A first-half goal from Tiernan McCann helped Tyrone to their second win of the Division 2 campaign against 14-man Galway at Pearse Stadium.
Galway found the net through Damien Comer late on to ignite a comeback of sorts, but after Paul Conroy saw yellow and black cards early in the second-half, the home side had little chance of victory.
Tyrone dominated the first-half and led by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time, but a strong third quarter saw Mickey Harte’s side to victory.
From the first attack Galway’s tactics were evident as Paul Conroy picked out Damien Comer with a high ball to the edge of the square and Liam Silke gathered the break to score after 40 seconds.
Galway were well on top in the opening eight minutes and pushed Tyrone back on their heels, but the Tribesmen could not add to their tally.
Tyrone began to retain possession around halfway, and eventually with their superb movement inside in the full-forward line, they began to create chances.
Ronan O’Neill and Connor McAliskey linked well for O’Neill to kick their first point after nine minutes, and after Eamon Brannigan pushed Galway in front again two minutes later Tyrone took total control for the next 15 minutes,
In that period Mickey Harte’s side kicked an unanswered 1-5, with Tiernan McCann’s fortuitous goal in the 12th minutes starting the run of scoring.
Credit to McCann who made the run from deep, but he was lucky to see Conor Meyler’s shot rebound off Declan Kyne and deflect into the empty net.
Galway looked in deep trouble at that point and the black carding of Tom Flynn for a trip after 23 minutes didn’t aid their cause.
But still Galway managed to finish the half strongly and three frees from Eddie Hoare in the last three minutes of the half meant they only trailed by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Galway’s hopes of victory took a nosedive in the 43rd minute when Paul Conroy was shown a black card for a body check on Colm Cavanagh, but he had already earned a yellow card six minutes earlier and was sent off by referee Derek O’Mahony.
Seán Cavanagh was introduced a few minutes earlier and kicked his first point soon after, but a run of four points in five minutes took the game away from the home side.
Substitutes Lee Brennan and Mark Bradley found the target for Tyrone as the Ulster side looked like cantering to victory.
But a goal from Damien Comer three minutes from time gave the Tribesmen some hope, and three late points meant a helter skelter finish, but Tyrone ran down the clock to take the narrow win.
***
Scorers for Tyrone: T McCann 1-0, R O’Neill (1f), D McCurry (1f), M Bradley, L Brennan 0-2 (1f), S Cavanagh 0-1, R Brennan 0-1, C McAliskey 0-1
Scorers for Galway: E Brannigan, E Hoare 0-3 (3f), D Comer 1-0, L Silke, P Cooke (1’45), S Walsh 0-1 (1f).
Tyrone: N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; R Brennan, J McMahon, T McCann; C Cavanagh, P McNulty; N Sludden, M Donnelly, C Meyler; D McCurry, C McAliskey, R O’Neill. Subs: HP McGeary for McCarron (h-t), C Cavanagh for Meyler (42), M Bradley for McAliskey (42), L Brennan for McCurry (49), R Donnelly for McNulty (58), C McShane for C Cavanagh (66 BC),
Galway: T Dolan; E Kerin, D Kyne, D Wynne; L Silke, G O’Donnell, J Heaney; P Conroy, F O Curraoin; T Flynn, E Brannigan, E Tierney; D Comer, A Varley, E Hoare. Subs: P Cooke for Flynn (23 BC), S Walsh for Tierney (48), S Denvir for Hoare (62), R Greene for Kerin (68), D Cunnane for Kyne (68).
Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary).
Courtesy of GAA.ie
