Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section C: Tyrone 2-14 Ulster University 1-9
JUST hours after returning from their squad holiday in Thailand, Tyrone shook off the jet-lag in the second half to brush aside a determined UU challenge.
While a handful of newcomers, including Liam Rafferty, Brian Kennedy and the returning Conan Grugan, made telling contributions, it was the old guard, particularly substitutes Peter Harte (right) and Niall Sludden, who helped the Red Hands exert a measure of control and break the students’ resistance.
With two convincing wins and a firm grip on the Group C leadership, they need just a draw from the midweek clash with Fermanagh to clinch a Dr McKenna Cup semi-final place.
Harte and Declan McClure struck the second half goals that swung the tie in favour of the home side, and in Kennedy and Grugan, Tyrone appear to have discovered two midfielders who combine physical presence with athleticism and footballing talents.
In Pictures: Tyrone v Ulster University
There was little mention of the experimental rules following a Healy Park contest on which they had minimal impact – just one hand-pass infraction penalised by referee Ciaran Branagan.
Five Tyrone players were included in the Ulster University starting line-up, including established county players Lee Brennan, Michael McKernan and Frank Burns, with Brennan once again finishing as their top marksman.
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Tyrone’s complete dominance of the opening ten minutes brought them just a single point, scored by debutant Ryan Gray, as the students defended with discipline.
Pearse Lavery denied Liam Rafferty with a well timed block, while the experienced Karl McKaigue made sure that the exciting Darragh Canavan was unable to sparkle on his first Tyrone start
The game was more than six minutes old by the time a UU player got hands on the ball in open play, but having survived that difficult opening spell, they pushed forward to take the lead through Michael McEvoy, after Brennan had opened their account.
The Red Hands had to be patient to break down a defence in which Oisin McConvey operated effectively as sweeper, but long range efforts from Grugan and Conor Meyler saw them regain the lead.
Impressive wing back Liam Rafferty was also on target, and another defender, Aidan McCrory, got forward to pick off a point as the home side opened out a three points lead.
But the Jordanstown side was adept at soaking up pressure and breaking with purpose and pace, winning frees that Brennan steered between the posts, and margin stood at a single point before Kyle Coney converted a free, and Rafferty galloped along the left flank to fire over a wonderful score for a 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead.
The Red Hands were, however, still searching for momentum and fluency, and were pinned back in the early stages of the second half as UU shot the first three points to go level.
Substitute Ronan Beatty, with his first touch, Brennan, with a gem from play, and Nathan Donnelly all found the target to make it 0-8 apiece, but they were level for just a few seconds, as the home side responded emphatically.
Peter Harte, into the game to replace hamstring victim Matthew Murnaghan, provided the assist for Declan McClure to drill his shot to the net, and Mickey Harte’s side never looked back.
Daire Gallagher hit back with a UU goal, reacting quickest to finish a breaking ball to the net, but Tyrone were now in control, and reeled off 1-2 in the final 15 minutes.
Kennedy and Harte thumped over eye-catching scores, and it was Harte who steered home their second three-pointer after the students had failed to deal with Niall Sludden’s delivery to seal the win and keep the Red Hands on top of Group C.
Tyrone: B Gallen; C McLaughlin, HP McGeary, A McCrory (0-1); L Rafferty (0-2), C Meyler (0-1), M Murnaghan; C Grugan (0-1), B Kennedy (0-1); D McClure (1-1, 0-1 free), K Coney (0-2 frees), R Gray (0-2); D Canavan,
R O’Neill, R Sludden; Subs: P Harte (1-2) for Murnaghan (39), D Mulgrew (0-1) for O’Neill (43), N Sludden for R Sludden (46), R Brennan for McGeary (52), C McShane for Canavan (60)
Ulster University: T McConville; M Magee, K McKaigue, S Fegan (0-1); M McKernan, M McEvoy (0-1), O McConvey; T O’Brien, R Mullen; D Gallagher (1-0), P Lavery, N Donnelly (0-1); L Brennan (0-4, 0-2 frees), F Burns, L Harney.
Subs: E Murray for Magee (21), R Beatty (0-1) for O’Brien (h-t), D Cassidy for McKaigue (49), J Doherty (0-1) for Harney (49), C O’Hagan for Burns (62)
Referee: C Branagan (Down)
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