Tyrone beat Kildare by 8 points in NFL…

Sunday 03.04.2011

The final whistle is blown and Tyrone are very cosy 0-13 to 0-5 winners over Kildare following a very impressive show by Mickey Harte’s side on their return to O’Neill Park. Three points from Mark Donnelly and one from Sean Cavanagh were all that was needed in the second half to keep Mickey Harte’s side comfortably ahead of the Lilywhites. The Red Hands produced some wonderful passages of football this afternoon but this victory was also based on the tremendous work rate displayed all over the field by the home side. Kildare’s challenge was disappointing and was dismissed very easily, and the result was inevitable for most of the second half as Tyrone called the shots throughout. Apart from some great team defending, and some lovely scores, the highlights of the day for many were the sights of Philip Jordan and then Brian Dooher running onto the field during the second half. Tyrone, with four successive league wins under their belt, are very much going the right way as they head towards their final division 2 fixture away to Meath…

Tyrone are so dominant in this game as they pass the ball around with ease, hitting about thirty consecutive passes before the play is stopped, Martin Penrose just missing the target from a free kick…

Kildare knock over a couple of points through Johnny Doyle but the game ended as a contest some time ago and the Kildare replies are merely consolation scores as Tyrone head towards injury time with an impressive 0-13 to 0-5 advantage under their belt, Brian Dooher looking the part in his comeback game…

It’s Mark Donnelly on target once again, the Carrickmore man delivering his best score of the day so far as Tyrone move into a massive ten point lead and cruise towards a surprisingly easy victory over Kieran McGeeney’s outfit. Brian Dooher almost lifts the roof of the stand moments later but his shot misses the target very narrowly and Tyrone remain 0-13 to 0-3 ahead going into the last couple of minutes…

Tyrone have been playing some superb possession football in this second half without getting the scores their approach play has deserved, but there’s another point for Mark Donnelly as he drills over his second score of the afternoon following a great build up involving Sean Cavanagh…

It’s incredible that, with 28 minutes gone in this second half, the scoreboard is still reading 0-11 to 0-3, Kildare unable to muster a score since they got their third point early in the second quarter. The second half scoreline is Tyrone 0-2 Kildare 0-0 and there’s just over five minutes remaining…

BRIAN DOOHER is on the field and there’s a huge roar from the O’Neill Park stand as Brian gets into position to launch his 16th season with the Tyrone seniors, Colm Cavanagh the player to make way…

There’s a great reception for Philip Jordan as the Moy man enters the fray in place of Damian McCaul for his first taste of intercounty football in 2011. It’s great to have the four times All-Star back in action today. Will Dooher be next?

Kildare are already looking like a beaten side going into this final quarter as Johnny Doyle’s free goes tamely wide, Tyrone still leading by 0-11 to 0-3 and looking good at this stage in the match…

McGuigan, Mulligan, Hughes and Penrose are all catching the eye as Tyrone continue to apply pressure on the Kildare defence with some very promising build up play. The visitors, who haven’t yet scored in this second half, are fortunate not to be further behind at this midway point in the half…

Tyrone are going very well and a superb seven man move is rounded off excellently with a neat Mark Donnelly point as the Red Hands make it seven points in a row to edge closer to a fourth straight victory in this national league campaign. It’s 0-11 to 0-3…

Tyrone have kept Kildare at bay very well in the opening ten minutes of this second half and they come very close to putting themselves in an unassailable position as Owen Mulligan almost finds the Kildare net following wonderful approach work by the impressive Brian McGuigan. Still, the Red Hands are looking comfortable at this stage of the proceedings…

Sean Cavanagh adds his name to the scoresheet with a fine score as Tyrone continue where they left off before half time, Cavanagh’s strike putting the Red Hands into a fairly commanding 0-10 to 0-3 lead…

While Penrose has been very sharp in attack today, the Tyrone defence has also been very solid, as Kildare’s first half tally of 0-3 will testify. Joe McMahon’s return to the side at full back is very noticeable and the big Omagh man has been very good in the opening 35 minutes. Marty Swift, Davy Harte and Ryan McMenamin have also been defending well and helping to launch Tyrone on the attack at every opportunity, although it has to be said that the half forwards have been lending great assistance to the half back line in this game…

