NFL DIVISION ONE: Galway 0-10 Tyrone 0-8:GALWAY PLUNGED the AllIreland champions into the relegation zone with a battling two-point win in dreadful conditions at Healy Park on Saturday night.
A third win on the trot for the Tribesmen condemned Tyrone to a second successive home defeat.
Experienced pair Pádraic Joyce and Joe Bergin hit the late scores that settled the win, and manager Liam Sammon admitted he was extremely satisfied.
“I always felt that we were able to contain them. They weren’t able to get in for any shot on goal and it didn’t look likely either.”
Sammon also hailed the influence of Joyce and Joe Bergin in the closing stages, when both players hit crucial scores.
“Both of those players, they’re exceptional players. They’ve been there, they’ve done it all and they know what it takes and they know what’s needed,” said Sammon.
“They’re forever watching. You could see it there that experience stood out, particularly in the last 10 minutes when we needed that extra little bit to drive them forward.”
Tyrone manager Mickey Harte admitted that Galway adapted better to the atrocious weather and ground conditions, particularly in the first half, when Healy Park was battered by a gale force storm. “We were always chasing it. Galway probably started better, adapted better to the conditions that prevailed. I think we over-played the ball a bit, and our handling was a bit suspect. We gave away the ball quite a bit going forward, while Galway were more economical.”
Galway settled fastest, and with Paul Conroy displaying an almost breathtaking work-rate around the field, they eased ahead through Nicky Joyce and Michael Meehan. Midway through the half, though, the sides were level, when Davy Harte and Tommy McGuigan added to Seán Cavanagh’s early score.
Galway, ahead by 0-6 to 0-3, adopted a more offensive approach with the howling wind in their backs in the early stages of the second half, but it was Tyrone who cut the margin. Martin Swift, Tommy McGuigan (free) and McCullagh, with a free, had the sides level with 12 minutes to play.
But Galway regained control, and with Padraic Joyce calling the shots, retained possession superbly in the final 10 minutes.
TYRONE:J Devine; PJ Quinn, J McMahon,
M Swift (0-1); D Harte (0-1), C Gormley,
C McCarron; E McGinley, C Holmes;
T McGuigan (0-2, 1f), C McCullagh (0-1, 1f), R Mellon; M Penrose, S Cavanagh (0-3, 2f), R Mulgrew. Subs:P Donnelly for Gormley (22 mins, yellow), B McGuigan for Mulgrew (47 mins), S O'Neill for Quinn (48 mins),
O Mulligan for McGuigan (55 mins, yellow), A Cassidy for Penrose (66 mins)
GALWAY:A Faherty; N Coyne, F Hanley,
D Meehan; G Bradshaw, D Blake, D Mullahy; J Bergin (0-2), M Lydon; S Armstrong,
P Joyce (0-1), C Bane (0-1); P Conroy,
M Meehan (0-2), N Joyce (0-4, 4f). Subs:B Cullinane for Bane (44 mins), D Reilly for D Meehan (47 mins), D Dunleavy for Armstrong (50 mins), D Burke for Coyne (56 mins, yellow).
Referee:M Deegan (Laois).
