TYRONE AND CAVAN will battle it out in next weekend’s Dr McKenna Cup final after overcoming Derry and Monaghan respectively in today’s semi-finals.
At Healy Park, Tyrone made a sensational start with Niall McKenna finding the net after just 15 seconds. The defending champions then eased themselves into a seven-point lead with scores from Darren McCurry and Connor McAliskey.
However, Derry played their way back into the game with points from Gerard O’Kane, Ciaran McGoldrick and Declan Mullan before McGoldrick and Aaron Kerrigan both missed glorious opportunities to raise the green flag.
With Tyrone leading by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break, they restored their seven-point cushion in the 42nd minute when Peter Harte scored a penalty after Mattie Donnelly was adjudged to have been fouled by Derry goalkeeper Thomas Mallon.
After missing three further goal chances, Derry finally found the with six minutes to go; McGuckin flicking Benny Heron’s delivery past a helpless Michael O’Neill.
Derry’s cause wasn’t helped after they were reduced to 14 men for the closing minutes when Patsy Bradley was black carded and all their substitutions had already been made and they were unable to muster the goal they needed to level the game.
In the other semi-final, Cavan pulled clear in the closing stages to beat Ulster champions Monaghan.
The Oriel County did make the brighter start with Dermot Malone blasting home on five minutes after fielding a long ball from Conor Boyle.
Points at either end from Turlough Mooney and Boyle kept Cavan three ahead but Monaghan then hit four unanswered scores with wing-back Philip Tinnelly kicking two of them.
Cavan were still a point clear at the break (0-9 to 1-5) and Eugene Keating’s fourth point of day doubled their lead after the restart.
A Chris McGuinness point and a Dermot Malone score levelled things up for Monaghan but they were always trailing after Michael Lyng restored Cavan’s lead minutes later.
Cavan were the fresher of the two sides at the end of the game and that showed as they hit the final four points of the contest to run out deserved winners, making the most of their unexpected mid-week break.
Results
Tyrone 2-13 v Derry 1-13, Omagh
Cavan 0-16 v Monaghan 1-9, Enniskillen
