Derry 0-7 Tyrone 0-15: Tyrone advanced to the Ulster football final this afternoon following a comprehensive win over Derry at Casement Park. The All-Ireland champions proved far too strong for their neighbours and ran out comfortable eight-point winners.
Having held their own in the opening skirmishes, Derry wilted badly after the break. While Damien Cassidy’s side managed just two scores in the entire second-half, the winners fired a plethora of wides but still never looked like losing.
Derry had Kevin McGuckin sent off in the closing stages as tempers frayed but can have little complaints about the result.
Derry did manage the first score of the game, Barry McGoldrick slotting over an early free, but Tyrone hit back with three unanswered scores from the dynamic Tommy McGuigan.
Two more scores from Martin Penrose helped Mickey Harte’s men to build a 0-8 to 0-5 halftime lead.
Both sides started slowly after the break and it took the introduction of Brian Dooher to spark some life into the contest. His fine individual point in the 50th minute, the first score of the half, settled his side and Tyrone swiftly built a 0-12 to 0-6 lead.
Their finishing in the final quarter may have given the management team some food for thought but, by that stage Derry were already a beaten docket.
Tyrone will now meet the winners of Cavan and Antrim in the final on July 19th.
TYRONE:1. J Devine; 2. PJ Quinn, 3. Justin McMahon, 4. R McMenamin; 5. D Harte (0-1), 6. C Gormley, 7. P Jordan; 8. K Hughes (0-2), 9. E McGinley; 10. M Penrose (0-2), 11. T McGuigan (0-5, four frees), 12. Joe McMahon; 13. Stephen O'Neill (0-1), 14. S Cavanagh (0-1), 15. O Mulligan.
Subs:20. B Dooher (0-1) for Mulligan (45 mins), 26. B McGuigan (0-1) for O'Neill (48 mins), 29. Sean O'Neill (0-1) for Joe McMahon (50 mins), 24. C McCullagh for T McGuigan (64 mins).
DERRY:1. B Gillis; 4. G O'Kane, 2. K McGuckian, 3. SM Lockhart; 5. C McKaigue, 8. B McGoldrick (0-1, free), 7. SL McGoldrick; 11. P Murphy, 9. J Diver; 10. E Brown, 6. B McGuigan, 12. E Lynn; 13. E Bradley (0-4, two frees), 14. P Bradley (0-1, free), 15. M Lynch.
Subs:27. S Bradley (0-1) for Murphy (23 mins), 21. N McCusker for SL McGoldrick (54 mins), 25. C O'Boyle for Lynch (55 mins), G McShane for Lynn (60 mins).