Red Hands can major on Minor front yet again
TYRONE’S impressive sequence of success at under-age level could be further bolstered if they can maintain their present impressive form in the Ulster minor football championship.
The young Red Hands underlined that they have the title very much in their sights by the efficient manner in which they overcame Down by 2-11 to 0-9 at the weekend.
A Mark Hayes goal helped Tyrone into a 1-5 to 0-3 interval lead and when Daniel Fullerton highlighted a superb solo show by grabbing a second goal his side’s authority was firmly cemented.
Tyrone spokesman Eugene McConnell issued a word of warning, though.
“There are several good sides left in the competition including reigning champions Derry so we can take nothing for granted,” insisted the Clogher man.
Derry indeed showed that they are still keen to land what would be a third provincial title in four years by the emphatic manner in which they disposed of Armagh by 3-14 to 1-5, their goals coming from Sea Murray, Ethan Doherty and Eoghan Hawe.
The Oak Leaf side led by 2-6 to 1-4 at half-time but showed their hosts a clean pair of heels as they streaked clear after the break to give a broad hint that the title remains in their sights.
Armagh manager Paul McGrane was left to take stock of what was a bitterly disappointing defeat. Shane Donnelly’s goal fanned the flame of hope in the first half while Louis Hughes and Eoin Woods looked dangerous in attacks but the team’s challenge fizzled out after the break.
Fermanagh also found the going tough in losing to Cavan by 2-9 to 1-7, while Monaghan ended Donegal’s season by winning by 1-12 to 1-10 at Ballybofey. Loughlin Power’s goal proved crucial for Seamus McEnaney’s side while the home team benefited from a converted Padraig McGettigan penalty, but they were toothless for much of the second half.
Donegal, who shipped a heavy defeat To Tyrone in their opening match, have seen their fortunes plummet with off-field acrimony accompanying their decline.
Subs:
CAVAN: AFTER 15 minutes injury-time, four red cards — three for Carlow in the second half and one for Antrim in the first — and as intense a Championship battle you are likely to see all summer, Antrim made it two wins from two against familiar foes, Carlow at a sunny Corrigan Park on Saturday.
Love has been left in a dustbin when it comes to these teams, and had it not been for Carlow’s indiscipline in the second half, they could have maybe made a charge at victory.
They chose different.
“It was a hellraiser wasn’t it?” asked Antrim joint-boss, Dominic McKinley after.
“Once you play a team so many times, same as club matches — everyone knows each other that well, the stakes are high.
“It’s constant, constant, constant for me and the players as well.
“That match was up and down.
“We’ll not be pleased with elements, but again, the character of the team couldn’t be questioned.”
Smarting from last year’s heavy defeat to the Barrowsiders in the Christy Ring Cup final, it was no surprise Antrim, aided by a stiff breeze in the opening period, came out firing and after Neil McManus (below) hit an early score, Nigel Elliott cut in from the right to hit the games opening goal three minutes in.
Antrim were well up for this game and they had raced into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after 18 minutes with McManus, Joe Maskey and Eoghan Campbell all finding their range.
Carlow gradually grew into the game with Denis Murphy keeping the board ticking over and on 28 minutes, James Doyle was taken out when through by Eoghan Campbell who was red-carded in the process.
The visitors began to exert their influence and a Murphy free trimmed the gap to four early in the second period, but on 38 minutes, Carlow were down to 14 — Jack Kavanagh red-carded for an off-the-ball incident involving Simon McCrory that took over five minutes for the referee to sort out. Initially, this made little impact as Carlow continued to eat into the Antrim lead with Doyle and Murphy piling on the scores to trail by just two on 53 minutes.
Antrim needed a reply and they got it with Elliott fielding a puck-out, racing in on the right and squaring for McManus to bat home and make it 2-11 to 0-12.
Carlow responded through a Murphy free, but then lost Diarmuid Byrne to a red card on 56 minutes for a wild, high swipe at McCrory.
Antrim hit two of the next three points before Carlow were then down to 12 with Richard Coady given his marching orders for a strike on McManus off-the-ball that saw the Cushendall man having to be withdrawn.