Tyrone Lose Out In Conor Mc Gurk Cup

Wednesday 03.01.2024

County

Conor McGurk Cup
Tyrone 4-12 Antrim 3-23

They may have come away with an eight point loss but Tyrone senior hurling manager Stephen McGarry was more than satisfied with his side’s performance in Garvaghey last night against an Antrim side containing half a dozen first team starters.

Antrim blitzed the opening minutes of the contest leading 0-5 to no score after 8 mins.  They had five different scorers during that time with Niall McKenna, Conal Cunning, Gerard Walsh, Niall McGarel and Aodhan McGarry all recording points for the visitors.

Aidan Kelly opened Tyrone’s scoring from the free in the 14^th minute and from there to the 30^th minute Tyrone hit Antrim for 0-6 conceding only 0-2 during that time.  Tyrone scores coming from the sticks of Mickey Little (0-2), James McCann (0-2), Mark McClean and Ben Gormley while Antrim responded with points from Conal Bohill and Aodhan McGarry.  In the remaining five minutes of the half Antrim fired over points from McGarel (0-2), Eoin McFerran and Conal Cunning.  Tyrone’s only point during that time coming from Aidan Kelly.

Half time: Antrim 0-11 Tyrone 0-8

Darren Gleeson ran the changes for Antrim at half time and they hit Tyrone for 1-3 inside the opening five minutes.  Conal Bohill, Sean McKay and Daire McMullan with the points and Conal Cunning with the goal in the 40^th minute despite the best efforts of John Devlin in the Tyrone goals.

The five minute blitz might well have shut down a lot of team but Tyrone responded brilliantly hitting 1-4 without reply between the 41^st and 44^th minute.  The points coming from the sticks of Ben Gormley, Tiernan Morgan Turlough Mullin and Fionn Devlin while the goal was turned to the net by Mickey Little.

Three Antrim points from Conal Cunning, Eoin McGarry and Niall McGarel were followed up with three goals, one Tyrone major from Turlough Mullin and two Antrim majors from Conal Cunning and Niall McKenna.  Antrim gained full control of the contest from the 62^ndminute to the 68^th.  Points apiece for Eoin McFerran and Niall McKenna were followed up with a brace of points for Criostai McAuley and Conal Bohill.  The last two scores of the game were Tyrone’s.  Goals from Aidan Kelly following a brilliant sideline cut from Mickey Little and a goal from substitute Anthony Crossan.

Tyrone: J Devlin, D Rafferty, O McKee, E Winters, M McClean (0-1), F Devlin (0-1), T Morgan (0-1), B Gormley (0-2), J McCann (0-2), M Little (1-2, 2f), R Devlin, L Devlin, R Weir, T Mullin (1-1), A Kelly (1-2). Subs: R Maguire for L Devlin (HT), M McCann for R Weir (48), C Taggart for T Mullin (61), A Crossan (1-0) for M McClean (68).

Antrim: T Smyth, M McGibbon, G Walsh (0-1, 1f), R McCormick, D McMullan (0-1), C Boyd, D Patterson, C Bohill (0-04), A McGarrigle, E McFerran (0-2), N McKenna (1-2), A McGarry (0-1), R Mort, C Cunning (2-3, 1f), N McGarrell (0-4). Subs: C McFadden for T Smyth (HT), S McKay (0-1) for A McGarrigle (HT), T McFerran for D Patterson (48), C McAllister for R McCormick (48), E McGarry (0-1) for C Boyd (57), B O’Connor for R Mort (64), C McAuley (0-2) for N McGarrell (64).

Final Score: Tyrone 4-12 Antrim 3-23

Referee: Peter Owens (Down)