ANTHONY Tohill took the game, the points and the plaudits by the scruff of the neck as the midfield giant turned on the power to dominate the Division One derby with Tyrone before 8,000 spectators at a gale-lashed Celtic Park, the Oak Leafs winning 0-7 to 0-3.
Tohill was at his brilliant best as he inspired the double league champions to a fine first round win. The Derry man slammed over six points with superb accuracy, lorded the outfield exchanges and generally ran the show to all but strangle a blunt Tyrone challenge.
And to cap a dismal day for the Ulster title holders’ new manager Danny Ball, defender Paul Donnelly failed to finish, being sent off for a second bookable offence with five minutes left.
Derry: D O’Hare, K McKeever, R McGuckin, E McKeever, S Lockhart, D Heaney, G Coleman, A Tohill (0-6), H Downey, R Boylan, S Downey, R Rocks, J Brolly (0-1), A McGuckin, S McLarnon. Subs: D Dougan for A McGuckin (half time), S McGuckian for McLarnon (38 mins), D McIlvar for Heaney (57 mins)
Tyrone: F McConnell, P Devlin, N Donnelly, D Hagan, P Donnelly, P Canavan, S McLoughlin, M McGleenan (0-1), S McCallan, B Dooher, A Kilpatrick, C McBride, A Cush, S Lawn, E Gormley (0-1). Subs: B Gormley for Dooher (36 mins), E McCaffrey 90-1) for Cush (42 mins).
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TWO scintillating goals inside four minutes by Down full forward Ciaran McCabe sent the Mournemen on the road to victory as they easily accounted for Wexford, 2-15 to 0-4, in their opening NFL Division Three game in Newry.
It was all too easy for Down who were the masters from the start. They controlled midfield through Gregory McCartan and Gareth Baillie over several Wexford combinations with only William Carley offering token resistance to the Down pair.
The Down springboard for success came from the half backline where newcomer wing-halfs Daniel Flynn and Simon Poland flanked Paul Higgins to produce a line of excellence that gave the Wexford attack few chances while at the same time moving forward to open up Down attacks.
Conor Deegan had an outstanding game at full back while ‘keeper Michael McVeigh was only called on once during the hour when he rushed out to block a shot from Wexford’s Scott Doran.
Up front the Down attack moved with fluency with Ross Carr pulling the strings and newcomers Patrick Sloan and Tom McMahon giving McCabe great assistance as they tore the Wexford defence apart with scintillating passing movements.
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PIERRE Van Hooijdonk’s return to the green and white hoops could not have been scripted better as he headed 10-man Celtic to within two points of Rangers in the championship race after defeating Motherwell at Celtic Park.
The Dutchman got on the end of a Jackie McNamara cross in the fifth minute of stoppage time to bury a header past ‘keeper Scott Howie and claim all three points for the home side.
It was three points which Celtic should have wrapped up early on but it looked as though they might have to settle for a draw, especially after the dismissal of ‘keeper Gordon Marshall in the 82nd minute for a foul on Motherwell substitute Lee McCulloch.
The significance of Van Hooijdonk’s intervention was enhanced by the surprise defeat of title adversaries Rangers at the hands of managerless Hibs.
Just two weeks ago Van Hooijdonk had been told by Celtic boss Tommy Burns to learn humility and it appeared he had played his last game in the green and white jersey.
However, Celtic fans will be prepared to put up with his shortcomings if he keeps producing quality performances like this.
Indeed any doubts about the damage done to the reputation of the giant Dutchman among the Parkhead faithful were dispelled before kick-off as they chanted ‘There’s only one Pierre’ and then cheered his every touch.
