DERR TO DREAM

When you’ve hammered the All-irelandchampions sky becomes limit for Rory’s boys

Tyrone 0-10 1-18

Ulster SFC quarter-final

BY ORLA BANNON

A Derry ambush had been flagged up as a possibility, but no one could have predicted such a shocking humiliation of the All-ireland champions on their home patch.

The Oak Leafers came to Omagh and destroyed Tyrone, who imploded and finished with 13 men, with the first-half straight red for Brian Kennedy a key moment.

Derry’s 11-point victory was as deserved as it was emphatic.

Boss Rory Gallagher knew his team could win when he went to Brewster Park two weeks ago and watched Tyrone labour to a preliminary round win over Fermanagh.

“Hand on heart, Tyrone weren’t really at a great level against Fermanagh so we felt if we could come and impose ourselves, we could take control and that’s how it worked out,” Gallagher said.

“Obviously we wanted to stop Tyrone’s key players but I thought our hunger and desire to fight for everything was the overwhelming factor.”

Memories of 2006 were rekindled as Derry relived 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.

It was Derry’s first win over Tyrone since 2006 and they are in their first Ulster semi-final since 2015.

The loss of Kennedy after 26 minutes followed by Shane Mcguigan’s penalty three minutes later were huge momentum shifters.

Conor Mckenna was also sent off (below) for Tyrone for two yellow cards in the 66th minute but the game was already long over as a contest.

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.

The Red Hands were unable to raise their game to match the hunger and urgency of their opponents. Their big players were anonymous again, as has been a theme throughout the season.

Darren Mccurry was the one notable exception.

On limited ball, he notched 0-4 and was the only Tyrone forward to score from play.

Tyrone were destroyed in the middle third, with Derry winning the majority of second balls to take a 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead.

Shane Mcguigan tucked away his penalty superbly in the 29th minute, after Peter Harte fouled Paul Cassidy.

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 Brian Kennedy was given a straight red card for recklessly kicking out at Mckinless. Joint managers Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher did not engage with him as he made the lonely walk to the dug out and it was clear from their body language what they thought.

It was felt Shane Mcguigan would have to shoot the lights out for Derry to win, but that wasn’t the case.

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, Benny Heron and Ethan Doherty were massive in the first half. The industry of Gareth Mckinless, who blocked and disrupted and supported, was huge.

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 any grip on their All-ireland crown will depend on how they can regroup.

For Derry, this is a win that will live long in the memories of their fans.

It will also instil confidence in a group of players who will believe a first Ulster title since 1998 is really possible.