Tyrone 0-21
Sligo 0-14
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
ANOTHER FOOTBALL SUMMER has seen Tyrone rehabilitate in the qualifiers and this afternoon they swept past Sligo to book an All-Ireland quarter-final date next weekend.
Tyrone’s superiority was clear from the outset yet it was the type of performance that still throws up question marks over Mickey Harte’s team.
After overcoming Limerick, Meath and Tipperary since their Ulster opening round loss to Donegal, Sligo became the latest team to be conquered by Tyrone.
But Tyrone were sluggish at stages, particularly after half-time, and the quarter-final next weekend will pose a sterner test.
Darren McCurry was Tyrone’s chief marksman with 0-8 while Sean Cavanagh and Mattie Donnelly chipped in with 0-3 apiece.
For Sligo, Mark Breheny caught the eye in the scoring stakes with a 0-6 haul while Pat Hughes impressed as he struck 0-3.
Sligo were far more durable in defence in comparison to the Connacht final when they caved early under an avalanche of goals against Mayo.
They kept a clean sheet on this occasion with Ross Donovan clearing two shots off the line in the closing stages.
Tyrone started brightly with Mattie Donnelly putting them 0-6 to 0-2 in front by the 11th minute yet Sligo remained in the hunt with Breheny scoring in the 22nd minute to leave them 0-9 to 0-5 adrift.
Tyrone powered in front 0-12 to 0-6 at the interval before Sligo enjoyed their best spell in scoring four out of the first six second-half points.
They trailed 0-15 to 0-10 by the 53rd minute but then Tyrone hit five points on the spin to put the game to bed.
Scorers for Tyrone: Darren McCurry 0-8 (0-3f, 0-1 ’45), Sean Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly 0-3 each, Mark Bradley 0-2, Niall Morgan (0-1f), Rory Brennan, Peter Harte, Colm Cavanagh, Connor McAliskey 0-1 each.
Scorers for Sligo: Mark Breheny 0-6 (0-3f), Pat Hughes 0-3, Adrian Marren 0-2 (0-2f), Cian Breheny, Niall Murphy, David Kelly 0-1 each.
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
5. Ronan McNabb (Dromore)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
2. Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciarán)
10. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)
6. Joe McMahon (Omagh)
4. Rory Brennan (Trillick)
8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
9. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick)
14. Sean Cavanagh (Capt., Moy)
7. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciarán)
12. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
11. Mark Bradley (Killyclogher)
15. Connor McAliskey (Clonoe)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
Subs
21. Conall McCann (Killyclogher) for Meyler (48)
23. Padraig McNulty (Dungannon) for Bradley (57)
22. Justin McMahon (Omagh) for Joe McMahon (60)
20. Danny McBride (Strabane) for Colm Cavanagh (62)
25. Ronan O’Neill (Omagh) for McAliskey (62)
17. Conor Clarke (Omagh) for Donnelly (68)
Sligo
1. Aidan Devaney (Calry/St.Joseph’s)
2. Ross Donavan (Eastern Harps)
5. Keelan Cawley (Coolera Standhill)
4. Daniel Maye (Tubbercurry)
6. Brendan Egan (St.Vincent’s – Dublin)
10. Brian Curran (Tubbercurry)
7. Eoin Flanagan (St.John’s)
23. Stephen Gilmartin (Tubbercurry)
8. Cian Breheny (St.Mary’s)
12. Neil Ewing (Drumcliffe Rosses Point)
11. Mark Breheny (St.Mary’s) – Captain
9. Niall Murphy (Coolera Standhill)
15. Adrian Marren (Curry)
14. Pat Hughes (Geevagh)
13. David Kelly (Tubbercurry)
Subs:
3. Kevin McDonnell (Castleconnor) for Cian Breheny (inj) (34)
25. James Hynes (St Farnan’s) for Gilmartin (56)
20. Criostóir Davey (Coolaney-Mullinabreena) for Ewing (58)
19. Luke Bree (Coolera-Strandhill) for Maye (62)
26. Kenneth Sweeney (Geevagh) for Hughes (69)
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)
