EirGrid Ulster Under 20 Football Championship Final

TYRONE 4-13 DERRY 1-10

By Francis Mooney at the Athletic Grounds

Tyrone’s spectacular goal blitz at the Athletic Grounds saw them crowned Ulster Under 20 Football champions.

They blew holders Derry away with an explosive mix of creativity support play and devastating finishing, with the brilliant Darragh Canavan conducting the orchestra.

The Oak Leafers had no answer to the intensity their challengers brought to the occasion. The holders were looking comfortable early on, easing ahead with a couple of early points from Mark McGrogan, and with Padraig McGrogan fetching with style.

Paul Cassidy eased them three ahead, before McGrogan landed his third as early as the sixth minute.

But Joe Oguz gave Tyrone a real ball-winning presence, and the creativity of Darragh Canavan set up scores for Conall Grimes and Sean Og McAleer.

But Tiarnan McHugh set the game alight with a brilliant 14th minute goal, cutting in from the right to smash an unstoppable angled shot past Lorcan Quinn.

Masterful defending from centre back Padraig McGrogan frustrated the Red Hands as they tried to move forward through raiding wing back Grimes.

Tyrone played themselves back into contention, Canavan hitting a delightful solo score after Tiarnan Quinn had converted a ’45.

And it was Canavan who levelled with another gem reminiscent of the best from his famous father Peter.

Tyrone’s revival was as swift as it was spectacular, with James Garrity sending them into a three points lead with an expertly executed 25th minute penalty.

And they turned the screw in stoppage time when McAleer netted from the rebound after Oran Hartin had saved from Joe Oguz, Tyrone ahead by 2-9 to 1-5 at the turnaround.

Tyrone banged in a third goal just 16 seconds into the second half, midfielder Oguz connecting with McAleer’s pass to finish the ball to the net for a commanding 10 points lead.

The Red Hands were in dreamland five minutes later when full back Conor Quinn made a surging run forward to get on the end of a Grimes assist to fire in a fourth three-pointer for a 12 points advantage.

The task facing Derry was a daunting one, and while McCarron brought his tally to three, he was soon forced off injured.

Michael Conroy came off the bench to add a couple more to Tyrone’s mounting tally, and the rout was complete as they closed it out comfortably.

Scorers for Tyrone: S Og McAleer 1-2, T Quinn 0-4 (2fs, 145), C Quinn 1-0, J Oguz 1-0, J Garrity 1-0 (pen), M Conroy 0-3 (1f), D Canavan 0-2, C Grimes 0-1, L Quinn 0-1 (45).

Scorers for Derry: M McGrogan 0-5 (3fs), T McHugh 1-0, B McCarron 0-3 (2fs), C McShane 0-1, P Cassidy 0-1.

TYRONE: L Quinn; A Clarke, C Quinn, P Mullan; C Grimes, A Fox, C Devlin; R Gormley, J Oguz; P Og McCartan, D Canavan, M McKearney; J Garrity, S Og McAleer, T Quinn.

Subs: D McGuigan for Grimes (36), M Conroy for T Quinn (43), E Jordan for McCartan (48), C Goodwin for Devlin (51), O Mallon for Canavan (53), R Jones for Garrity (BC 55).

DERRY: O Hartin; O McGill, C McCluskey, S McKeever; D Cassidy, P McGrogan, C McShane; D Rafferty, K Friel; F Bradley, T McHugh, S McErlain; B McCarron, M McGrogan, P Cassidy.

Subs: A Doherty for P Cassidy (13), O McWilliams for Friel (h-t), M O’Neill for McGill (h-t), E Doherty for McCarron (40), J McAtamney for McHugh (43), J Diamond for O’Neill (53).

REFEREE: P Faloon (Down).