BOI McKenna Cup: Tyrone edge out Armagh
Mattie Donnelly of Tyrone celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup match between Armagh and Tyrone at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup
Tyrone 2-13 Armagh 0-17
By Steve Malone at the Box-IT Athletic Grounds
It was first blood to Tyrone as they finished on top against the auld enemy Armagh on Friday night.
The 7,180 fans packed into the Box-IT Athletic Grounds were served up a thrilling opener to the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup between rivals Armagh and Tyrone.
Tyrone’s goals came at crucial times but Armagh seem to have the answers until the Red Hand’s substitute Darren McCurry and then Mattie Donnelly put them to the sword.
The Orchard men edged the first half but it was the Red Hands that bagged the opening goal, from Lorcan McGarrity on 11 minutes.
Both sides were quick out of the blocks and it was no surprise to see the teams locked on three points each with only seven minutes played. Armagh’s half-back line of Jarly Og Burns, Daniel Magee and Ross McQullian got Kieran McGeeney’s men up and running, with Mattie Donnelly, Ben Cullen and Ruairi Canavan hitting back for Tyrone.
There were late changes to Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh with debutant Dan McCarthy coming in for Crossmaglen’s Cian McConville and Jarly Og Burns replacing Jason Duffy.
Armagh also gave competitive starting debuts to Mullaghbawn’s Fergal O’Brien and defender Daniel Magee of Clann Eireann, while Malachy O’Rourke gave first starts to goalkeeper Oisin O’Kane of Loughmacrory, cornerback Peter McCaughey and half-forward Oisin Gormley and Michael Conroy, with young midfielder Conor O’Neill also tasting senior football after being called up from U20 last year. There was also the return of Aaron McKay, who missed last year through injury, he was one of ten 2024 All-Ireland winners to start for the Orchard side.
McGarrity palmed into Armagh’s net after a classy pass from Joseph Oguz and Canavan’s converted free a minute later put O’Rourke’s men in front but the Orchard men got a hold of the contest and fired six-points over before Tyrone replied.
Burns fisted over his second of the night before Oisin O’Neill landed back-to-back trademark lofted points and midfielder Andrew Murnin levelled the score. Armagh were then gifted the chance of a goal when keeper O’Kane dropped the ball in front of Daniel Magee, but the opportunity was lost. Still, Conor Turbitt’s converted two-pointer and a fine finish from former Young Player of the Year Oisin Conaty put Armagh three in the clear before Michael McCrory’s free stopped the rot for Tyrone.
Half time: Armagh 0-10 Tyrone 1-05
With 45 minutes played the two-point margin remained even after Mattie Donnelly’s 38th minute goal, which was a carbon copy of the Tyrone’s first half goal.
Conaty rattled over his second and third point either side of Canavan’s effort before Donnelly’s goal, then the hard grafting Fergal O’Brien blasted over a brace and Oisin O’Neill’s delightful fourth put the Orchard in good stead but Oguz’s reply oozed a touch of class.
The younger O’Neill brother of the Crossmaglen dynasty, Aaron, fired over a fine score on his debut but the Red Hands kept in touch with substitute Darren McCurry floating over three points in a row.
McGarrity’s point, levelled the score again with only five minutes on the clock and Ben Cullen steered the Red Hands ahead, although he may have gone for goal and Tyrone had more chances to kill the game off before Donnelly fisted over the insurance point.
There’s concerns for Armagh as Darragh McMullen was assisted off the pitch in the dying seconds.
Of course, there will be much more riding on the game when the two rivals next clash in the Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round on Sunday, April 12.
ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty, Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Joe McElroy, Ross McQuillian (0-01), Daniel Magee (0-01), Jarly Og Burns (0-02), Callum O’Neill, Andrew Murnin (0-01), Darragh McMullan, Dan McCarthy, Fergal O’Brien (0-02), Oisin Conaty (0-03), Oisin O’Neill (0-04), Conor Turbitt (0-02, 1tpf).
Subs: Sean Conlon for McQuillan (ht’), Padraig O’Keefe for McElroy (41’), Aaron O’Neill (0-01) for Oisin O’Neill (48’), Ryan Duffy for McMullan (60+3)
TYRONE: Oisin O’Kane, Nathan McCarron, Michael McKernan, Peter McCaughey, Ben Cullen (0-02), Frank Burns, Cormac Quinn, Joseph Oguz (0-01), Conor O’Neill, Ronan Cassidy, Ruairi Canavan (0-03, 0-2f ), Oisin Gormley, Michael Conroy (0-02, 0-1f), Lorcan McGarrity (1-00), Mattie Donnelly (1-02).
Subs: Sean O’Donnell for Quinn (ht’), Oisin McCann for Gormley (ht’), Niall Devlin for Burns (ht’), Aidan Clarke for McCaughey (41’), Darren McCurry (0-03) for Conroy (41’) Mattie McGlennan for Cassidy (50’)
