February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Things only got worse for Tyrone when their prize off-season pick, P.J. Ward, pulled up lame. One late Tyrone arrival wasn’t enough to allow Ward to limp to the sideline, so the New York scoring ace stayed on despite having been rendered ineffective. Ward’s injury was the second of the day to a vital member of the New York County team and New York Gaels will be hoping for quick recoveries from both Ward and James Mitchell, injured earlier in the schedule while playing for Donegal.
Derry applied most of the early pressure, causing Tyrone keeper Ray Hegney to pull off a couple of top-notch saves. Derry built a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with two points from Conor Downey and 0-1 from Brian O’Conner, with Emmet Rogers accounting for the Tyrone tally.
Two New York panelists picked up yellow cards, with Derry’s Cathal McKeever drawing his for a harsh tackle, while Pat McGuire was cautioned by referee Donie O’Sullivan for dissent. Ward was finally allowed to take a seat on the Tyrone bench with the arrival of Rory Meenan with 20 minutes gone in the first half.
Downey and O’Conner continued to pace the Derry attack as the Derry lead stretched to 0-6 to 0-1. Emotions were barely being contained when Derry midfielder Darren Pettite was left in a heap in the middle of the park. Referee Donie O’Sullivan fingered Pat McGuire as the culprit and the red card was raised.
Rory Meenan’s late point brought Tyrone to within four, 0-6 to 0-2, at the half. After the sides twice exchanged points, Derry got the back breaker on a well-taken goal. Downey’s goal staked Derry to a 1-8 to 0-4 lead and with Ward nursing his injury on the bench, Tyrone were never going to come back in this one.
Tyrone’s frustrations increased and their changes decreased when O’Sullivan presented Connor Skeffington with his side’s second red card of the match. With Tyrone now down by two men, the match was as good as over. Derry substitute John Carney and Downey provided the cherry on top with a final point.
Man of the Match: Brian O’Conner
Derry: Martin O’Connor, Thomas Harkin, Michael McCloskey, Mickey McGahon, Joe Bell, Cathal McKeever (0-1), Stephen Keating, Rauri O’Neill, Darren Pettite, Brian O’Conner (0-6, 3 fr, one 50), Brendan Donoghue, Conor Downey (1-4, 2 frees), Ryan O’Kane, Rory McCluskey, Paul Mulheran (0-1). Sub John Carney (1-0).
Tyrone: Ray Hegney, Mark O’Neill, Tim Lynch, Kevin Bennett, Connor Skeffington, Lee Kelly, Liam Briody, Rory Meehan (0-4, 2 frees), Pat McGuire, Barry McElduff, P.J. Ward, Richie O’Connor, Emmit Rogers (0-1), Paul Scannell, Gary Donnellan.