Tyrone Suffer Heartbreaking Late Loss In Croke Park- Lory Meagher Final

Saturday 04.06.2011

Tyrone hurlers have made a great start to the Lory Meagher Cup final in Croke Park this afternoon.  They lead after 15 mins 0-7 to 0-2 thanks to points from Aidan Kelly (0-3), Rory O’Neill (0-2) and Gary Fox.

Donegal have come more and more into the game through a Ciaran Matthewson goal and two points.  24 minutes gone and the scoreline is now 0-8 to 1-4.  Donegal have levelled things up thanks to a free from Campbell.

A Mickey McCann free followed by another Donegal point thanks to Niall Campbell have turned the game on its head and they now lead by two at half time by two points.  Donegal 1-7 Tyrone 0-8

Tyrone have started the second half well and a Peter O’Connor point levels the game as the Red Hands begin to dominate.

Donegal restore the one point lead 1-8 to ten points following a free from Niall Campbell with 13 minutes of the second half played.

Conor Grugan sends over the equalising score from 45 metres and it is all square again.

Peter O’Connor puts Tyrone ahead with a fine strike and with 16 minutes gone they lead their neighbours 0-12 to 1-8

Niall Campbell ties the game again with another fine free for Donegal.

Paul Sheridan sends over a fine point for Donegal as the Tir Connail men move ahead again and a Sean Mc Veigh score now puts two between them and

Donegal lead 1-11 to 12, but immediately a Justin Kelly score narrow the gap to one point again.

Less than ten minutes to go and Conor Grugan levels the game again with a fine long range point, 1-11 to 0-14.

Once again though Donegal respond with a point from Matthewson to put them one ahead again.

Tony Hughes and Mark Winters enter the game with less than eight minutes remaining.

The sides are level again as Peter O’Connor sends over a fine point for Tyrone.

Six minutes plus injury time left at Croke Park with all to play for and Justin Kelly

puts Tyrone 0-16 to 1-12 ahead with a massive score.

Kelly makes it two in two minutes with his fifth point of the day as Tyrone extend their lead to two points.

33 minutes gone and Tyrone still lead by two 0-17 to 1-12.

Donegal score a sensational goal on thirty five minutes from Ciaran Matthewson to edge ahead by a point with tome almost up.

One minute of additional time remaining and it does not look good for Tyrone as Martin Grugan receives a red card and it looks

like Donegal will edge it but Tyrone regain possession

The game is over and in spite of a valiant effort from Tyrone Donegal’s late, late goal from Ciaran Matthewson who scored 2-3

for his side decided the game. Donegal will be crowned Lory Meagher Cup Champions for 2011. Bitter disappointment for Tom

Magill and his players.