Still in the Mix for Six

Sunday 22.01.2017

County

Tyrone remain on course for a sixth consecutive Dr McKenna Cup title after the Red Hands got the better of a dogged Fermanagh side by 0-14 to 0-11 at Clones in front of a crowd of more than five thousand.

Showing five changes from their original selection it was Fermanagh who started best with their three inside men causing plenty of problems for the Tyrone defence. Tomas Corrigan, Eddie Courtney and Barry Mulrone looked lively early on as the Erne men moved 0-3 to 0-2 ahead with fifteen minutes on the clock. Indeed it took a superb block from Peter Harte to deny Eoin Donnelly a goal as the Erne men sought to capitalise on their bright start.

Tyrone gradually grew into the game however with Harte, Niall Mc Kenna and Niall Sludden forcing several key turnovers that led to scores and had Mickey Harte’s men in front for the first time in the game with twenty one minutes on the clock. Peter Harte, who was Tyrone’s outstanding player in the first half landed three frees to sent the cup holders in at the break leading 0-7 to 0-4 after Tomas Corrigan converted an injury time free for the men in green.

The second half saw Tyrone make a number of changes as they attempted to make it through to another Mc Kenna Cup final but it was Fermanagh who opened the scoring when Corrigan landed his team’s fifth point. That score seemed to spur Tyrone on and three Darren Mc Curry points put five between the teams with the second half only ten minutes old.

At that stage it seemed that Tyrone would run away with the game but the Erne men refused to yield and replied with a fine score from Paul Mc Cusker.

Fermanagh were enjoying greater possession but Tyrone looked like they were capable of scoring on the counter attack at every opportunity. Mc Curry (2) and Lee Brennan added further scores to extend Tyrone’s lead to seven and Fermanagh must have feared they were in for a heavy beating.

However with the introduction of Sean Quigley Fermanagh upped the pace and out-scored Tyrone 5 points to 1 during the closing fifteen minutes. Pete Mc Grath’s side narrowed the gap to three points and came close to snatching a draw when a high ball into the square was spilled to the ground but the referee awarded a free out and Tyrone easily saw out the remaining minutes of added time.

Final score: Tyrone 0-14, Fermanagh 0-11.

Tyrone: M O’Neill, A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron, R McNabb, T McCann, P Harte (0-4, 4f), C Cavanagh, P McNulty, D McClure, N Sludden, N McKenna (0-1), D McCurry (0-6, 3f), C McShane (0-1), L Brennan (0-1). Subs: S Cavanagh for C Cavanagh (blood sub), M Donnelly for Harte, P Hampsey for McCrory, C Cavanagh for S Cavanagh, M Bradley (0-1) for McKenna, R O’Neill for Brennan, C McCullagh for Sludden

Fermanagh: T Tracey, M Jones, C Cullen, D Teague, D McCusker, R McCluskey, P Reihill, L Cullen, E Donnelly, P McCusker (0-1), J McMahon, A Breen (0-1), B Mulrone, E Courtney (0-1), T Corrigan (0-6, 6f). Subs: D Keenan for Duffy, J McMahon for Bradley, C Beacom for Reihill, T McCaffery for Mulrone, S Quigley (0-2, 2f) for Courtney