McCrory Takes Tyrone to Title

Irish Voice Sport

McCrory Takes Tyrone to Title

July 18, 2008

Tyrone 2-11 Roscommon 0-7

GOALS by Gareth McCrory, one in each half, led Tyrone to the John Brady Junior A Knockout championship on Sunday.

As part of scoring outbursts at the end of each half, McCrory’s beauties pushed his side into an insurmountable advantage with a tenacious defense never allowing Roscommon to settle long enough to pose a serious treat.

The game started at a hectic pace with a lot of action but little scores. Paul Tierney had a point five minutes in but that was it for the first 15.

Tyrone was playing well defensively and they stopped three attacks by battling at the back. Up front wides by four different players did not help Tyrone’s cause as the ball was played a little too quickly at times.

They had their second point at 16 minutes from a Pakie McMullan free, but it preceded 10 minutes when Roscommon finally came into the game and dominated.

They got on the scoreboard when Mickey Travers tapped over a free when Rickie Maher was fouled. Travers followed with a brace from play that sandwiched a Barry McElduff free to leave the sides level at three.

Travers was set up for one by brilliant play out of the back by James Faherty, while the second was more of an individual effort. It awoke the sleeping Tyrone giant, and they went back into the lead when McMullan chipped over from the right with the left peg.

Tyrone now decided that the two Maccers would be in charge of the frees, Barry on the left, Pakie on the right. It was effective.

The game took a major shape when Tyrone burst open with five minutes on the clock. A long solo run by Seamus Skeffington from deep in the defensive end resulted with a speculative drive heading goal bound. McCrory pulled it down and rammed the ball to the net.

It was followed by another McElduff free to make the score 1-05 to 0-3 at the break.

The teams swapped four points to open the second half, but they arrived far easier for Tyrone than Roscommon. The Rosses had to labor intensely for theirs, while Tyrone was going the direct route at all times.

Fintan McKearney added Tyrone’s third of the stanza with an excellent drive as he stamped his place on the field after his halftime introduction. It was cancelled out by Derek Hagan, who had been reintroduced after leaving the field with a nasty injury in the first half, but it was Roscommon’s last hurrah for a long period.

Tyrone put the game away in the next ten minutes with 1-1 on the scoreline and dominance across the field. The goal again came from McCrory when he linked with McElduff and Martin Hamill to storm forward.

The game was stopped for an extended period at the 25 minute mark when Sean Coyle went down to a heavy knock. He was taken off on a stretcher and we wish him well.

It could have been the hat trick for McCrory when he was fouled on a run at goal by Kevin Carr, but his penalty effort was driven wide and high. He was also denied by a good save from Mark Tarney, who was having a positive day between the posts.

They easily ran the game out with further scores from a Pakie McMullan, free but John McMullan was gone for the day when he received his second yellow for persistent fouls.

Tyrone had a host of stars. Corrigan was coolness personified in goal, his kick outs confident. Gerard McCaffrey, Sean Coyle before he retired injured, Sean Hall and Seamus Skeffington were dominant at the back. Gary Reilly was the best of the midfielders and is strong

in possession. Pakie McMullen, Barry McElduff, Paul Tierney and Garth McCrory all had major impacts on the win.

Roscommon: 1 Mark Tarney, 2 Michael O’Rourke, 3 Kevin Carr, 4 Ollie Hoare, 5 Cian Beirne, 6 James Faherty, 7 John Hagen, 8 Danny O’Sullivan, 9 Derek Hagen (0-1), 10 Niall Narney, 11 Kieran Keaveney, 12 Darren Beirne (0-2), 13 Tom Gilmore, 14 Ritchie Maher, 15 Michael Travers (0-4).

Tyrone: 1 Damien Corrigan, 2 Sean Hall, 3 Gerard McCaffrey, 4 Seamus Skeffington, 5 Martin Hamill (0-1), 6 Sean Coyle, 7 Ryan Canavan, 8 Gary Reilly, 9 John McMullan (0-1), 10 Deon Gallagher, 11 Pakie McMullan (0-3), 12 Paul Tierney (0-1), 13 Kevin Toner, 14 Gareth McCrory (2-0), 15 Barry McElduff (0-3). Subs: Fintan McKearney (0-2), Charlie Corridan.

Referee: John Fitzpatrick (Rockland).

Man of the match: Gareth McCrory (Tyrone).

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