Tyrone Hurlers Miss Out On Promotion

Sunday 19.04.2015

Club

TYRONE 2-12

DONEGAL 2-16

Tyrone’s hurlers will remain in Division 3A of the National League next season following a four point reversal in Saturday’s promotion/relegation playoff at Celtic Park. The Red Hands will be very disappointed at the way their league season has concluded but on the pitch there could be little doubt that Donegal were worthy winners following a much improved display from last week.

Donegal were the dominant side throughout with Lee Henderson and Sean McVeigh impressive and while they had four points to spare at the end they also hit 19 wides such was their overall control. They were particularly powerful in the opening half and led at one stage by nine points.

Goals from Ciaran Mathewson and Jack O’Loughlin gave their team a six point half time lead as Tyrone struggled to keep in touch with a much improved Donegal side. Lee Henderson and the returning Sean McVeigh landed 0-3 apiece as Damien Casey’s 0-4 kept Tyrone in touch just as he had done in the drawn game.

Tyrone rallied in the second half and goals from Conor Grogan and Damien Casey from a penalty pulled the sides level with six minutes gone in the second half. Grogan drilled to the net from the ground after good work from Sean Og Grogan while Casey found the bottom right corner with his penalty after he had pointed a 65. Donegal’s chief marksman Lee Henderson who finished with 0-6, Jack O’Loughlin and Ronan McDermott fired over points to put Donegal in front again. Casey missed with two 65s and saw a point eventually wiped off the slate after a disagreement between the umpires. Sadly there was to be no comeback from Tyrone on this occasion. Both teams traded points and Mark Winters hit the post late in the game but it was Donegal’s day.

Tyrone will remain in Division 3A of the Allianz League on the back of this four point defeat. The sides meet again though in two weeks in the Nicky Rackard Cup. Another potential classic.