McKenna Cup final: Tyrone comeback denies Derry
January 28, 2012
The Tyrone team which won the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup with a 1-14 to 2-8 final win over Derry ©INPHO/William Cherry
Derry 2-8
Tyrone overcame a six point deficit to claim the Power NI McKenna Cup title and reverse last year's final result.
The Red Hands looked in severe difficulty after a Paddy Bradley goal on the quarter hour mark helped Derry to a 1-4 to 0-1 advantage.
Bradley had opened the scoring and the Oak Leaf side led by three points before the impressive Michael Murphy opened Tyrone's account. Bradley's goal and a point from Mark Lynch had Derry in control but Tyrone finished the half with a flourish, in part thanks to the red card which Derry's James Conway received for a tackle on Colm
Cavanagh.
Peter Harte and Stephen O'Neill with points narrowed the deficit before Eoin Mulligan pounced for a goal to leave just a point between the sides. On the stroke of half time Cathal McCarron levelled the score at 1-5 apiece.
Tyrone continued their onslaught on the resumption with points from O'Neill, Matthew Donnelly and Mulligan to move three clear. Conleth Gilligan replied for Derry but with Mickey Harte's men dominating around the middle third, things were looking ominous for John Brennan's charges.
A hat trick of scores from Donnelly together with points from McCarron and Ronan O'Neill saw Tyrone surge 1-14 to 1-7 clear.
A late penalty from Caoilean O'Boyle took the bad look off the scoreline for Derry, but there was no doubt that Tyrone were worthy winners.
Tyrone - J Devine, A McCrory, Justin McMahon, PJ Quinn, C McCarron (0-2), PnHarte (0-1), D Carlin (0-1), M Murphy (0-2), C Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly (0-3), P Hughes, M Penrose, O Mulligan (1-1), Mark Donnelly (0-1), Stephen O'Neill (0-2). Subs - Joe McMahon for Cavanagh, J Lafferty for Penrose, Sean O'Neill for Justin McMahon, S McNulty for Murphy, R O'Neill (0-1) for Stephen O'Neill.
Derry - J Devlin, D McBride, L Morrow, R Dillon, G O'Kane, B McCallion, SL McGoldrick (0-1), JConway, J Diver, C McKaigue, M Lynch (0-2), B McGoldrick, C O'Boyle (1-0), Bradley (1-2), Gilligan (0-3). Subs - N Forrester for O'Kane, KO'Neill for Forrester, PJ McCluskey for Diver, M Craig for R Dillon, E Lynn for Gilligan.
Ref - M Higgins (Fermanagh). Tweet
