HANDS REIGN AS RIAN SEES RED
Forward thinking Tyrone pip 14-man Orchard
0-13 Armagh 0-11 All-ireland SFC group 2 BY ORLA BANNON TYRONE’S forwards did the damage to get a nervous Red Hand side over the l i n e against 14-man Armagh in Healy Park.
A straight red card for Armagh star man Rian O’neill as a huge blow, but Tyrone’s forwards Darren Mccurry, Mattie Donnelly and Darragh Canavan were outstanding as they won their first Championship game after four straight defeats.
Canavan scored a few vital points in the last 10 minutes and when Niall Morgan fumbled with Tyrone trying to keep possession, Michael Mckernan bailed him out with sub Oisin Conaty bearing down in goal. Armagh looked in serious trouble trailing 0-8 to 0-4 at half time and a man down.
They travelled to Omagh and ran into a Tyrone team that was buzzing, sharp and ruthless up front.
‘The Dazzler’ Mccurry lived up to his moniker and gave Aidan Forker a difficult opening 35 minutes.
Niall Morgan pulled off two point-blank saves in the first quarter which gave Tyrone confidence.
The first was after 49 seconds from Conor Turbitt’s fisted effort and when Jason Duffy broke through the middle, Morgan came up with the answers again.
Tyrone were composed and in control and led by four, 0-7 to 0-3, when Peter Harte hit the woodwork after ripping through the Armagh defence.
But it was the incident straight after Harte’s miss that most people were talking about at the break.
Joint-captain Rian
O’neill given a straight red by ref Martin Mcnally – on the advice of one of his linesmen – after 29 minutes after his knee appeared to make contact with the head of Cormac Quinn.
Yet Armagh started the second half brightly and Jarly Og Burns showed great leadership with a point.
But there was something missing from Armagh all night, strangely subdued and off the pace.
After a Mccurry free, Michael Mckernan and Conor Meyler’s points seemed to take the game away from Armagh who trailed 0-11 to 0-5 with 12 minutes to play.
Bad wides followed from Shane Mcpartlan and Turbitt, but casual play and poor kickout by Morgan brought the game to life.
Armagh reeled off three in a row with points from play from sub Oisin Conaty and Turbitt and the Armagh fans roared their approval trying to breathe new life into the game.
Not for the first time in the game, it was Darragh Canavan who landed a crucial score to leave Tyrone comfortable.