Sport

Fermanagh wilt as Tyrone turn up heat

Dr McKENNA CUP SEMI-FINALS: Tyrone 2-12 Fermanagh 1-4 TYRONE TURNED on the heat in the second half yesterday in Armagh

Mon Jan 23 2012 - 00:00

Dr McKENNA CUP SEMI-FINALS: Tyrone 2-12 Fermanagh 1-4TYRONE TURNED on the heat in the second half yesterday in Armagh. They trailed by two points at half-time, but ran amok after the break, with Ronan O'Neill and Owen Mulligan blasting in the goals that broke Fermanagh's spirit.

In front of a crowd of almost 9,000, Fermanagh’s work-rate was key to their success in thwarting Tyrone in the opening half. The Erne men scored one goal and could have had three more. The Quigley brothers combined for a 23rd-minute goal, with Séamus punching to the net from Seán’s sideline ball.

Tyrone pulled back points late in the first half through Kyle Coney and Owen Mulligan as Fermanagh led 1-2 to 0-3 at the interval. But a remarkable second half turnaround saw them blown away by the resurgent Red Hands.

Mark Donnelly, Martin Penrose, Ronan O’Neill and Coney all swept over points, and in the 56th minute, Penrose turned over possession to send Mulligan in for a sweet finish to the roof of the net.

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It was all over for Fermanagh, who, after losing Séamus Quigley to injury at the halfway stage, managed just two points in the second period. Dominant Tyrone went further ahead with a couple of delightful efforts from teenager Ronan O’Neill who capped his display with a fine late goal.

TYRONE: P McConnell; A McCrory, C Clarke, PJ Quinn; C McCarron, P Harte, Justin McMahon; N McKenna, C Cavanagh; C Gervin (0-1), K Coney (0-2, two frees), P McNeice; O Mulligan (1-1), M Donnelly (0-1), R O'Neill (1-4, 0-2f). Subs: M Penrose (0-1) for McNeice; Joe McMahon for Gervin; Seán O'Neill for Justin McMahon; S O'Neill for Coney; M Murphy (0-2) for McKenna.

FERMANAGH: C Snow; N Bogue, B Owens, J Woods; C Quigley (0-1), R McCluskey, B Mulrone; E Donnelly, P Cosgrove; J Sherry (0-1), K Connor, D Keenan; Seán Quigley (0-1), Séamus Quigley (1-0), B Og Maguire. Subs: M Little for Cosgrove; P Ward (0-1, free) for Séamus Quigley; T Corrigan for Maguire; D Kelly for Mulrone; L Lynch for Connor.

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).

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