Derry 0-12 Tyrone 3-14
Tyrone made short work of their hosts at Celtic Park this afternoon, easing through to an Ulster SFC semi-final against either Cavan or Armagh and adding to the suspicion that they may well be poised to make a run at All-Ireland honours in September, writes Brendan O’Brien.
All the damage was done in the opening-half, after which the visitors held a 3-8 to 0-6 lead.
It was a devastating 35-minute spell from Mickey Harte’s men who made light of the driving rain that fell for long periods on the venue and surrounds.
Goals after nine, 20 and 35 minutes, the first pair from Ronan O’Neill and the other from Peter Harte, at key intervals punctured Derry’s hopes and ensured that the vast majority of the second period was played at virtual training pace.
Derry ended the game with just 13 men, Ciaran McFaul walking after a second yellow on 55 minutes and captain Chrissy McKaigue seeing a straight red for leading with an elbow at Colm Cavanagh shortly before the last minute.
And yet it was a game that largely lacked the spite and bile that has characterised many past meetings between these old rivals.
Blow outs tend to do that and Derry now face the unwanted, but familiar, detour into the qualifiers.
Tyrone managed just six points after the break to take some of the sheen off their championship opener, but it couldn’t mask the ease with which they put Damian Barton’s side to bed when the game was still there to be contested.
Scorers for Derry: J Kielt (0-5, 0-4 frees); R Bell (0-2, 0-1 free); D Heavron (0-2); K McKaigue, M Lynch and E Brown (all 0-1).
Scorers for Tyrone: R O’Neill (2-2 (0-1 free); D McCurry (0-4, 0-1 free); P Harte (1-0); C McAliskey (0-2, 0-1 free); N Sludden, C McShane, R Donnelly, S Cavanagh, J Monroe, P McNulty (all 0-1).
Derry: T Mallon; O Duffy, B Rodgers, K McKaigue; K Johnston, C McKaigue, G McKinless; N Holly, D Heavron; S Heavron, J Kielt, C McFaul; N Toner, E McGuckin, M Lynch.
Subs for Derry: D McBride for Duffy (30); R Bell for Toner (33); C O’Boyle for S Heavron (HT); E Brown for Lynch (42); G O’Kane for Johnston (46); C McAtamney for Holly (64).
Tyrone: M O’Neill; A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, N Sludden, P Harte; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; C McShane, M Bradley, R Donnelly; R O’Neill, S Cavanagh, C McAliskey.
Subs for Tyrone: D McCurry for Bradley (17); P McNulty for R Donnelly (49); J Monroe for McShane (54); K McGeary for Sludden (65); B Tierney for McAliskey (70).
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
