Tyrone are sent flying by Oak Leaf outsiders
IT’S not as if the warning lights weren’t flashing, but no-one saw this coming. A win for Derry? Yes, possible. But a chastening defeat for Tyrone on this scale? No chance.
This was such a chronic malfunction and dismantling of reigning All-Ireland champions that the scoreline will reverberate around the country.
Memories of 2006 were rekindled as Derry re-lived one of their finest days 16 years on, repeating their shock win over Tyrone who, then as now, were All-Ireland champions, in Healy Park.
Chants of ‘Derry, Derry’ rang out in Omagh as Rory Gallagher’s side coasted to victory amidst a Tyrone meltdown. The outgoing Ulster champions finished with 13 players, the straight red of Brian Kennedy a key moment in the first half. It was Derry’s first time to beat Tyrone since 2006 and their first time to reach an Ulster semi-final since 2015.
‘It’s been building a short time,’ Gallagher said. ‘We lost 0-17 to 0-15 to Armagh in November 2020 but I didn’t feel we were at their level. We have knuckled down a lot since and we have a lot of players who are very committed.
‘They are playing for each other and putting the team first at all times. It’s a fifteen-man sport and it’s about learning to be a really good team.’
When Gallagher saw Tyrone labour to beat his native Fermanagh in the preliminary round two weeks ago, he knew his Derry team could pull this off.
‘Tyrone weren’t really at a great level against Fermanagh, so we felt if we could come and impose ourselves, we could take control.
‘It wasn’t easy. I thought we showed savage desire, and I am very proud of that. Did I expect to win 1-18 to 0-10? Probably not.
‘It was a big step up. These boys had to beat a Division One team and now we have.’
The loss of Kennedy followed by Shane McGuigan’s penalty three minutes later were huge momentum shifters. Conor McKenna was also sent off for Tyrone for two yellow cards in the 66th minute but the game was already over.
The Derry players and fans, who travelled in greater numbers than usual, were tuned in to this right from the off, while Tyrone were flat, off the pace and ponderous.
Brian Dooher didn’t offer any excuses. ‘We definitely were aware of the enormity of the challenge, we didn’t underestimate that.
‘We just didn’t perform, that’s the long and short of it. Derry showed up, were well organised with a plan and had a lot of energy. They deserved their victory.’
Tyrone were not able to raise their game to match the hunger, urgency and speed of their opponents. They were destroyed in the middle third, with Derry winning the majority of second balls and streaming forward to pick Tyrone off when their attacks inevitably broke down. They duly delivered, and were well worth their 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
McGuigan wasn’t in the game prior to tucking away the penalty, but Derry had a great supporting cast with Conor Doherty, the excellent Gareth McKinless, Ethan Doherty and Benny Heron all scoring from play before the two big first-half moments.
Tyrone were in crisis mode when Kennedy was given a straight red card for kicking out at McKinless. The Derry fans had not even sat down again by the time they won a penalty two minutes later.
Ethan Doherty’s clever hand pass over Peter Harte’s head left Harte exposed and he fouled Paul Cassidy in the square. McGuigan drilled the penalty low to the left corner of Morgan’s net.
A brilliant point from Darren McCurry from far out on the wing was Tyrone’s only point from play in the first half.
It was Derry who had all the bite. Tyrone had to try something and another ineffective game from Cathal McShane saw him replaced at the break, with Darragh Canavan and Mickey O’Neill brought up to try and inject some life into the flailing outgoing champions.
McCurry was their sole bright spot with 0-4.
It was felt McGuigan would have to shoot the lights out for Derry to win, but he didn’t have to.
He still finished with 1-4 but the accuracy of Niall Loughlin, who scored 0-7 including six from placed balls, and the scores from Conor Doherty, Heron and Ethan Doherty were massive in the first
half. The industry of McKinless, who blocked and disrupted and supported, was huge although he was subdued some when Conor Meyler moved on to him in the second half.
Derry’s full-forward line finished with 1-13 as they kept picking Tyrone off at will.
As the visiting fans chanted triumphantly, Tyrone were in meltdown, with McKenna picking up a second yellow and several other Tyrone players getting booked for petulance as they saw their grip on their Ulster title end.
Whether they can keep hold of their All-Ireland crown will depend on how they can regroup and regather themselves in the coming weeks.
For Derry, this win will instil confidence in a group of players who will be believing that, after this sensational result, a first Ulster title since 1998 is possible.
TYRONE: N Morgan; M McKernan, R McNamee, P Hampsey; R Brennan (B McDonnell 55), F Burns (M O’Neill HT), N Sludden (C Munroe 66); C Kilpatrick, B Kennedy; C Meyler, P Harte, K McGeary (M Conroy 69); D McCurry, C McShane (D Canavan HT), C McKenna. SCORERS: D McCurry 0-4 (2f), C McShane 0-2 (2f), D Canavan 0-2 (f, one mark), R McNamee 0-1, N Morgan 0-1 (a ‘45’) DERRY: O Lynch; C McKaigue, B Rogers, C McCluskey; C Doherty (0-2), G McKinless, P McGrogan; C Glass, N Toner (E Bradley 55); Paul Cassidy (Padraig Cassidy 64), S Downey (P McNeill 69), E Doherty (B McCarron 69); B Heron (0-2), S McGuigan (1-4, 2f), N Loughlin (0-7, 5f, one ‘45’). SCORERS: S McGuigan 1-4 (pen, 2f), N Loughlin 0-7 (5f, a ‘45’), C Doherty, B Heron 0-2 each, G McKinless, E Doherty 01 each, E Bradley 0-1 (mark). REFEREE: Fergal Kelly (Longford).