Tyrone 1-13
Kildare 0-10
MICKEY HARTE SAW his Tyrone team book their place in the Division 1 semi-finals of the Allianz Football League this afternoon in Newbridge.
Tyrone journeyed to St Conleth’s Park and were rewarded with a six-point victory over Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare side.
Yet despite losing this clash, Kildare will also contest the last four of the league.
Defeats for Cork and Donegal today ensured that Kildare are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages despite today’s loss.
Tyrone and Kildare clashed in last year’s Division 2 league final with the Lilywhites triumphing in that encounter in Croke Park.
But they had no answer to Tyrone on this occasion with the winners leading by 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time. Tyrone got off to a dream start when Mark Donnelly found the net in the 8th minute but Kildare did bounce back to trail by 1-2 to 0-2 by the 12th minute.
However Tyrone dominated the remainder of the half with Stephen O’Neill and Peter Harte sparkling in open play while goalkeeper Niall Morgan came upfield to hammer over a couple of points from frees to send them eight points clear at the interval.
Tyrone maintained their dominance in the second-half with Harte’s point in the 60th minute pushing them into a 1-12 to 0-6 advantage.
Kildare fought until the end with substitute Paul Cribbin, the former AFL player who made his competitive senior debut today, one of the bright spots on the day for McGeeney’s team as he kicked three second-half points.
Tyrone manager Mickey Harte talks to his players after the game
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Scorers for Tyrone: Mark Donnelly 1-0, Stephen O’Neill (1f), Niall Morgan (3f) 0-3 each, Patrick McNeice, Peter Harte (0-1f) 0-2 each, Conor McAliskey (0-1f), Ryan McKenna, Aidan Cassidy 0-1 each
Scorers for Kildare: Paul Cribbin 0-3, Seanie Johnston 0-2 (0-2f), Eamonn Callaghan, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Ronan Sweeney, Alan Smith, Sean Hurley 0-1 each.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Aidan McCrory, Conor Clarke, Cathal McCarron; Ryan McKenna, Joe McMahon, Ronan McNamee; Colm Cavanagh, Sean Cavanagh; Patrick McNeice, Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly; Conor McAliskey, Stephen O’Neill, Mark Donnelly.
Subs: Plunkett Kane for Mattie Donnelly, Dermot McBride for Clarke, Martin Penrose for Mark Donnelly, Adian Cassidy for C Cavanagh, Darren McCurry for O’Neill
KILDARE: Michael Donnellan; Ollie Lyons, Michael Foley, Hugh McGrillen; Emmett Bolton, Peter Kelly, Eoin Doyle; Hugh Lynch, Padraig O’Neill; Eamonn Callaghan, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Morgan O’Flaherty; Seanie Johnston, Alan Smith, Ronan Sweeney.
Subs: Sean Hurley for Lynch, Tomas O’Connor for Sweeney, Paul Cribbin for M O’Flaherty
Ref: Michael Duffy (Sligo)
