Sport

Appeal likely as disputed point makes the difference

Ulster MFC Final/Tyrone 0-10 Derry 1-6: Derry are to lodge an appeal over a controversial point that ostensibly denied their…

Mon Jul 16 2007 - 01:00

Ulster MFC Final/Tyrone 0-10 Derry 1-6:Derry are to lodge an appeal over a controversial point that ostensibly denied their minor team a draw in the Ulster Championship final at Clones.

Tyrone won the game by a point, with the help of a stoppage time winner by defender Cathal McCrory.

But Derry chiefs have claimed that a Tyrone "point" scored in the first half by substitute Cormac Arkinson was actually a wide.

County chairman Séamus McCloy confirmed last night an appeal will be lodged with the Ulster Council.

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"We're very clear at the moment that it was a wide ball, and we were beaten by a point," he said. "If we were beaten by three points there would be no protest at all. But we were beaten by a point they didn't score, so I think we're duty-bound to protest."

There was general consensus among observers at St Tighearnach's Park that Cormac Arkinson's 20th minute shot had gone wide of the post, but an umpire flagged a point, which was duly given by referee Con Reynolds of Down.

"If the video evidence is as clear as everything else is, we will certainly be protesting," McCloy added.

"I think that would be Tyrone's opinion as well. No-one wants to win a game by a wide ball, and it was a totally wide ball."

The game got off to a cracking start but the pace did slacken somewhat during the opening half as defences began to dominate.

Tyrone's approach was to work the ball in while Derry relied on the direct route to bring Gavin McGeehan into the game and it worked a treat after six minutes when Lee Moore released the full forward and he finished well.

That goal made all the difference in a low scoring first half at the end of which Derry led by 1-3 to 0-4.

Midfielder Kyle Coney reduced the deficit to the minimum within a minute of the restart with James Kielt converting a '45' to restore Derry to a three points lead.

Derry however were not to score again until the 55th minute by which stage Tyrone had turned the game around completely with four unanswered points. Kielt levelled the match on the half-hour before McCrory's winner.

TYRONE: M O'Neill; P Martin, A Girvan, R Pickering; C McCrory (0-1), R McNabb, K Mossey; M McKenna (0-1), K Coney (0-1); P Hughes, P McNeice (0-4), D McNulty; P McAleer (0-2), T O'Hagan, C O'Neill. Subs: C Arkinson (0-1) for K Mossey; C Harkin for C O'Neill; Peter Harte for D McNulty; S O'Neill for T O'Hagan.

DERRY: A Warnock; M McKinney, C McWilliams, D Bell; C McKaigue, JF Bradley, B Henry; P Heaney, C O'Boyle; D Heavron, J Kielt (0-3), D Mullan (0-1); L Moore (0-2), G McGeehan (1-0), L Kennedy. Subs: S Cleary for P Heaney; N Forrester for D Bell; J Devlin for D Heavron; C Nevin for B Henry.

Referee: C Reynolds (Down)