Christy Ring Cup
Tyrone are off the mark in the Christy Ring Cup with a first win of the 2024 series, a battling 2-17 to 2-14 points defeat of Sligo at Markievicz Park.
Two first half goals from Sean Og Grogan laid the foundation, but a strong revival from the Yeatsmen had Stephen McGarry’s side hanging on towards the finish.
Grogan’s opportunism saw him finish from close range for his first, before sending a rocket past Declan Reidy for a brilliant second.
And with Aidy Kelly striking accurately from frees, they maintained the advantage through the first half.
Gerard O’Kelly Lynch began to find the target from frees, as Sligo clawed their way back, but scores from Mickey Little and Sean Duffin had the visitors ahead by 2-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
The Connacht men enjoyed a spell of dominance, and scores from Joe McHugh and Rory McHugh narrowed the gap, before a long delivery from McHugh deceiced defenders and goalkeeper and went all the way to the net.
Despite losing goalkeeper Conor McElhatton to a black card and conceding two penalties, they held off their opponents.
McHugh sent one of the penalties over the bar, but netted the second as the home side closed the gap.
And Tyrone held on for the win, finishing with 14 men following a second yellow card for Ruairi Devlin.
Derry’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stages suffered a setback as they lost their first match of the competition, going down 2-19 to 0-18 against Kildare in Manguard Park.
Kildare started well and a Jack Sheridan goal put them in command after 22 minutes. Ruairi O’ Mianain and Cormac O’Doherty slotted over points to keep the Oak Leafers in touch but the home side held a nine-point lead at the break.
O’Doherty and O’Mianain continued to be Derry’s main source of scores in the second half as they looked to close the gap, but a second Sheridan goal scuppered their chances of getting something from the game.
Derry’s next match is against London who had a 2-20 to 0-14 win over Wicklow which sees them remain top of the group with three wins out of three.
Round three London 2-20 Wicklow 0-14; Kildare 2-19 Derry 0-18; Sligo 2-14 Tyrone 2-17
Round four
Saturday, May 11 Tyrone v Kildare (Eoghan Ruadh GAC, TBC); Derry v London (Owenbeg, 1.30pm)
Sunday, May 12 Wicklow v Sligo (Aughrim, TBC)