Tyrone continued their team-building ahead of the NFL when on Sunday last at Healy Park, Omagh they easily defeated near neighbours, Derry in the second round of the McKenna Cup on a scoreline of 1-15 to 0-9. The home side containing only four players from year's championship side were far too good for a visiting Derry side who included in their ranks six of their championship side of last season. In a game that was played at a fast and competitive pace, the home side were clearly the masters and at the break they had the game already tied up leading by 1-11 to 0-3 - an 11 points lead. Derry, as expected made a better fist of matters in the second-half without really troubling a Tyrone side full of flair and invention, with every player in the side out to impress the management ahead of the new season. The selection of four university players in the home side attracted plenty of pre-match attention. It showed why Manager Harte wanted to have a good look at them in action and why they feel they can make the Red Hand panel this season. On this performance the Tyrone management will have some headaches before he picks his squad for the forthcoming NFL campaign. However, he should get a better idea of the real potential of these youngsters when they travel to Kingspan/Breffni Park in Cavan next week-end for their third round meeting with the unbeaten Breffni side in the competition. Derry at the present time are in something of a disarray. They have now suffered two heavy defeats on the trot against Cavan at home in Celtic Park and on Sunday in Omagh against Tyrone. Hardly the best way to start the new competitive season for Paddy Crozier and his Derry squad. The new players he has introduced into the squad by and large have failed to make a major impact, and you could say they have some problems already and the season only starting. As the saying goes it can only get better for the Oak Leaf side, and the return of many of their experienced players in the coming weeks will see a much stronger and better focussed Derry side for the start of the NFL. Once again as was the case in the Cavan defeat there is too much reliance on Paddy Bradley for scores, but another worry has to be the number of scores they have conceded over the two games played. Tyrone - Paschal McConnell; D. McCaul, C. McGinley, P. Marlow; Davy Harte 0-1, D. Carlin 0-1, B. Boggs; M. Murphy 0-3, Sean Cavanagh; Tommy McGuigan 0-2, Owen Mulligan 0-1, C. Cavanagh 0-1; C. McCarron 1-3, 0-3 from frees, P. Rouse 0-1 0-1, D. McDermott 0-2. Subs - Ryan Mellon for Sean Cavanagh; E. McGinley for M. Murphy; N. Gormley for McDermott; Martin Penrose for Davy Harte. Derry - S. O'Kane; K. McGuckin, K. McCann, J. Keenan; A. McAlynn, Fergal Doherty, Liam Hinphey; Patsy Bradley, J. Conway; R. McElhone 0-1, C. Gilligan 0-1, C. Moran; A.. McCartney, Paddy Bradley 0-5, 2 frees, Eoin Bradley 0-2. Subs - Kevin McCloy for Hinphey; P. O'Hea for McAlynn; J. Kelly for Moran and Paul Bradley for A. McCartney. Referee - Brian Crowe from Cavan. Tweet

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