McKenna Cup: Red Hands stay on course for seventh straight title

January 14, 2018

Fermanagh's Daniel Teague has his jersey tested by Michael Cassidy of Tyrone.
©INPHO/John McVitty.

Tyrone 0-8

Fermanagh 0-4

Tyrone are just 70 minutes away from completing a seven-in-a-row of Dr McKenna Cup successes after overcoming 14-man Fermanagh in a dour semi-final at Brewster Park.

Despite making wholesale changes to the side that hammered Cavan by 21 points in midweek, the Red Hands always had the edge on the hosts, who played the entire second half with 14 men after Kane Connor picked up a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time.

Tyrone raced into an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead thanks to points from Declan McClure and Connor McAliskey (two) before the Ernemen scored three in as many minutes per Aidan Breen, Barry Mulrone and Seamus Quigley (free) to level by the 14th minute. But two Darren McCurry frees and a Richard Donnelly effort from play ensured the holders of a 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Rory Gallagher's charges got the opening score of the second half through Ryan Jones. However, they wouldn't score again as another McCurry free restored Tyrone's three-point lead in the 41st minute.

There followed 26 scoreless minutes before a Ronan O'Neill point sealed the visitors' place in the final.

Tyrone - M O'Neill; A McCrory, H P McGeary, M Cassidy; C McLaughlin, M Donnelly, K McGeary; B McDonnell, D McClure (0-1); R Donnelly (0-1), N Sludden, C McCann; D McCurry (0-3f), R McHugh, C McAliskey (0-2, 1f). Subs: P Hampsey for H P McGeary, P Harte for C McAliskey, P McNulty for B McDonnell, R O'Neill (0-1) for D McCurry, M McKernan for R Donnelly, R McNabb for M Donnelly.

Fermanagh - P Cadden; C McManus, C Cullen, K Connor; J McMahon, L Cullen, D McCusker; E Donnelly, R Jones (0-1); B Mulrone (0-1), R Lyons, A Breen (0-1); D Teague, C Jones, Seamus Quigley (0-1f). Subs: R Corrigan for R Lyons, Sean Quigley for Seamus Quigley, E McHugh for D Teague, E Courtney for A Breen, E McManus for L Cullen.

Referee - C Branagan.


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