Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TYRED THEM OUT
Hands come on strong after the break as Down’s challenge wilts in the heat
TYRONE blitzed Down in the third quarter with seven unanswered points to secure back-to-back Ulster titles yesterday. The Mourne men were well in the game at the break, trailing by 0-7 to 0-5 before the Red Hands unleased the full extent of their firepower.
With threats coming from everywhere, Tyrone played the second half on their terms. Ronan O’neill made sure of a 15th provincial title for his county with two goals in the last 15 minutes – including a delicious lob over the ‘keeper in sweltering temperatures at Clones. Experience and conditioning were the key factors claimed Mickey Harte, although he could have added disciplined tackling.
For the second game running, the number of frees his side conceded (12) was paltry, giving Down little respite as they closed in for the kill.
Down will wonder what might have been after Darragh O’hanlon’s terrific goal chance flashed wide of the far post just before the break, but Harte felt the result was never really in doubt. “I wasn’t concerned,” he said. “We weren’t finishing the way we ought to, but I was still happy that Down had thrown the kitchen sink at us in the first half and we were still ahead.
“I said to them at half-time ‘if this goes all the way like last year that’s okay, we’ve been there, we know what that’s like so we can handle that again’.”
The superb cameos from O’neill and Declan Mcclure proved that there is real depth to this squad as they head into the All-ireland series in Croke Park.
Despite impressive wins over Armagh and Monaghan, Down were big underdogs heading into the decider but gave it everything in the first half.
They were undone by some bad choices once they got inside Tyrone’s ‘45, having been made to work hard to get there.
Tyrone led 0-6 to 0-2 after 21 minutes, with centre-back Padraig Hampsey scoring twice along with Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly and Niall Sludden, with Shay Millar and pacey Ryan Johnston replying for Down.
Eamonn Burns’ side’s best spell was in the 15 minutes before half-time. They hit three points in a row from Niall Donnelly, Darragh O’hanlon (free) and Conor Maginn.
Deep in stoppage time Mattie Donnelly fisted over his second point – Tyrone’s first in 18 minutes – after good work by Mark Bradley.
Only 10 seconds into the second half, David Mulgrew stretched Tyrone’s lead.
Mcclure – who replaced the black-carded Kieran Mcgeary – had a huge influence around the middle as Tyrone devoured the Down kickouts.
Sean Cavanagh, Mark Bradley (two) and the Mccann brothers were all on target as Tyrone ruthlessly took control.
The loss of Kevin Mckernan for a black-card offence on Sean Cavanagh after 42 minutes was a huge blow to Down.
Caolan Mooney and Ryan Johnston scored their first points after half time mid-way through the second half.
That reduced the deficit to 0-14 to 0-7 but O’neill’s first goal killed any hopes of a comeback, the forward tucking away a chance in the 56th minute.
Nine minutes later he scored with a majestic chip after latching on to Darren Mccurry’s brilliant crossfield ball.
Tyrone lost Cathal Mccarron to a second yellow card but the result was already assured by that stage as they march on to Croke Park.