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Tyrone Masters Defeat Kerry In Play Off
Monday 11.08.2025
Tyrone travelled to Kiltoom to face Kerry in a playoff to reach the semi final of the Dr.Mick Loftus Cup after they both finished on 10 points in qualifying and what a battle it turned out to be.
Both teams started nervously sounding each other out and it was Kerry who opened the scoring with a point from play courtesy of Tom Mc Goldrick.
Tyrone replied with a point from midfielder Johnny O’Neill and went ahead with a point from Marty MC Grath. Kerry drew level with a point from midfielder Jeremy King.
Both teams had several chances during the opening quarter but both teams squandered numerous chances for scores.
Tyrone edged ahead with a Conor Gormley point but they were dealt a blow when from a searching ball into the Tyrone defence the Kerry full forward nipped ahead of the defence to punch the ball to the net leaving them two ahead.
Tyrone continued probing and reduced the gap to a minimum with a point from a free by Mark Donnelly.Tyrone had plenty of possession and were pressing for an equaliser but to no avail as balls were placed into the keeper’s hands or wide of the target. Then on the stroke of half time Kerry were awarded a penalty after the ref decided that the Kerry forward had been fouled in the small square much to the protests of the Tyrone men. The kick was duly converted by Mc Goldrick to leave Kerry going in leading 2-2 to 0-4 at halftime.
Tyrone had left themselves with plenty to do and think about during the break as they prepared for the second half.
The half began with Tyrone going after their opponents at every opportunity and the Red Hands reduced the arrears to a minimum with 2 points from Donnelly, one a free sandwiched between another Gormley point.
Kerry kept pressing to their credit and but for a neat save from Martin Mc Creesh in the Tyrone goal that could have left them in a commanding position going down the straight.Tyrone pressed again and again to get the equaliser but it wasn’t forthcoming and Kerry went two ahead with a free from centre forward Michael A Murphy.With time running out Tyrone laid siege on the Kerry rearguard and from a pressing run into the Kerry box from Johnny O’Neill slipped the ball to Donnelly who calmly finished to the Kerry goal leaving Tyrone ahead by 1 with five minutes remaining.
The game was there to be won and Tyrone pressed again with a Shane MC Cann point. Donnelly again and captain Gormley finished the scoring with another tidy finish coming up to join the attack from centre back.
That score secured the result with Tyrone winning the tie 1-10 to 2-3. This was a titanic battle for the Tyrone men who no doubt will be looking for an improved performance in their semi final tie to be played on the 23rd August with opponents determined this week when the draw is made.
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