Derry lose MCKENNA CUP

Derry failed to retain the McKenna Cup last night when they lost to Tyrone in the final under the lights in the Athletics Grounds in Armagh.

Whilst Tyrone’s victory will be academic in years to come the game will be remembered as the first time DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson attended a GAA match.

Derry were in cruise control in the first half but when James Conway was sent off they lost their edge and Tyrone ran out worthy winners.

Derry got off to a rip roaring start in the first half when they took an early two point lead when Paddy Bradley converted two frees in the third and seventh minutes respectively.

Last night’s McKenna Cup final was only Bradley’s second start for Derry in the competition but his lack of games did not appear to hinder him.

Banagher’s Mark Lynch took full advantage of poor play in the Tyrone half-back line when he put the ball over the black spot in the 11th minute to give Derry a deserved three point lead.

Tyrone saw two early chances sail wide but Michael Murphy got the first point on the board for Mickey Harte’s men in the 12th minute.

Paddy Bradley scored his second goal of the competition in the 17th minute. Bradley’s chance came about after decent link up play between James Conway and Cailean O’Boyle. Lavey man O’Boyle got the final touch to Bradley who smashed the ball past John Devine from close range, the score now 1-03 to 0-1 to Derry.

Derry looked to be in full control midway through the first half but their task of reclaiming the Dr. McKenna Cup was made more difficult when James Conway was shown a straight card after he clashed with Tyrone’s Colm Cavanagh.

Conway tried his best to convince the referee he had made a mistake but Fermanagh man Martin Higgins wouldn’t entertain him and pointed to the players’ tunnel.

Conway’s sending off appeared to have virtually no impact on the Derry team, in fact, it appeared to spur them on.

Mark Lynch scored what could only be described as an audacious point in the 23rd minute when he linked up with team mate Conleith Gilligan on the right. Lynch sprinted down the right and hugging the touchline he smashed a fantastic point between the posts to give the Oak Leafers a six point lead.

Tyrone’s Michael Murphy got both his and Tyrone’s second point of the final when he received a wonderful pass from Mulligan in the 27th minute. Murphy kept his balance to guide the ball between the posts from 25 metres out.

The sending off of James Conway and the injury to Gerard O’Kane started to takes it toll as Tyrone roared their way back into contention with a wonderful score from Peter Harte and a free from Stephen O’Neill.

Despite leading the game by six points at one stage Derry appeared to lose their composure when they were reduced to 14 men. Tyrone started to take hold of the game and when Owen Mulligan squeezed the ball past Danny Devlin in first half injury time. Mulligan’s goal reduced Derry’s lead to one point and Cathal McCarron restored parity for the Red Hand county on the stroke of half time. The score 1-05 each at half time.

Tyrone had Derry on the ropes and the sprinted into the lead with a phenomenal point from Stephen O’Neill on the left hand side in the first minute of the second period.

Tyrone extended their lead to three points when Mark Donnelly pointed after the ball rebounded off the post and back into play and Stephen O’Neill converted his second free of the game.

Conlieth Gilligan pulled a point back for Derry but Tyrone showed their prowess with four scores without reply from Mattie Donnelly (2), Dermot Carlin and Cathal McCarron which gave Tyrone a five point lead.

Cailean O’Boyle converted an injury time penalty for Derry but seconds later Tyrone were confirmed as Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup on a final score of 1-14 to 2-08.

DERRY: D. Devlin; D McBride, L. Morrow, R. Dillon; G. O’Kane, B.McCallion, B. McGoldrick ; J. Conway, J. Diver; C. McKaigue, M. Lynch (0-2), S.L. McGoldrick (0-1); Cailean O’Boyle (1-0), P. Bradley (1-2, 2f), C. Gilligan (0-3, 2f).

Subs: N. Forrister for G. O’Kane 10 mins; K. O’Neill for N. Forrester 40 mins; P.J. McCloskey for J. Diver 46 mins; M. Craig for R. Dillon 54 mins; E. Lynn for C. Gilligan.

TYRONE: J. Devine; A.McCroy, J. McMahon, P.J. Quinn; C. McCarron (0-2), P. Harte (0-1), D. Carlin (0-1); M. Murphy (0-2), C. Cavanagh; Mattie Donnelly (0-3), P. Hughes, M. Penrose; O. Mulligan (1-1, 1f), Mark Donnelly (0-1), S. O’Neill (0-2, 1f).

Subs: J. McMahon for C. Cavanagh 21 mins; J. Lafferty for M. Penrose 38 mins; S. O’Neill for J. McMahon 47 mins; R. O’Neill (0-1) for S. O’Neill 64 mins; S. McNulty for M. Murphy 64 mins.

REFEREE: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh). Attendance: 4,715.