Tyrone Lose Narrowly To Kerry

Sunday 23.02.2025

County

Tyrone 2-13 3-13 Kerry

Three goals from David Clifford proved decisive as Tyrone now face an uphill battle to remain in the top flight following a third successive defeat. This reversal will be hard to take and perhaps more difficult to understand.

Leading by seven points with 46 minutes played Tyrone failed to punish their opponents whilst in the ascendancy and there was a feeling leaving Plunkett Park that this was one that slipped away.

Tyrone had the advantage of a difficult cross field breeze in the opening period, but were slow to start and it was the Munster men who kicked the opening three scores. Tyrone then lost Eoin McElholm to a seventh minute black card before Paudie Clifford fisted over to extend the lead. Michael McKernan led the fightback and two shots from beyond the arc saw the Fianna man tie up the content in the 16th minute. Conn Kilpatick stroked over Tyrone’s third two pointer and they led for the first time.

Midfielder Joe O’Connor halved the deficit before Darragh Canavan entered the game in the 22nd minute to provide the forward unit with more direction. Mark Bradley got on the scoresheet and frees from McCurry and Canavan stretched the lead to four. A two point free from Darragh Canavan had Tyrone up by six before Clifford struck for his opening goal neatly squeezed his shot past Niall Morgan, just before the half time whistle, but Tyrone will rue a seies of missed tackkles in the build up.

Three points didn’t seemed to be a big enough advantage but nobody could have anticipated such a dramatic second half. Canavan kicked an early free before Morgan produced an outstanding save to deny Clifford. Minutes later Tyrone had the crossbar to thank as Clifford’s shot smashed off it. Tyrone needed a score and it arrived in the 45th minute. Ciaran Daly made an excellent run before he fed Bradley who cut in from the touchline before squaring the ball to Darragh Canavan to rifle to the net. McCurry tagged on another free and the lead was 7.

Kerry wasted little time in clawing their way back a long delivery was well controlled by Paul Geaney and when he was closed down he passed to Clifford to finish to the net. A Geaney free and a point from Diarmuid O’Connor reduced the lead to two with 19 minutes remaining.

The momentum swung back in Tyrone’s favour. Darragh Canavan charged through the centre and was cynically brought down by Joe O’Connor who received a black card with Tyrone awarded a penalty. Shane Ryan got a hand to Mark Bradley’s spot kick, but the Killyclogher man poked home the rebound. Kerry then lost David Clifford to a black card but Tyrone failed to push on, failing to score again in spite of having a two man advantage. An anomaly with the new rules saw Tyrone fail to get the benefit of extra players as they had to keep three defenders back facing one attacker.

The returning players entered the fray with seven minutes remaining and had an immediate impact. Dylan Casey and Paul Geaney scored before Clifford secured his hat-trick calmly slotting home after good work from his brother Paudie who had caused the home side problems all afternoon, with four minutes remaining.

Shane Ryan caught Michael McKernan’s effort above the bar and Kerry regained the lead as the Fossa attacker took his tally to 3-3 with a brace of points. Graham O’Sullivan getting the final point in the last minute. A disappointing end to an afternoon which had promised so much.

Huge credit to the Pomeroy club, whose facilities and pitch were in fantastic shape.