Martin Penrose has been the key figure in this game so far with his notable contribution of five points, including two from play, not to mention his fantastic work rate, but there have been great scores from Brian McGuigan (2), Colm Cavanagh and Kevin Hughes too as Tyrone prepare for the second half with a well deserved 0-9 to 0-3 lead. Mickey Harte will be pleased with how things have unfolded so far but we can expect a determined Kildare challenge in this second half and there’s still a lot of work to be done before the points are handed out…

Kevin Hughes thumps over a marvellous long range score to widen the gap to six points following great work by Sean Cavanagh and it proves to be the final score of the first half, ensuring Tyrone are enjoying a useful six point cushion at the halfway stage, but there’s still a long way to go in this match and this breeze could yet have a part to play as Kildare set their sights on narrowing the gap after the interval…

Penrose hits another brilliant  free kick from a difficult angle to register his fifth point of the match, and that’s four points in a row for Tyrone who are in a great position approaching half time, holding a 0-8 to 0-3 lead, although there is a sharp breeze here at O’Neill Park…

Martin Penrose is in hot form this afternoon as he drills over a superb score, his fourth of the match, to give Tyrone a very healthy four point cushion with 29 minutes played. That’s three points in a row for the home side and it’s 0-7 to 0-3…

A wonderful score from Brian McGuigan, who has been making a habit of scores like this in 2011, propels Tyrone back into a three point lead with 27 minutes gone, the score coming after good approach work by Martin Swift, Mark Donnelly and the busy Penrose. It’s the best score of the afternoon so far and Tyrone are now ahead by 0-6 to 0-3…

Martin Penrose gives Tyrone a two point cushion as he converts another free kick for his third point of the day, the Red Hands taking a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage after 26 minutes…

This is developing into a good contest and Kildare have shown in the last ten minutes that Tyrone will have to perform well and work very hard to get the points from this game. Tyrone were very good in the opening quarter but Kildare are very much in this game now after 25 minutes…

Kildare are having their best spell of the match and Ronan Sweeeny slots over their third point of the proceedings to leave the minimum margin between the sides, 0-4 to 0-3…

Conor Gormley has looked strong in defence so far but Kildare veteran Johnny Doyle shows his class with a good score for the visitors, leaving it 0-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes of play…

Colm Cavanagh, whose brother Sean has caught the eye in the opening exchanges, sends Tyrone back into a three point lead as he collects the ball from Mark Donnelly and splits the Kildare posts in good style. It’s 0-4 to 0-1 and Tyrone are continuing to work hard all over the pitch…

Kildare open their account with 14 minute gone as Johnny Doyle swings over a free kick, although the decision may have been a little harsh on Davy Harte who has started well along with others beside him in the Tyrone defence…

The home side, back at O’Neill Park for the first time in a few years, have begun proceedings impressively here and Martin Penrose translates the good work being done all over the field onto the scoreboard with a well taken free kick, leaving it 0-3 to no score after 12 minutes. So far, so good…

Tyrone’s bright start continues as they build impressively from the back through Joe McMahon, making his first start of 2011, and Damian McCaul, Owen Mulligan, Martin Penrose and Mark Donnelly all play their part as the ball makes its way to Brian McGuigan for an excellent finish. It’s two-nil to the Red Hands after six minutes…

Martin Penrose opens the scoring after four minutes of play as he pops the ball over the bar to maintain his fine scoring form in 2011. It’s a positive start here from Tyrone in O’Neill Park…

Following a minute’s silence the action is underway at O’Neill Park in Dungannon as Tyrone aim to continue their recent winning run in division two of the national football league at home to Kildare. Three victories on the bounce have revived Tyrone’s hopes of gaining promotion back to the top flight and another win today would be a huge boost. Tyrone have made one change to their original selection with Mark Donnelly replacing Stephen O’Neill in the full forward line. None of the under-21 players are on the Tyrone panel today but Brian Dooher and Philip Jordan are among the subs and Joe McMahon is in the first fifteen…

TYRONE TEAM V KILDARE… Pascal McConnell, Martin Swift, Joe McMahon, Damian McCaul, David Harte, Conor Gormley, Ryan McMenamin, Kevin Hughes, Aidan Cassidy, Colm Cavanagh, Brian McGuigan, Sean Cavanagh, Martin Penrose, Mark Donnelly, Owen Mulligan