Senior footballers defeated by Tyrone

FL DIVISION 1

TYRONE 1-10 DUBLIN 1-7

A Rory Brennan goal in the 69^th minute saw Tyrone to victory in this FL Division 1 clash at Healy Park, Omagh.

The Dubs lost possession inside the Red Hands half and were punished to the full by a clinical Brennan finish.

As the game moved into injury-time Kevin McManamon had a ‘half-chance’ of bringing the sides level but his left-footed effort went wide.

This was Dublin’s first defeat of their league campaign following wins over Mayo and Donegal and draws with Kerry and Monaghan. They face Meath in two weeks’ before concluding their regulation games against Galway.

“You don’t like to lose, full stop,” said Dublin manager Dessie Farrell. “They showed that bit more hunger and appetite,while turnovers killed us in that game.”

In a very difficult night for football Tyrone’s handling was arguably better and the deadball accuracy of keeper Niall Morgan was central to their victory, he slotted four points.

It was level at half-time before Peter Harte edged Tyrone ahead. Tyrone had been reduced to 14 players on the restart (black card to Pádraig Hampsey) while later in the half Niall Scully was also black-carded (58th minute).

Dublin responded with scores from Cillian O’Shea, following good interplay with Paul Mannion, Niall Scully and a Dean Rock free to move 1-5 to 0-6 in front by the 41^st minute.

However, Tyrone through successful frees from Darren McCurry and Morgan (three) moved ahead, 0-10 to 1-6, with five minutes to play.

Rock got Dublin level with his fourth free of the night before Brennan struck for his decisive goal.

The side were level at the break, 1-2 to 0-5, after Colm Basquel had given Dublin an electric start with a brilliantly taken second minute goal.

However, the Dubs could only add a further two points before the interval as Tyrone enjoyed the greater scoring opportunities.

Brian Fenton blazed over for a point in the 19^th minute with Dean Rock converting a free, following a foul on James McCarthy, in the 32^nd minute.

The Red Hands were blunting the Dublin attack and counter-attacking to good effect but in the conditions their shooting radar miscued.

Liam Rafferty, who had earlier scored a point in the 21^st minute following clever interplay with Peter Harte and Darren McCurry, went close to goaling in the 36^th minute.

The attacking defender angled in behind the Dublin cover but his shot cannoned off Evan Comerford’s crossbar and was cleared to safety.

SCORERS – Tyrone: N Morgan 0-4 (0-4f), R Brennan 1-1, P Harte 0-2, D McCurry (0-1f), L Rafferty, C Meyler 0-1 each. Dublin: D Rock 0-4 (0-4f), C Basquel 1-0, C O’Shea, B Fenton, N Scully 0-1 each.

TYRONE: N Morgan; M Cassidy, R McNamee; M McKernan; L Rafferty, R Brennan, M O’Neill; C Cavanagh, P Hampsey; F Burns, N Sludden, B Kennedy; P Harte, C Meyler, D McCurry. Subs: T McCann for O’Neill (45), K Coney for Sludden (60), R O’Neill for McKernan (66), N Kelly for Hampsey (72).

DUBLIN: E Comerford; D Byrne, E O’Brien, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, E Murchan, C O’Shea; B Fenton, B Howard; N Scully, C Kilkenny, P Mannion; S Bugler, C Basquel, D Rock. Subs: J McCaffrey for O’Brien (ht), K McManamon for Bugler (47), J Small for Fitzsimons (49), C Costello for Basquel (62), A Byrne for McCaffrey (66).

REF: C Reilly (Meath).