Tyrone edged an epic encounter with Derry this afternoon to move closer towards another Dr McKenna Cup title.

Mickey Harte's men prevailed on a 1-16 to 4-6 score-line at Owenbeg, where the Oak Leafers' well-timed goals couldn't save them from their first defeat of 2016 as the Red Hands once again proved relentless.

Goals from Benny Heron and Ryan Bell (penalty) had Derry in a promising position coming towards half-time before Patrick Quinn's major breathed life into the visitors just before the break.

Nonetheless, the hosts would have a two-point lead to work with for the second-half and raised two more green flags, but the numerical advantage was Tyrone's after Emmett McGuckin's dismissal and a barrage of points from Connor McAliskey towards the end sealed the win for the holders, whom saw Richard Donnelly pick up the 'Man of the Match' award for his contribution.

In Letterkenny, St Mary's UC claimed a famous win (2-6 to 0-8) over Donegal thanks to two well-timed goals of their own.

Jack Grogan registered the students first major, while the Tir Chonaill men saw Paddy McGrath dismissed on a second yellow card.

Ulster champions Monaghan are still awaiting their first win of the competition after Armagh edged the derby in Clones by 0-16 to 2-9, with goals from Barry McGinn and Owen Duffy not enough to save the Farney men from defeat against their fired-up neighbours.

In Newry, Pete McGrath's return proved to be a winning one for the Rostrevor native as his Fermanagh side maintained their rich form to hand Down a 0-14 to 0-8 defeat.

'Man of the Match' Sean Quigley registered 0-7 for the Ernesiders, while Tomas Corrigan contributed 0-3, with Daragh O'Hanlon the top-scorer for the Mourne men with 0-2.

Tyrone - M O'Neill; A McCrory, P Hampsey, J Monroe (0-1); C Clarke, J McMahon, N Sludden (0-1); P McNulty, R Donnelly (0-4); D Mulgrew (0-1), P Harte, K McGeary; D McCurry (0-1), C McAliskey (0-6f), P Quinn (1-0). Subs: M Donnelly for J McMahon (BC), C McCarron for P Hampsey, M Bradley (0-1f) for C Clarke, S Cavanagh (0-1) for P Quinn, R O'Neill for K McGeary.

Derry - T Mallon; R Ferris, D McBride, O Duffy; D Heavron, C McKaigue, M Craig (1-1); E Bradley, M Lynch (0-2f); C McFaul, C Bradley (0-1), B Heron (1-0); E McGuckin, R Bell (2-2, 1-0pen), C Murphy. Subs: K McKaigue for O Duffy, E Lynn for B Heron, J Kielt for C Murphy, C McAtamney for E Bradley, S Mulgrew for C Bradley, P Quinn for R Ferris.

Referee - C Branagan.

**

St Mary's UC - R Burns; A McKay, P McAleer, C McCooey; K McKernan, N McPartland, H Loughran; P Carragher, D McBride; C Meyler, C McCann (0-1), A McGarrity (0-1); C MacIomhar, J Grogan (1-1), A Nugent. Subs: P McBride (0-1) for C Meyler, M Fitzpatrick for A Nugent, R Johnston (1-2) for C MacIomhar, D Kavanagh for J Grogan, C Corrigan for C McCooey (BC).

Donegal - D Rodgers; J O'Brien, E Doherty, P McGrath; F McGlynn, C Ward, S McMenamin; H McFadden, O MacNiallais (0-6, 2f); M Carroll (0-1), C Thompson, E Gallagher; L McLoone, M O'Reilly, E McHugh (0-1). Subs: M Murphy for H McFadden, N McGee for E Doherty, S McBrearty for J O'Brien, C Morrison for M Carroll.

Referee - D Mullan.

**

Armagh - M McNeice; A Forker, A Findon, R McCaughey; C McKeever, M Murray, S Forker (0-1); E McVerry, N Grimley; R Grugan (0-2), M McKenna (0-1), S Campbell (0-5, 4f); E Rafferty (0-3, 1f), A Murnin (0-1), G McParland (0-1). Subs: N McConville (0-2) for A Murnin, J Hall for E McVerry, J Feeney for A Findon, O MacIomhair for R Grugan (BC), P McKenna for N McConville (BC).

Monaghan - J Smith; K Duffy (0-1), D Wylie, N McKeown; D Mone, C Walshe (0-1), D Courtney; N McAdam, M Thornton; D Malone, S Gollogly, O Duffy (1-0); F McGeough, B McGinn (1-4, 0-4f), D McKenna (0-2, 1f). Subs: K O'Connell (0-1) for N McAdam (BC), D Traynor for F McGeough, K McQuaid for N McKeown, O Coyle for D Courtney (BC), C McKenna for S Gollogly.

Referee - J McQuillan.

**

Fermanagh - C Snow; E McManus, M Jones, A Breen; D McCusker (0-1), J McMahon, R Hanna (0-1); C Jones, D Kelly; P McCusker, C Flaherty, B Mulrone (0-1); D Teague (0-1), S Quigley (0-7, 4f, 1'45), T Corrigan (0-3). Subs: P Cadden for D Teague, K Connor for C Flaherty, E McHugh for P McCusker, F Gillen for T Corrigan, R Hyde for B Mulrone, S McManus for J McMahon (BC).

Down - S Kane; M Magee, C McGovern, D Turley; D O'Hanlon (0-2f), R Boyle, J Murphy; C Doyle, M McKay; B O'Hagan (0-1), C Maginn (0-1), J McDermott; G Johnston, S Dornan (0-1), C Mooney (0-1). Subs: M Hughes for J McDermott, R Mallon for D O'Hanlon, C Harrison for B O'Hagan, A McConville (0-2, 1f) for C Maginn, P Turley for C Doyle, P Downey for J Murphy (BC).

Referee - S Hurson.

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