Minors see off the Saffrons to get first league win

Tyrone 0-12   Antrim 1-3

TYRONE went into their second Ulster Minor League game as warm favourites against Antrim at Stewartstown on Saturday afternoon and they duly delivered with the minimum of fuss to collect both points.

Having lost 0-12 to 0-9 to Derry during the week Tyrone knew that they had to win here to have any chance of reaching the semi finals as the best runner up and in truth the issue was never in doubt. In the end only six points separated the two sides but Tyrone should have won by at least double that amount if they had taken their shooting boots with them as they posted fifteen wides over the course of the sixty odd minutes.

It was Antrim who opened the scoring in the second minute with a thirteen metre free from full forward JJ Higgins but that was as good as it got for them. Impressive wing half forward Darren McAnespie sent over the equaliser before a brilliant score with the outside of his boot from midfielder James Mulgrew gave Tyrone an advantage that they were never to lose. Eoin Long then converted a free as did full forward Shea Munroe to leave Tyrone 0-4 to 0-1 in front at the end of the opening quarter.

Higgins pulled one back for Antrim with a conversion from out on the left wing but that proved to be their last score of the half. Thomas Meenan fired over a good point from distance before Long provided the pass for Munroe to leave four between the sides. Tyrone were well on top with a strong wind at their backs but poor finishing let them down. McAnespie then hit the target again to bring the first half scoring to a close with Tyrone 0-7 to 0-2 in front.

It was still very much game on and that was highlighted only three minutes into the second half when Tyrone were caught out at the back pushing too many men forward and Antrim countered for Joe Logan to win a penalty which Higgins confidently dispatched to the back of the net. It was very much up for grabs now but Tyrone lifted the tempo to keep their opponents at bay. It took a last ditch interception from Antrim full back Liam McLernon to prevent Tyrone getting in for a goal before Sean Corry and Munroe combined for McAnespie to hit his third score of the afternoon.

The work rate of Tyrone was visibly on a different level now and they extended their advantage with a fine score from centre half forward Harley Patton from out on the left wing before a Munroe free left it 0-10 to 1-2 at the end of the third quarter. Antrim then registered their first wide of the game which was testament to the way that Tyrone were playing and putting them under pressure.

Midfielder Mulgrew sent over a superb free off the ground before full back Enda Cush began a move that resulted in a third point from Meenan at the other end of the field.

The Scorers

Antrim

JJ Higgins 1-2 (2F, 1-0 pen), Shea McCann 0-1

Tyrone

Darren McAnespie 0-3, Thomas Meenan 0-3 (1F), Shea Munroe 0-2 (1F), James Mulgrew 0-2 (1F), Eoin Long 0-1 (F), Harley Patton 0-1

The Teams

Antrim

John McAtamney, Caden Lagan, Liam McLernon, Damien Duffin, Conor O’Connell, Cormac Trainor, Ryan McKeever, Sedgae MacAdaimh, Michael McKenna, Patrick O’Neill, Odhran Quinn, Shea McCann, Joe Logan, JJ Higgins, Liam Og Cullen.

Tyrone

Jude Curran, Henry McQuaid, Enda Cush, Eoghan Conway, Michael McNamee, Ross Daly, Michael Mullin, Adam Cushnahan, James Mulgrew, Darren McAnespie, Harley Patton, Thomas Meenan, Eoin Long, Shea Munroe, Sean Corry. Sub: Davin McKeown for McNamee

Referee: Ryan Walsh, Donegal