7 Down 1-7

Tyrone defeated Down in the opening group game of the Ulster Under 17 championship. When Liam McGeary’s deflected shot nestled in the net in the 35th minute Tyrone had raced to a nine point advantage, but aided by the elements Down staged a second half comeback and Tyrone required a goal line clearance and a couple of telling blocks to preserve a fully merited victory.

Despite the recent weather conditions Dunmoyle was in excellent shape. Both teams took time to settle with Paul McGovern opening the scoring for the visitors in the 8th minute. Tyrone did have the ball in the net minutes later but this was ruled out. Jamie Concannon struck for Tyrone followed by a Lorcan McMurray point. Darren McAnespie took advantage of a mix up in the Down defence to fire to the net with seventeen mintes played as the home side settled to the task. An excellent long range point from Davin McKeown and a tidy finish from McMurray extended the lead as Tyrone began to dominate, in fact a couple of goal chances went a begging during this period. A point from McGovern was Down’s sole reply, although Watson saved from McGrath, as McMurray tagged a third point and a second from Concannon saw Tyrone lead 1-6 0-2 at the break.

McGovern’s third score opened the scoring before McGeary struck to the net. Tyrone were guilty of passing up several goal opportunities in the following ten minutes to seal the victory and when Liam Blaney struck to the net in the 46th minute only four points separated the teams. With Davin McKeown curtailing the considerable influence of Barra McEvoy, Down’s efforts were in vain despite a long range free from McEvoy and a point from Cormac Small in the final five minutes. The recently introduced Shea McDermott steadied Tyrone nerves with a super free off the ground in injury time as the Tyrone rearguard stood firm to contain a late Down onslaught.

Tyrone’s management will be delighted with a much improved effort and performance and will travel to Ballybofey next Saturday with renewed confidence to play Donegal in their second group game.

Tyrone O Watson, P McGinley, P Goodman, E Conway, T Meenan, D McKeown (0-1), A Quinn, E Donaghy, D McAnespie (1-0), P Donaghy, J Concannon (0-2), S Teague, L McMurray (0-3, 1f), D Devlin, L McGeary (1-0) Subs P Colton, S McDermott (0-1, 1f), P McGoldrick