Allianz FL D1: Tyrone relegated despite win over Dublin

Allianz Football League Division 1

Tyrone 2-20 Dublin 0-16

By Francis Mooney at O'Neill's Healy Park

Victory over Dublin at O’Neills Healy Park wasn’t enough to save Tyrone from relegation, but they showed enough flair and passion to suggest that they’ll be a championship force this season.

After nine unbroken years as a Division One side, they make the drop to the second tier, despite going through their last three games unbeaten.

This was their strongest display of the year, a strong platform from which to approach an Ulster Championship opener against Cavan at Omagh next month.

Darren McCurry seized his opportunity as a late pre-match replacement for the injured Mark Bradley, setting up both goals and helping himself to a nine points haul.

Dublin went in front with a 12^th minute Con O’Callaghan goal, out-fielding Niall Morgan on the 20 metre line as the Tyrone goalkeeper advanced to contest David Byrne’s long delivery, before turning to plant the ball in an empty net.

But Tyrone responded with a goal of their own two minutes later, Darren McCurry floating a pass over the top to Darragh Canavan, who got in behind his marker to swivel and steer his shot past Gavin Sheridan, a pre-match replacement for Stephen Cluxton.

Niall Scully and Sean Bugler were on target for a Dublin side playing into a strong wind, and the sides were level at the end of the opening quarter.

But the home side dominated Sheridan’s kick-outs, with Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick, Kieran McGeary and Michael McKernan claiming vital possessions as they drive at the visitors’ defence.

They shot 12 of the next 14 points with McCurry, really seizing his chance as a replacement for the injured Mark Bradley, kicking a couple of two-pointers, and bringing a fine save from Sheridan, with Morgan converting the resultant ’45.

Canavan also floated over a delightful score, with Dublin managing just a Sean Bugler point to break the sequence, before Canavan pushed his side into a ten points lead as he brought his tally to 1-3 on the hooter, Tyrone ahead by 1-14 to 1-4.

A low-scoring second quarter saw Dublin fail to gain anything appreciable from the wind gusting in their backs, Bugler landing a two-pointer, but they found the going tough against a disciplined Tyrone defence, Peter Teague forcing a turnover to launch the attack from which McCurry restored the ten points lead.

And in the 59^th minute, the Red Hands struck for a second goal, McCurry again the provider for wing back Michael McKernan to send a sizzling shot flying in at the far corner.

Now the gap was 13 points and the Dubs were chasing the game, but Costello rose to the occasion with a couple of two-pointers.

But McCurry was very much in the zone, judging the wind perfectly as he steered a handful of frees between the posts.

Ruairi Canavan came off the bench to send over two points late on, but it was all in vain for the Red Hands, whose victory failed to avert the loss of their top flight status on a bitter-sweet afternoon in Omagh.

Tyrone scorers: D Canavan 1-3, M McKernan 1-0, D McCurry 0-9 (3f, 1tpf, 1tp), K McGeary (tp), R Canavan, N Morgan (2 ’45) 0-2 each, P Harte, M Donnelly 0-1 each.

Dublin scorers: C O’Callaghan 1-0, C Cosetello 0-8 (2 tpf, 2tp), S Bugler 0-4 (1 tp), L O’Dell (tp), N Scully 0-2 each.

Tyrone: N Morgan; A Clarke, P Teague, N Devlin; M McKernan, R Brennan, K McGeary; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; C Daly, M Donnelly, J Oguz; D McCurry, D Canavan, P Harte.

Subs: S O’Donnell for Donnell (41), R Canavan for Harte (57), M O’Neill for D Canavan (61), S O’Hare for Donaghy (69)

Dublin: G Sheridan; D Byrne, T Clancy, C Tyrrell; C Murphy, S McMahon, G McEneaney; B Howard, P O Cofaigh Byrne; R McGarry, S Bugler, N Scully; K McGinnis, C O’Callaghan, C Costello.

Subs: C Kilkenny for McGinnis (41), L O’Dell for McGarry (44), J Madden for O Cofaigh Byrne (45), D Keogh for Scully (60), E O’Donnell for McEneaney (61)

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).