Dubs dominate Tyrone in relegation battle

TYRONE 0-8 DUBLIN 0-13

TYRONE find themselves embroiled in a fierce relegation scrap after bottom of the table Dublin secured their first league victory of the season at O’Neill’s Healy Park on Sunday.

The Dubs were full value for this five point triumph, despite a dogged showing from the hosts in the second half.

The Red Hands played much of that half with fourteen men after captain Padraig Hampsey was dismissed.

Dublin’s entire scoring tally came from open play, whereas Tyrone in contrast relied on frees for all bar three points over the seventy minutes.

It was Tyrone who opened the scoring when Cathal McShane slipped over a close range free in the fifth minute but after that their challenge tailed off dramatically with the Dubs in complete control.

With the hosts strangely reluctant to have a pop at the posts when inside scoring range, in contrast the rejuvenated Dublin attack stuck over points from all distances and angle.

They reeled off ten points on the spin, the inside line of Cormac Costello, Ciaran Kilkenny and Dean Rock grabbing a brace apiece.

Tyrone were shockingly out of sorts, their play riddled with fundamental errors which merely fuelled the growing belief in the Dublin camp. The loss of Hampsey to a 15^th minute black card was also a major drawback, Hampsey operating at midfield with Ronan McNamee drafted into the full-back line for his first competitive start of the season

Dublin capitalised on their opponents lethargy in clinical fashion, with their two towers in centre field Brian Fenton and Tom Lahiff also splitting the posts.

Tyrone went nearly half an hour without a score until Darren McCurry knocked over a free, but Dublin responded immediately through Robert McDaid.

The home support thought their sider had grabbed a lifeline in first half injury time but Conn Kilpatrick’s crisp finish to the net was ruled out by referee Barry Cassidy for an earlier shove in the build-up.

Any hopes of a Red Hand revival went out the window with Hampsey picking up his second caution in the 38^th minute but with Dublin’s first half swagger having diminished, Tyrone showed plenty of determination and spirit.

McShane and McCurry slipped over frees, while Niall Sludden and sub Richard Donnelly were on the mark with quality efforts from open play.

Niall Scully’s black card levelled the personnel up for a ten minute spell but Tyrone couldn’t take advantage and Dean Rock and Sean Bugler fisted points.

Despite another wonder point from Donnelly, Tyrone’s challenge petered out in the closing stages.

Teams & Scorers

Tyrone

Niall Morgan, Michael McKernan, Padraig Hampsey, Frank Burns, Conor Meyler, Johnny Munroe, Peter Harte, Conn Kilpatrick, Ronan McNamee, Nathan Donnelly, Niall Sludden (0-1), Kieran McGeary, Darren McCurry (0-3,3 frees), Cathal McShane (0-2,2 frees), Darragh Canavan. Subs used: Conor McKenna for N Donnelly (34 mins), Michael Conroy for K McGeary (h-time), Richard Donnelly (0-2) for J Muntoe (h-time), Liam Rafferty for N Sludden (58), Paul Donaghy for C McShane (67)

Dublin

Evan Comerford, Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne, Cian Murphy, John Small, Jonny Cooper, Robert McDaid (0-1), Brian Fenton (0-1), Tom Lahiff (0-1), Brian Howard, Sean Bugler (0-2), Niall Scully (0-1), Cormac Costello (0-2), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-2), Dean Rock (0-3). Subs used: Eoin Murchan for J Cooper (50 mins), James McCarthy for T Lahiff (54), Ryan Basquet for C Costello (64)

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)