Tyrone have beaten Derry in their National League opener, in a game that saw the best and worst of the new rules showcased.
It may be a brave new world in Gaelic football, as we witnessed the changes under the harsh lights of the National League, but the old principles remain the same.
Kickouts are every bit as vital as they were in the ‘old’ game, and Niall Morgan was the superior kicker, as he repeatedly found men in white jerseys – particularly Brian Kennedy, who was dominant in the air in the first half. Tyrone were thus able to build a lot of their attacks from that base.
Derry got off to a good start with Brendan Rogers kicking the first two-pointer seen in Healy Park, following a fine Ethan Doherty score, but the Red Hand county were soon able to find their sea legs, in the ocean of uncertainty that all of these changes have created.
A Ronan Cassidy free was quickly followed by a fine Shea O’Hare point, as the two youngsters got the Tyrone ball rolling.
However, it was the senior figure of Michael McKernan who really led the charge, as his direct style of play proved to be even more effective with the extra space afforded to him by the new enhancements. This was evident as he kicked a goal and two points from play in the opening 30 minutes.
The centre halfback burst through the Oakleaf defence, leaving a wake of red jerseys behind him, before he hit the roof of the net.
Malachy O’Rourke’s men had been threatening Odhran Lynch’s goal for a while, with both Darren McCurry and Kennedy missing chances that looked destined for the goalmouth.
With five minutes left in the opening half, Paddy Tally’s side rallied to kick two more scores from a Shane McGuigan free kick, and a Ciaran McFaul effort.
The home side benefited from the new dissent rule, with the ball being moved forward on three occasions in the first half alone, as referee David Coldrick deemed Derry’s defiance worthy of the new 50m penalty on those occasions.
With Tally’s words still ringing in their ears at the start of the second half, the away side got off to a flyer; O’Hare was dispossessed, they broke down the pitch with demented determination, and just as Morgan was able to get back into his net, Conor Glass unleashed a thunderbolt that rippled it, and rocked this game to life.
Derry couldn’t make the most of their momentum following McGuigan’s equaliser, and after some wasted efforts, it was Tyrone who found themselves in the lead again; a lovely little invention from Ciaran Daly who hand passed the ball over his own shoulder to release Mattie Donnelly, who then opted for the fisted point.
Last year’s league champions continued to huff and puff as they forced several Tyrone errors, but they just weren’t able to punish them for their mistakes.
Morgan then spotted the perfect opportunity after receiving the ball in the opposition half before eyeing up Ciaran Daly in acres of space, floating a lovely ball to him and as the ball worked its way into Lynch’s box, it was Peter Teague who got the vital touch that sent it into the net, to restore his team’s lead.
Tyrone then started to run the bench and their substitutes had the sort of impact that every manager hopes they will.
Young Eoin McElholm, who many feared would be off to Australia this year to play in the AFL, instead came on for his county to kick two quality points when his side needed them most.
Conn Kilpatraick added more aerial strength to the Red Hands’ midfield when he was introduced, and once they took control of possession, they never let go of it, constantly hammering down the Derry door.
McCurry – who struggled at times to find his range – kicked a wonderful two-pointer to give his side, and his own scoring tally, a boost that filled the team with enough confidence to see out the remaining minutes, and secure their first win of the campaign.
Tyrone scorers:
M McKernan 1-2, R Cassidy 0-1 (1f), S O’Hare 0-1, D McCurry 0-3 (1 2p), B Kennedy 0-1, N Devlin 0-1, M Donnelly 0-2 (1f), P Teague 1-0, E McElholm 0-2,
Tyrone substitutions:
C Kilpatrick on for L Gray (45), E McElhom on for R Cassidy (46), R Brennan on for F Burns (56) B Cullen on for S O’Hare (62), M Bradley on for M Donnelly (67)
Derry scorers:
E Doherty 0-1, B Rogers 0-2 (1 2p), P Cassidy 0-1, S McGuigan 0-4 (2f) C McFaul 0-1, C Glass 1-0,
Derry substitutions:
B McCarron on for C McFaul (43), N Toner off for C Murphy (51), M Doherty for D Cassidy (64) C McGrogan for P Cassidy (64)
Tyrone team and ratings:
N Morgan 8, A Clarke 8, P Teague 8, N Devlin 7, F Burns 7, M McKernan 8, S O’Hare 7, B Kennedy 9, L Gray 7, S O’Donnell 6, K McGeary 8, C Daly 8, D McCurry 7, M Donnelly 7, R Cassidy 7 – E McElholm 8, C Kilpatrick 7, R Brennan 7,
Derry team and ratings:
O Lynch 6, D Baker 5, E McEvoy 6, D Gilmore 5, C Doherty 6, B Rogers 8, D Cassidy 5, C Glass 7, A Tohill 7, E Doherty 6, C McFaul 6, P Cassidy 7, N Toner 5, S McGuigan 8, L Murray 5 – subs B MCcarron 6, C Murphy 6, M Doherty 5,
Match referee: David Coldrick