Ulster GAA Conor McGurk Cup
Tyrone 4-12-3-23 Antrim
Kevin Herron reports from Garvaghy
Antrim hurlers advanced to the quarter-final of the Conor McGurk Cup after defeating Tyrone 3-23-4-12 in their first competitive outing of the season at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence on Tuesday evening.
The Saffrons went with a mix of youth and experience against the Red Hands and eased into a five-point lead within the first eight minutes.
Niall McKenna popped over the opener and Coby Cunning doubled their advantage shortly afterwards. A converted Gerard Walsh free from distance extended their advantage with Niall McGarrell and Aodhan McGarry landing further points in a dominant opening period for the visitors.
Tyrone were off the mark through a fine Aidan Kelly score, though approaching the midway point in the half a Conal Bohill point restored his sides five-point margin.
A quickfire double would half the deficit with Mikey Little converting a free and James McCann following up with a point from playing after swooping into claim the loose ball.
Aodhan McGarry doubled his account in response, but Tyrone had their best period of the half and would restore parity with four scores on the spin.
Little doubled his account from the placed ball, McCann then doubled his personal tally with a sensational score from play.
The hosts almost had the game’s opening goal- though Turlough Mullin saw his low effort repelled by Tiernan Smyth in the Antrim goal.
They would instead make do with a further point after Mark McClean collected a pass from the side-line ball and swung over before Ben Gormley had time and space to drop over and make it 0-07 apiece.
Smyth made another smart near post stop to deny Ruairi Devlin a further goal opportunity before Antrim regained the lead through a point from McGarrell and an impressive Eoin McFerran point from range.
Aidan Kelly hung up his shot and doubled his account in reply, but Antrim’s McGarrell popped over his third of the half and Coby Cunning landed a free on the stroke of half time to ensure they occupied an 0-11-0-08 lead at the interval.
Antrim came out firing after the break, Conal Bohill doubled his account within the first 60-seconds, half time substitute Sean McKay dropped over and Daire McMullan produced a fine shot that sailed between the posts.
The opening goal would also fall the Saffrons way when Coby Cunning squeezed a low shot past John Devlin at his near post to give his side a 1-14-0-08 lead.
It would be their last for over a quarter of an hour as Tyrone slowly clawed their way back into proceedings.
Ben Gormley dropped over the first response before Rory Weir drew a fine save from half time substitute Cormac McFadden in goals.
Tiernan Morgan dropped over a fantastic point from range before Mickey Little flicked home the elusive goal that the Red Hands had threatened throughout.
Further points from Turlough Mullin and Fionn Devlin saw a nine-point deficit close to just two (1-14-1-12) with over a quarter of an hour remaining.
Antrim needed a score to try to stem the tide and Coby Cunning delivered from range and substitute Eoin McGarry then made an instant impact from the bench with an angled point.
It looked as though the visitors had begun to re-stablish a healthy led when Niall McGarrell conjured up his fourth point of the evening, but Tyrone briefly wiped their advantage out.
On the 58th minute Ben Gormley hung up a shot that dropped in the wind and was half cleared before the ball broke to Turlough Mullin to rifle home and make it 1-17-2-12.
Antrim’s response was instant though and in the blink of an eye Coby Cunning slammed home at the other end.
By the 62nd minute it appeared as though Antrim were home and hosed after Ryan Mort slipped a pass through to Niall McKenna to round John Devlin and slot in the third of the evening, making it 3-17-2-12.
Six-points in a row would end the Saffrons scoring for the evening. Eoin McFerran doubled his tally for the evening and Niall McKenna added to his tally shortly after.
Criostai McAuley dropped over back-to-back points within moments of his introduction and Conal Bohill did similar in the aftermath.
Tyrone would land two consolation goals in the dying embers. Mickey Little’s side-line ball was dropped into the danger area and Aidan Kelly was waiting to apply the finish.
Less than 60-seconds later and a quickfire second arrived, substitute Anthony Crossan saw his shot crash off the bar and Ben Gormley was on hand to stab home from close range.
It was little more than consolation however as Antrim ran out 3-23-4-12 winners to set up a meeting with University of Ulster Jordanstown in the quarter final on Saturday afternoon.
Tyrone: J Devlin, D Rafferty, O McKee, E Winters, M McClean (0-01), F Devlin (0-01), T Morgan (0-01), B Gormley (1-02), J McCann (0-02), M Little (1-02, 0-02f), R Devlin, L Devlin, R Weir, T Mullin (1-01), A Kelly (1-02). Subs: R Maguire for L Devlin (HT), M McCann for R Weir (48), C Taggart for T Mullin (61), A Crossan for M McClean (68).
Antrim: T Smyth, M McGibbon, G Walsh (0-01f), R McCormick, D McMullan (0-01), C Boyd, D Patterson, C Bohill (0-04), A McGarrigle, E McFerran (0-02), N McKenna (1-02), A McGarry (0-01), R Mort, C Cunning (2-03, 0-01f), N McGarrell (0-04). Subs: C McFadden for T Smyth (HT), S McKay (0-01) for A McGarrigle (HT), T McFerran for D Patterson (48), C McAllister for R McCormick (48), E McGarry (0-01) for C Boyd (57), B O’Connor for R Mort (64), C McAuley (0-02) for N McGarrell (64).
Referee: Peter Owens (Down)
