Minors prevail on a dreadful day in Dunmoyle

Tyrone 2-7 Down 1-7

Tyrone Minors got their Ulster Championship campaign off to a winning start when they had three points to spare over Down in dreadful weather conditions at Dunmoyle on Saturday afternoon.

The wind and rain made life difficult for both sets of players but despite that they deserve credit for serving up an entertaining spectacle with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

Tyrone played a lot better than they had done just a week earlier against Armagh in the league decider and with the wind at their backs they led 1-6 to 0-2 at the interval. An early second half goal gave them an even greater grip on proceedings but after that they were forced to defend for their lives as Down mounted a superb comeback while restricting Tyrone to just a further point.

In the end though Tyrone had done enough to secure a deserved victory on a day when they could have scored another two or three goals.

Both sides struggled to adapt to the conditions and it took eight minutes for the opening score to arrive with a splendid effort for the visitors from Paul McGovern after going past two or three players.

It proved to be the only time that they would lead in the contest and a long range Jamie Concannon free coupled with a point from play from Lorcan McMurray had Tyrone in front at the end of the opening quarter. In the 18^th minute Tyrone scored their first goal when a short free from Down defender Lorcan Lynch was intercepted by Darren McAnespie who finished low to the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Davin McKeown then ventured forward from defence to land an outstanding point with the outside of his boot before McMurray tagged on another score. McGovern converted a Down free off the ground after he had been fouled himself but Tyrone responded through a superb effort from Concannon and a free from McMurray.

On the stroke of halftime Tyrone had keeper Oisin Watson to thank for a fingertip save as Charlie McGrath attempted to chip him.

McGovern opened the second half scoring with a fine effort with the outside of his boot but moments later Tyrone were nine clear. The hosts put together a good move and when a shot from Darragh Devlin broke Liam McGeary was able to guide the rebound through a crowd of players and into the net. Tyrone now led 2-6 to 0-3 and they could have been further ahead with McGeary having another goal attempt blocked.

Frees from McGovern and Barra McEvoy closed the gap and in the 46^th minute Down were right back in contention when a Tyrone kick out was intercepted and wing half back Liam Blaney scored a goal. Tyrone then should have had another goal of their own when they sliced open the Down defence but first McMurray and then McGeary failed to avail of the opportunity to find the net.

A long range McEvoy free was followed by an excellent effort from play from Cormac Small to trim the deficit to two with two minutes of normal time to play. Tyrone were under the cosh but they defended resolutely and in injury time substitute Shea McDermott converted a free from the left wing to ensure victory.

The Scorers

Tyrone

Lorcan McMurray 0-3 (1F), Darren McAnespie 1-0, Liam McGeary 1-0, Jamie Concannon 0-2 (1F), Davin McKeown 0-1, Shea McDermott 0-1 (F)

Down

Paul McGovern 0-4 (2F), Liam Blaney 1-0, Darra McEvoy 0-2 (2F), Cormac Small 0-1

The Teams

Tyrone

Oisin Watson, Paul McGinley, Padraig Goodman, Eoghan Conway, Thomas Meenan, Davin McKeown, Aodhan Quinn, Enda Donaghy, Darren McAnespie, Padraig Donaghy, Jamie Concannon, Sean Og Teague, Lorcan McMurray, Darragh Devlin, Liam McGeary. Subs: Peter Colton for Teague, Shea McDermott for McGeary, Peter McGoldrick for Devlin

Down

Callum Travers, Shane McParland, Oisin Murphy, Lorcan Lynch, Cormac Small, Lorcan Murray, Liam Blaney, James O’Hanlon, Mark Guest, Conor Ward, Darragh Poland, Paul McGovern, Jon Rogers, Barra McEvoy, Charlie McGrath. Subs: Adam McCann -Gibbs for O’Hanlon, Danny McLogan for McGrath, Joe O’Hagan for Guest

Referee

Enda Mallon, Armagh