SFC Qualifier: Tyrone see off Wee County
July 19, 2008
Tyrone 1-17
Louth 1-9
There were no problems for Tyrone as they took their place in the second round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers at the expense of Louth at Drogheda on Saturday.
Enda McGinley's first-half goal made sure that the Red Hands would be well on their way to victory as they held an advantage of ten points at the interval over the hosts, with Louth's only score of the opening half coming from a Darren Clarke goal.
The Wee County struck nine points after the break to outscore Mickey Harte's side by a margin of two, but it wasn't enough for the home side as the Ulster men looked well safe before that to ensure a place in the second round.
After a shaky start, Tyrone put up three points on Eamonn McEnaney's charges as Martin Pensrose, Tommy McGuigan and Sean Cavanagh all pointed to establish a three-point lead.
Louth levelled the game on 18 minutes when Paddy Keenan's cross-field ball found Mark Stanfield who slipped through Clarke in plenty of space to net.
The Tyrone contingent never looked fazed though as Colm McCullagh, Brian McGuigan, and Dooher all pointed from play to get all the starting Tyrone forwards off the mark in the match and regain their side's three-point lead.
Brian McGuigan would then turned provider on the half-hour had he assisted McGinley in finding the net, putting the scores at 1-10 to 1-00 at half-time.
Aaron Hoey, substitute Brian White and Clarke all pointed early on in the restart to reduce the difference to seven for the home side, but another white flag from the superb Brian McGuigan ensured they were pegged back to eight soon after.
Louth would be awarded a penalty afterwards for a foot-black by Tyrone defender Philip Jordan but Shane Lennon blasted his side's chance to get back in the game over the bar.
Lennon's chance all but summed it up for Louth as Tyrone came through as comfortable winners and now take their place in the draw for the qualifiers on Sunday as they are sure to meet a sterner challenge next Saturday.
Tyrone - J Devine, R McMenamin, Justin McMahon, PJ Quinn, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan (0-1), R Mellon (0-01), E McGinley (1-1), B Dooher (0-1), B McGuigan (0-3), T McGuigan (0-1), M Penrose (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-4), C McCullagh (0-5). Subs - D McCaul for McMenamin, Joe McMahon for Mellon, M McGee for Quinn, C Cavanagh for T McGuigan, C Holmes for McGinley.
Louth - S Reynolds, J Neary, M Fanning, J Carr, B McArdle, D Finnegan, R Finnegan, P Keenan, R Carroll, A Reid, A Hoey (0-1), D Reid, M Stanfield, S Lennon (0-3), D Clarke (1-3). Subs - B White (0-2) for Reid, C Judge for McArdle, J Murray for Carroll, A O'Brien for Finnegan.
Ref - J McKee (Armagh).
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