Sport

Derry hold off Tyrone comeback to win Cup

DR McKENNA CUP FINAL: DERRY 1-12 tYRONE 2-11: DERRY CLAIMED the Dr McKEnna Cup title on Saturday night at the Athletic Grounds…

Mon Mar 07 2011 - 00:00

DR McKENNA CUP FINAL: DERRY 1-12 tYRONE 2-11:DERRY CLAIMED the Dr McKEnna Cup title on Saturday night at the Athletic Grounds after a titanic struggle with Tyrone.

For the second time in a month, Tyrone staged a tremendous second-half comeback against Derry. However, for the second time, Derry managed to hang on, despite Tyrone scoring 2-9 of their total after half-time.

The match was tense even before the throw-in with Derry defender Gerard O’Kane picking up a booking before the ball was thrown in.

Paddy Bradley provided the assists for Martin Donaghy and Seán Leo McGoldrick to kick the scores that eased Derry into a two-point lead after eight minutes.

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John Brennan’s men were four points ahead, with Enda Muldoon and Paddy Bradley converting frees, before Tyrone got their first score through Seán Cavanagh in the 13th minute. Bradley’s second free made it 0-5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes but Tyrone did pull a point back with a Cavanagh free.

Derry went eight points in front in the 35th minute when Muldoon rose high to field Seán Leo McGoldrick’s delivery, turned and slotted to the net.

Derry led by 1-7 to 0-2 at half-time, but an inspired Red Hand side threw everything at them after the restart. They hit 1-6 without replay, with Martin Penrose, Seán Cavanagh and Owen Mulligan hitting quality points, before Cavanagh cut in to rifle home a goal from a tight angle.

But after going behind, Derry responded with a goal from corner back Ciarán Mullan and points from the Bradley brothers and Enda Muldoon sealed matters before Stephen O’Neill scored a late Tyrone goal.

DERRY:D Devlin; C Mullan (1-1), K McCloy, D McBride; B McCallion, A McAlynn, G OKane; PJ McCloskey, J Conway; M Donaghy (0-1), SL McGoldrick (0-1), E Bradley (0-1); C McGoldrick, P Bradley (0-6, 0-5 frees), E Muldoon (1-2, 0-1 free). Subs:B McGuigan for McCallion (4 mins), M Drumm for McGuigan (55 mins), C McGoldrick for Conway (58 mins), B McAlarey for Drumm (62 mins), D Mullan for C McGoldrick (66 mins).

TYRONE:P McConnell; A McCrory, D McCaul, PJ Quinn; C McCarron, R McMenamin, M Swift; C Gormley, A Cassidy; K Hughes, B McGuigan, S Cavanagh (1-5, 0-4 frees); O Mulligan (0-2), M Penrose (0-4, 0-2 frees), M Donnelly. Subs:D Harte for Quinn (25 mins), Justin McMahon for McCrory (half-time), S ONeill (1-0) for Donnelly (56 mins), Joe McMahon for McCarron (64 mins).

Referee:J White (Donegal).