McKenna Cup final: Red Hands find that bit extra

January 23, 2016

Ryan Bell of Derry and Cathal McCarron of Tyrone
©INPHO

Tyrone 1-22
Derry 1-17
(after extra-time)

Tyrone are celebrating a record breaking fifth Dr McKenna Cup success in-a-row following a drama filled final against Derry at the Athletic Grounds tonight.

Extra-time was required to separate the sides and a return of six points without reply during the first period of extra-time sent the Red Hands on the road to victory.

In front of an official attendance of 7,143, Darren McCurry applied the gloss to their performance when converting a penalty three minutes from time.

Tempers flared in the closing stages of normal time and Tyrone lost the services of Cathal McCarron (red card) and Ronan McNamee (two yellows). Daniel McKinless (two yellows) and manager Damian Barton were sent off for the Oak Leafers.

Derry appeared to have one hand on the silverware when holding a three point lead but they were left cursing their luck after late points from Conor Meyler (2) and McCurry sent the decider into extra-time.

The scoreboard read Tyrone 0-15, Derry 1-12 at the end of the regulation 70 minutes. Ryan Bell had netted the game's opening goal in the 30th minute and, as a result, Derry enjoyed a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the halfway stage.

Tyrone substitute Conor McAliskey and Emmet Bradley traded points at the start of the second-half and Niall Sludden set up a grandstand finish when getting the holders men back on level terms - 0-12 to 1-9 - with 10 minutes to play.

Derry's response was to kick three unanswered points from Enda Lynn (2) and Conor Kearns but the Red Hands refused to throw in the towel and their perseverance was rewarded.

Tyrone - N Morgan; C McCarron, R McNamee, HP McGeary (0-1); T McCann (0-1), J McMahon, B Tierney; C Cavanagh, C Clarke; H Og Conlan, M Donnelly, C McShane (0-3); L Brennan (0-4, 2f), R O'Neill (0-1), P Quinn. Subs: P McNulty for C Clarke, C McAliskey (0-3f) for P Quinn, C Meyler (0-3, 1f) for H Og Conlan, D McCurry (1-3, 1-0pen, 0-1f) for R O'Neill, N Sludden (0-2) for J McMahon, J Munroe (0-1) for C McShane, K McGeary, C McCann, P Hampsey for B Tierney, C McShane for HP McGeary.

Derry - T Mallon; M Craig, C Mullan, K McKaigue; G McKinless, C McKaigue, D Heavron; B Rogers, E Bradley (0-2); E Lynn (0-3), J Kielt (0-3, 2f), B Heron; S Heavron, C O'Boyle (0-1f), R Bell (1-1, 0-1f). Subs: C McAtamney (0-1) for B Rogers, C Bradley (0-1) for S Heavron, O Duffy (0-1) for M Craig, C Kearns (0-2) for B Heron, D McKinless for R Bell, N Forrester (0-1) for G McKinless, G McKinless, G McWilliams (0-1f) for J Kielt, P Quinn for D Heavron, S Mulgrew for C Kearns.

Referee - N Mooney.


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