Dominant Derry defeat Tyrone to win McKenna Cup!

Derry 3-11

Tyrone 1-5

Derry withstood a Tyrone fightback to win the McKenna Cup in emphatic fashion at the Armagh Athletic Grounds.

In front of over 5,000 supporters, Rory Gallagher’s team were too strong for Tyrone and deservedly won the county’s first McKenna Cup since 2011 with goals from Shane McGuigan, Oisin McWilliams and Niall O’Donnell drowning out an impressive Tyrone fightback in the second period.

Derry were well on top in the first half and went into the break 0-7, 0-1 ahead with three scores from Niall Toner, two from Lachlan Murray, and one each from McGuigan and McWilliams putting them in command. An early point from Liam Nugent was the only response for Tyrone who had goalkeeper Benny Gallon to thank for keeping the score down as he denied goals for McGuigan and Murray.

Half Time 0-7, 0-1

With the wind at their backs, Tyrone were much-improved after the break and levelled the game within minutes. Niall Devlin got Tyrone’s first score since the ninth minute and another followed from Cathal McShane before Darren McCurry found the net with the first goal of the game, with Niall Morgan then making it all square at 0-7, 1-4.

Derry’s response to that goal was impressive. Paul Cassidy settled the Oakleafers with their first score of the half before Derry found the net themselves from the penalty spot after Morgan had hauled down Brendan Rogers.

It seemed as if Conor Doherty was setting himself to take the penalty but it turned out to be McGuigan who slotted it in to make it 1-8, 1-4.

Darren McCurry responded for Tyrone, but that proved to be their last point of the game as Derry ran away with it from there.

A second goal for Derry soon followed when Benny Heron found McCluskey who brilliantly slipped it to McWilliams to palm home from close range.

A point from Niall O’Donnell was followed by a third goal which ensured Derry’s win, and it came at the end of another impressive move from Gallagher’s team, which ended with Eoin McEvoy setting up O’Donnell for the finish.

Scores from Padraig McGuigan and Shane McGuigan ended a fine day for Derry, with all sights now on the National League opener against Limerick next week.