Ulster MFC: Red Hands edge past Down

June 08, 2008
Tyrone 0-16 Down 0-14 Tyrone produced a powerful second-half display to edge out Down by two points in Omagh last Sunday and book their place in the last four of the Ulster MFC. After an action-packed first-half, which saw Red Hands' goalkeeper Tim Harney twice deny Down the net, the visitors led 0-8 to 0-6. Ben O'Reilly's frees along with points from Paul Devlin helped Down get a foothold on the game before a goal chance each fell to the pair, producing two brilliant saves from Harney in the Tyrone goal. The hosts staged a revival in the second-half which saw Diarmiud McNulty and the effective Niall McKenna at centre-field raising white flags until the deficit was cut to two at the break. Down hit two quick scores from the restart before half-forwards Paddy McNeice and Kevin Mossey would find their range to maintain the gap at two points. Kyle Coney was moved out of his corner-forward position to the centre of the field where he was pulling the strings for Tyrone, while substitute Ciaran Gervin was introduced to the half-forward line. Before long, Gervin made his presence known with a point to narrow the gap to one and three quick points (2 frees) from McNeice saw Tyrone into the lead. The home side bossed their opponents towards at the midway stage of the half with points from McKenna, Peter Harte and Gervin all going over without reply. Substitute Brian Kelly was sent off for the Tyrone 16 minutes from time, but points from Conor O'Hare and Ross McGarry could not be followed up by the goal Down so badly needed in the closing stages, and Tyrone held out for victory. Tyrone - T Harney; F McQuaid, D Gorman, R Pickering; S McCroy, G Teague, P Harte (0-1); R Keenan, N McKenna (0-2); K Mossey (0-1), M Donnelly (0-1), P McNeice (0-4) (2f); K Coney (0-2), D McNulty (0-1), C O'Neill (0-2) (2f). Subs: B Kelly for D Gorman, C Gervin (0-2) for R Keenan, B McGarvey for M Donnelly Down - C Heaney; C O'Hare (0-1), A McArdle, P O'Rourke; M Higgins (0-1), G McNulty, R White; D O'Hagan, C Poland; P McPolin, C Harrison (0-1), J Brannigan (0-1); B O'Reilly (0-5) (4f), P Devlin (0-3) (2f), R Brady (0-2). Subs: R McGarry for P McPolin, R Doran for M Higgins, M Ireland for D O'Hagan, JP O'Hare for G McNulty Referee: M McErlane (Derry)

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