Ulster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round 2019

Tyrone 1-19 Derry 1-13

From Odhrán Crumley in Healy Park 

Tyrone have eventually overcome a brave Derry effort to advance to the quarter-final of the Ulster Championship.

Despite early dominance, the Oakleaf County levelled on the hour mark through a Shane McGuigan goal before Conor McAtamney edged his team into the lead for the first time.

The Red Hand response was immediate with 1-4 without reply including an expert finish from substitute, Darren McCurry.

Tyrone led by three at the break as Cathal McShane and Shane McGuigan were deep in a battle within the war on the scoring front with the latter’s team leading 0-10 to 0-7.

Over the seventy minutes, Tyrone appeared off colour and were sparked into life by the scare that came in the form of the aforementioned McGuigan goal after being threaded through by Enda Lynn.

McCurry would knock the life out of the Derry fight soon after, Frank Burns finding the Edendork man with a fine cross-field pass before firing into the bottom right corner of the net.

Tyrone will now advance to take on Antrim on Saturday May 25^th in the Armagh, Athletic Grounds with a 6pm throw-in.

Tyrone: N Morgan; P Hampsey (0-01), R McNamee, M McKernan (0-01); M Cassidy (0-02), B McDonnell, T McCann; R Donnelly (0-02), B Kennedy; P Harte, N Sludden, F Burns (0-01); M Donnelly, C McShane (0-07 (2f), HP McGeary (0-1).

Subs: C Cavanagh for Kennedy (18), D McCurry (1-00 for Sludden (48), K Coney for Cavanagh (55), R Brennan for McGeary (58), C McAliskey (0-01) for R Donnelly (63), L Rafferty for McKernan (71)

Derry: T Mallon; S Quinn, B Rogers, K McKaigue; P McNeill, C McKaigue, N Keenan; P Cassidy, C McAtamney (0-01); L McGoldrick, E Lynn, C McFaul (0-01); S McGuigan (1-06, 0-5f), R Bell (0-03, 3f), J Rocks.

Subs: E Bradley for Quinn (h-t), C Bradley (0-02, 1f) for Bell (47), C Doherty for Rocks (57), R Mooney for Lynn (63), P Coney for Keenan (70), E Concannon for McGoldrick (70)

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)