Leo Murphy Cup
Ulster U20 Football League
Antrim 0-10 Tyrone 4-17
A strong start and a devastating finish saw Tyrone run out convincing winners over Antrim in the opening game of the Leo Murphy Cup at Kelly Park, Portglenone today. In between the Saffrons battled hard to get back into contention but never really looked like overturning Tyrone’s early lead.
Rory Canavan and Ciaran Bogue pointed the visitors into an early lead before Canavan struck with the game’s opening goal. Antrim keeper Declan Heery looked in control as he soloed out of his goal area but was turned over and Canavan expertly applied the finish from 35 yards to an empty net.
When Luke Donnelly and Rory Canavan added points to make it 1-4 to 0-0 after six minutes it looked like being a long day for the young Saffrons but to their credit they stuck at it and began to enjoy a wee bit of success.
Aidan McAleese got the home side off the mark with a good point in the 10th minute and further points from Michael Ferris and a pointed free from McAleese had it back to four at the end of the opening quarter.
Tyrone extended their leads from two strongly disputed frees from Bogue and Canavan and the impressive Canavan added an excellent point from play to move his side seven in front by the 24th minute.
Decal Heery pushed a Michael McGinn goal bound shot over for a point as Tyrone threatened again but Antrim rallied and Aidan McAleese and Sean Duffin fired over the final two points of the opening half to leave six between the sides at the break.
Tyrone opened the second half on the offensive and Michael McGinn and Rory Canavan struck early points but Michael Ferris and Aidan McAleese replied with similar score for the home side to keep the gap at six with eight minutes of the new half gone.
The visitors were always able to keep a healthy gap between the sides however as Niall Devlin fired over a couple of good points but McAleese from another free kept his side in touch as Antrim made a couple of substitutions with Sean O’Neill replaced Rian Lennon and Fergus Donnelly came on for Reuben Carleton.
The better conditioning and fitness of Paul Devlin’s side was starting to tell as Steve Donaghy struck a fine long range point and when Ciaran Bogue followed up to send to the net after Heery in the Antrim goals pulled off a great save in the 21st minute the writing was on the wall.
Both sides gave their benches a run out in the closing stages and Antrim pushed Ruairi Hagan, who had been doing a solid job as sweeper, up front and it left the home side vulnerable in defence.
Tyrone dominated the closing minutes with Ciaran Bogue striking with goals in the 26th and 33d minute to put a slightly flattering edge to the final scoreline. Tyrone though were convincing winners in the end and look like a team that may be hard to beat as the season progresses.
While well beaten, Antrim can take some comfort from parts of their performance and after conceding that early seven point lead they matched Tyrone score for score for a time and the gap was still at seven until Bogue struck with Tyrone’s second goal after 51 minutes.
Its early days and Antrim certainly have a number of talented individuals in their side and Niall Jackman, Aaron Douglas, Paddy Kelly, Stephen Bateson and Stephen Shanks will be working hard with their side in the coming weeks to eradicate those silly mistakes and turn them into a competitive unit.
Antrim: Declan Heery, Reuben Carleton, Cahir Donnelly, Eoin Gough, Ronan Boyle, Cathal Hynds, Conall McGirr, Eunan Quinn, Calum Higgins, Aidan McAleese, Rian Lennon, Sean Duffin, Fionn Nagle, Paudie McLaughlin, Ruairi Hagan, Subs Used: Sean O’Neill, Fergus Donnelly, Ryan McQuillan, PJ Quinn
Tyrone: Stephen McMenemin, Caolan McGirty, Brian Conway, Eoin Corry, Michael Rafferty, Steve Donaghy, Niall Devlin, Ciaran Daly, Seamus Donaghy, Odhran McGrath, Luke Donnelly, Rory Canavan, Ciaran Bogue, Michael McGinn, Sean O’Donnell. Subs Used:Tiernan McGarrity, Ronan Donnelly, Dan Muldoon, Michael McCann, Shay Daley.
