Ulster Minor Football league
Antrim 1-7 Tyrone 2-16
Tyrone pulled away I a dominant second half to sweep aside of an Antrim team who had performed well in the opening half and were good value for their half time lead.
After the break the Red hands upped their game considerably, holding their hosts to three second half points though the Saffrons were denied a couple of second half goals, thanks to some excellent blocking by the Tyrone defence.
It was Cathair McKenna who opened the scoring for Antrim with an early 2 point free but Tyrone responded with points from Brian og McGuckin, Vincent Gormley 0-2 and Peter Colton.
Antrim replied through a Joe Logan Point and Shea Kerans in the Antrim goals pulled of a good save before Daire Keenan finished to the net at the other end to give the Saffrons the lead for the second time.
The home side were giving as good as they got Jack Heatherington fisted over in reply to a point from Peter Colton to give the home side a 1-4 to 0-5 lead at the interval
HT 1-4 TO 0-5
Tyrone seemed to find another gear as the second half got under way with Brian Og McGuckin, Vincent Gorley 0-2 and Darren McAnespie pointing to edge them ahead.
Portglenone’s Odhran Doherty levelled matters again from a well struck free and Padraic O’Connell responded to another Gormley point to level matters once more before the visitors seemed to find another gear.
They kicked a series of unanswered points through Odhran Curran, Aodhan Curry and Peter Colton with Antrim final reply coming from the excellent McKenna though they were denied a couple of goal scoring opportunities.
Odhran Curran’s goal for the visitors killed the game as a contest and it came when he was on hand to tap in from close range following a great save by Kerans in the Antrim goal.
Tyrone added a series of unanswered points going down the home straight with Gormley, Curran, Colton and Corry on target and Pearse McDonnell’s second goal for the Red Hands saw them home comfortably in the end.
Another win for an excellent Tyrone side but Antrim will certainly take something from an excellent opening half and on another day might have had a couple of second half goals.
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