Tyrone earn precious league points with win over Armagh

Armagh 2-10 Tyrone 2-15

TYRONE secured their first victory of the National League, and first under the reign of new managers Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher, with a fully merited five point triumph at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday night.

Two superb goals from Peter Harte and sub Mark Bradley, in either half, helped the Red Hands home, though they were indebted to keeper Niall Morgan with a fine penalty save for helping to turn the tide in their favour.

His stop to deny Stefan Campbell from the spot in the 51st minute occurred with Armagh holding a narrow 2-8 to 1-10 advantage, but after that the visitors put their foot down and surged towards the finish line.

They outscored the Orchard 1-5 to two points in the closing stretch to take the spoils and so set up a showdown with Monaghan at Omagh next weekend, with the victors to progress into the semi-finals.

Darren McCurry top scored for Tyrone with eight points (five frees) while Paul Donaghy chipped in with four points.

The sides were level 1-8 apiece after an enjoyable first half, midfielder Jarlath Og Burns fisting home the goal for the hosts in the 16th minute, after Tyrone had enjoyed a blistering start, racing into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead in the early stages.

It was tit for tat for much of an engaging contest but when sub Conor Turbitt rounded Morgan to net, Armagh seemed set for a rare triumph over their old Blackwater rivals.

Yet on the back of enterprising showings from Darragh Canavan and Mattie Donnelly, it was Tyrone who held the ascendancy in the closing stages.

The Scorers

Armagh
Rory Grugan (0-5,3 frees), Jarlath Og Burns (1-0), Conor Turbitt (1-0), Jemar Hall, Rian O’Neill, Oisin O’Neill, Stefan Campell, Jason Duffy (0-1 each)

Tyrone
Darren McCurry (0-8, 5 frees), Paul Donaghy (0-4,2 frees), Peter Harte (1-1), Mark Bradley (1-1), Matthew Donnelly, Conor Meyler (0-1)

Referee: David Gough (Meath)