Tyrone 2-15

Kildare 2-11

TYRONE ADVANCED TO their first Division 1 Final since 2003, with a hard-earned 2-15 to 2-11 victory over Kildare this afternoon.

Kildare had led by a point at half-time, before an excellent second-half showing from Mickey Harte’s men ensured they narrowly prevailed.

A fine finish from Mattie Donnelly put Tyrone into an early 1-1 to 0-1 lead, though Kildare subsequently fought back with points from Padraig O’Neill, Eoghan O’Flaherty and Johnny Doyle.

A Paddy Brophy goal, following a fine team move from Kieran McGeeney’s men, then put them ahead for the first time in the contest, with just over five minutes of the first half to play.

Brophy capitalised, after Eoghan O’Flaherty’s initial powerful strike was well saved by opposition goalkeeper, Niall Morgan.

A free from Sean Cavanagh then brought Tyrone to within a point of their rivals, with the scores at 1-6 to 1-5 going in at the break.

The start of the second half saw another early Tyrone goal, this time from Mark Donnelly, as he finished consummately, after being set up by Aidan Cassidy.

Additional points by Martin Penrose and Cassidy meant Tyrone were back in the lead, despite two points by Kildare’s Johnny Doyle enabling it to remain a tight game.

Justin McMahon, Conor McAliskey and Mattie Donnelly added to Mickey Harte’s side’s tally, while Doyle continued his impressive scoring record for Kildare with a further two points.

Tyrone then threatened to pull away, as Cavanagh and Stephen O’Neill added to the scoring, before Paul Cribbin’s goal ensured a frantic finale.

An excellent Brophy effort made it a one-point game, before two scores from O’Neill and one from Donnelly confirmed Tyrone’s place in the final

Scorers for Tyrone: Matthew Donnelly 1-2, Mark Donnelly 1-1, Stephen
O’Neill 0-4, Sean Cavanagh (0-2f), Conor McAliskey 0-2 each, Darren
McCurry (0-1f), Martin Penrose, Aidan Cassidy, Niall Morgan (0-1f) 0-1
each.
Scorers for Kildare: Johnny Doyle 0-6 (0-4f), Paddy Brophy 1-1, Paul
Cribbin 1-0, Padraig O’Neill 0-3, Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-1.

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan (Maynooth); Hugh McGrillen (Celbridge), Ollie Lyons (Celbridge), Michael Foley (Athy); Paul Cribbin (Johnstownbridge), Peter Kelly (Two Mile House), Emmet Bolton (Eadestown); Padraig O’Neill (St Laurence’s), Daniel Flynn (Johnstownbridge); Eoin Doyle (Naas), Niall Kelly (Athy), Eoghan O’Flaherty (Carbury); John Doyle (Allenwood), Sean Hurley (Johnstownbridge), Paddy Brophy (Celbridge).

Subs: Tomas O’Connor (Clane) for Flynn (50), Seanie Johnston (St Kevin’s) for Bolton (53), Eamonn Callaghan (Naas) for Kelly (61), Alan Smith (Sarsfields) for Doyle (66)

TYRONE: Niall Morgan (Edendork); PJ Quinn (Moortown), Dermot Carlin (Killyclogher), Cathal McCarron (Dromore); Ronan McNamee (Aghayaran), Conor Clarke (Omagh), Conor Gormley (Carrickmore); Colm Cavanagh (Moy), Sean Cavanagh (Moy); Matthew Donnelly (Trillick), Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran), Mark Donnelly (Carrickmore); Martin Penrose (Carrickmore), Stephen O’Neill (Clann na nGael), Darren McCurry (Edendork).
Subs: Aidan Cassidy (Augher) for Harte (inj) (24), Justin McMahon (Omagh) for McNamee (half-time), Conor McAliskey (Clonoe) for McCurry (half-time), Ciaran McGinley (Errigal Ciaran) for Carlin (62), Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciaran) for Quinn (62).

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)

As it happened: Tyrone v Kildare, Division 1 FL semi-final>