Students give Harte's side an early season lesson
January 08, 2008
UUJ continued their excellent form in this season's Dr. McKenna Cup competition when they followed up their success over Donegal mid-week in Ballybofey by defeating Tyrone in Healy Park, Omagh on Sunday, 6th of January on a scoreline of 0-12 to 0-9. And the students were full value for their win, the first defeat for Tyrone in this competition since Monaghan defeated them in the McKenna Cup decider of 2003.
And the win for the UUJ side was all the more pleasing by the fact that they had to play the last 15 minutes with 14-men after Colm Cavanagh was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The students were up for the game from the off, and they were good value for their double scores half-time lead of 0-8 to 0-4.
Mickey Harte made a number of changes to his side at the break, and while his side performance improved greatly they were still finding it very hard to break down a solid UUJ defence. With the game entering the last quarter the UUJ side were ahead by five points 0-11 to 0-6 and looked in command. However, the sending off of Colm Cavanagh seemed to upset the UUJ side for a short period. However, they regrouped well in the closing minutes to finish the game worthy winners by three points - 0-12 to 0-9.
To be honest the final scoreline does more than justice to the Tyrone side as the Jordanstown side dominated the game for long periods and were always in command. They are nicely set up for their final game against Down in Group B on Sunday next and another win would guarantee them a place in the knock-out stages of the competition. Tyrone on the otherhand will have to show vast improvement against the Mourne side in their second round game on Wednesday night, 9th of January.
Tyrone - John Devine; F. O'Neill, C. McCarron, M. Swift; Davy Harte 0-1, C. Gourley, D. Carlin; C. Martin, T. McGuigan 0-1; D. Hands 0-2 one free, Owen Mulligan, G. Reilly 0-2; K. McNally 0-1, free, S. O'Neill, Enda McGinley.
Subs - C. Holmes for Martin; C. McCullagh 0-1 for McNally; P. J. Quinn for F. O'Neill; Martin Penrose for E. McGinley; A. McCarron 0-1, one free for Owen Mulligan.
UUJ - C. Murdock; Charlie Harrison, D. McCaul, D. Morgan; B. Boggs 0-1, P. McGuigan, D. Hughes; C. Cavanagh, B. McKenna 0-1; Raymond Mulgrew 0-1, B. Gormley 0-1, C. Donnelly 0-4, 3 frees; Andy Moran 0-2, T. McCann, Mark Lynch capt. 0-2, one free.
Subs - P. Marlow for D. Hughes; J. Boyle 0-1 for B. Gormley; J. Colgan for T. McCann; T. O'Flanagan for C. Donnelly.
Referee - M. McErlane from Derry.
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