Canavan shines as Tyrone triumph
FOURTEEN-man Tyrone got their Allianz League campaign off to the perfect start with an impressive three-point win over Roscommon in Omagh. Against the backdrop of predictions that the 2021 AllIreland champions would be dragged into a relegation dogfight, the home side produced a display full of promise, resolve and quality to grind out a deserved win. The promise will be derived from the fact that joint managers Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan handed out debuts to no fewer than six players yesterday, recognition that the team is now in deep transition after a close season in which former All-Star Niall Sludden announced his retirement. The quality was to be found in the kicking boots of current AllStar nominee Darragh Canavan, who produced a man-of-thematch performance while kicking eight points as the Red Handers held out for a 0-17 to 111 win. And the resolve came from digging deep when star midfielder Conn Kilpatrick was shown a straight red card at the start of the second half, when the contest was very much in the balance. Roscommon, seeking to backup last year’s campaign when they finished third, looked set for back-to-back league wins over their hosts when Daire Cregg’s piercing pass picked out Donie Smith, who fired low and hard past Niall Morgan in the 14th minute. However, three points without reply from Seanie O’Donnell (mark), Ben Cullen and Niall Devlin had Tyrone ahead at the interval, leading by 0-10 to 1-6. But it was Canavan that showed them the way in the secondhalf, on an afternoon when he kicked six of his eight points from play, including a burst of four points that had eased Tyone ahead by the end of the third quarter. Roscommon rallied and David Burke’s team thought they had found a way back into the game when Cian Connolly punched to the net but his effort was disallowed. Tyrone’s victory completed a remarkable opening weekend for Ulster counties, who went undefeated in the opening round, with Fermanagh — who drew with Meath — the only ones not to secure a win.