Tyrone 4-20 Antrim 2-11#McKennaCup

Report via #TheSaffronGael

Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup

Tyrone 4-20 Antrim 2-11

Wednesday January 3

Athletic Grounds, Armagh

Ref: Enda McFeely (Donegal)

By Brendan McTaggart

It was a baptism of fire for Lenny Harbinson in the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday as his Antrim side succumbed to a 15 point defeat to McKenna Cup holders Tyrone.

Antrim made a bright start to the match but couldn’t transfer their possession into points on the board.  With Ryan Murray and Colm Duffin staying on the edge of the square and Matthew Fitzpatrick roaming behind, it took Tyrone some time to get used to the Antrim set up.  The Saffrons however dropped efforts short into Niall Morgan’s hands in the Tyrone goals while Fitzpatrick’s speculative effort cannoned off the upright.

Tyrone Captain Matthew Donnelly opened the scoring with a point from distance in the sixth minute and doubled their advantage shortly after with a Lee Brennan ’45.  CJ McGourty opened Antrim’s account in the 11th minute with a beautiful point from wide on the right but Tyrone were taking full advantage of the wind at their back in the opening half and went through the gears.

Points each for Conor McAliskey (free) and Darren McCurry preceded Brennan’s second point of the match from placed ball to open a four-point lead for the Red Hands in the 18thminute.  McGourty’s second point of the match and a fine score from Ryan Murray reduced the deficit to two white flags in the 23rd minute and with Antrim beginning to play some decent football but Tyrone went through the gears again, scoring 1-5 without reply – midfielder McNulty with the major in the 31st minute.

McGourty for the last score of the half with his third and Antrim’s fourth but at half time Antrim trailed 1-10 to 0-4.

Tyrone continued in much the same fashion at the start of the second half and had a further two points added before Conor McAliskey scored their second major of the match.  Antrim were themselves unlucky not to find the back of Niall Morgan’s net when Ruairi McCann’s effort rattled the crossbar but Tyrone were in no mood to let the Saffrons back into the tie.  They continued to take scores at will with Frank Burns and Darren McCurry to the fore.

Antrim scored their first goal of the match in the 54th minute with Colm Duffin punched to the back of the net after good work from Matt Fitzpatrick but Tyrone responded with another scoring burst.  Goals from Frank Burns and Niall Sludden and three further points in a five minute spell left Antrim trailing by 20 points in the last ten minutes.

The Saffrons finished the match well however with Matt Fitzpatrick scoring their second goal and Ryan Murray taking his personal tally to 0-5 for his 70 plus minutes work with some fine scores at the death.

A tough workout for the Saffrons against last years All-Ireland semi-finalist as Harbinson now turns his attentions to a meeting with Cavan in Glenavy on Sunday.

Teams

Antrim: Padraig Nugent, Pat Brannigan, Patrick Gallagher, Connell Lemon, Kevin O’Boyle, Paddy McAleer, James Laverty, Michael McCarry, Niall McKeever, Stephen Beatty, Matthew Fitzpatrick (1-00), Ruairi McCann, Conor McGourty (0-4, 3 f’s), Colm Duffin (1-1), Ryan Murray (0-5, 2 f’s)

Subs: Paddy McBride for J Laverty (35 mins), Conor Murray (0-1) for M McCarry (35 mins), Niall Delargy for C Lemon (42 mins), Kristan Healy for C Murray (42 mins), Sean McVeigh for P McAleer (51 mins), Gareth Magee for C McGourty (61 mins)

Black Card:

Yellow Card: Ryan Murray (inj)

Red Card:

Tyrone: Niall Morgan, Brendan Burns, Pádraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan, Tiarnan McCann, Hugh Pat McGeary, Kieran McGeary, Cathal McShane (0-4), Padraig McNulty (1-00), Matthew Donnelly (0-2), Niall Sludden (1-00), Frank Burns (1-3), Darren McCurry (0-5, 3 f’s), Conor McAliskey (1-1), Lee Brennan (0-2, 1 ’45, 1 f)

Subs: Ronan McHugh (0-2, 1 f) for C McAliskey (45 mins), Ronan McNabb for K McGeary (46 mins), Declan McClure for P McNulty (49  mins), Ciaran McLaughlin for T McCann (55 mins), Ben McDonnell for M Donnelly (58 mins), Micael Cassidy for M McKernan (65 mins)

Black Cards:

Yellow Cards: Kieran McGeary (22 mins), Brendan Burns (50 mins)

Red Cards: