Tyrone See Off Antrim Challenge

Sunday 18.01.2015

Club

Tyrone 1-11 Antrim 0-7

Holders Tyrone made it three wins out of three in this year’s Bank of Ireland McKenna Cup when they were double scores winners over Antrim at Clones on Sunday afternoon. It was a game that the Red Hands always looked the likely winners and but for poor shooting at times the winning margin would have been more comfortable.

Antrim led 0-2 to 0-1 early on thanks to points from Sean McVeigh and CJ McGourty but that was as good as it got for the Saffrons. Plunkett Kane, Kyle Coney, Sean Cavanagh and keeper Niall Morgan all featured on the scoresheet for Tyrone as they greeted the short whistle 0-7 to 0-4 in front.

Niall O’Neill reduced the gap in the opening seconds of the second half but in the third minute Kyle Coney was in the right place at the right time to score the only goal of the game after an effort from Cavanagh had come back of the upright.

Darren McCurry, Cavanagh and Connor McAliskey all added to Tyrone’s tally and while Owen Gallagher and McGourty replied for Antrim it was Tyrone who eased to victory. Tyrone’s reward is a semi-final clash with old rivals Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday night, the Orchard men having won the toss for home venue.

Tyrone – N Morgan [0-1, “45”], A McCrory, J McMahon, D Quinn, T McCann, R McNabb, B Tierney, E McKenna, P McNulty, M Donnelly, S Cavanagh [0-4, 2f], P Kane [0-1], D McCurry [0-2, 1f], K Coney [1-1], C McAliskey [0-2]. Subs – R McKenna for Quinn, PJ Lavery for Kane, C McShane for E McKenna, S McGuigan for Donnelly, N McKenna for Coney, P Harte for Tierney

Antrim – C Kerr, T Scullion, C Burke, R Scott, P McAleer, D Lynch, E Killough, B Hasson, S McVeigh [0-1], N O’Neill [0-2], O Gallagher [0-2], D McAleese, CJ McGourty [0-2, 1f], M Pollock, C Fleming. Subs – M Sweeney for McAleer, J Laverty for McVeigh, C Murray for Scott, T McCann for Pollock, J Crozier for Lynch

Referee – P Faloon, Down