Tyrone proved too good for Derry in their Power NI Dr McKenna Cup semi-final clash at Healy Park in Omagh this afternoon.
In a game that Derry were always playing catch-up, Mark Lynched missed a golden opportunity in the last minute to level the clash.
Derry made the worst possible start and found themselves 1-01 behind after only three minutes.
The home side added another three points before Ciaran McGoldrick registered Derry’s first point in the 15th minute.
From then on, the home side matched the visitors for scores but try as they might, Derry failed to reduce the deficit and Aaron Kerrigan and Ciaran McGoldrick missed great chances to put the ball in the net towards the end of the half.
Keeper Thomas Mallon kept the away side in it with a great save towards the end of the half.
The start of the second half followed the same pattern as the first with both sides exchanging scores on two occasions before Sean Leo McGoldrick reduced the deficit to three with a fisted point following a great save by Tyrone keeper Johnston in the 40th minute.
Tyrone hit back with another point before the Derry were dealt a severe blow two minutes later when the home side were awarded a penalty that was duly converted by Harte.
Fergal Doherty’s third point of the game reduced the deficit to six points.
Mark Lynch and James Kielt are introduced into the Derry side, with the latter getting on the scoresheet straight away with a point.
However, Tyrone once again hit back to leave the scoreline at 0-10 to 2-10 after 50 minutes.
Derry missed another goal opportunity in the 55th minute before Kielt got his second point to reduce the arrears to five points.
After further exchanges of points, Emmett McGuckin threw Derry a lifeline when he punched to the back of the net with six minutes left.
Tyrone stretched the lead to four points but Mark Lynch reduced the deficit with two minutes left.
Mark Lynch missed a great opportunity to draw Derry level in the final minute.
The two teams will meet again in the opening game of the National Football League on 1 February next.
Tags:
