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Tyrone turn it on after the interval

GAELIC GAMES/Tyrone 1-16 Antrim 1-11: TYRONE and Antrim headed in opposite directions following yesterday’s Ulster derby at …

Mon Mar 14 2011 - 00:00

GAELIC GAMES/Tyrone 1-16 Antrim 1-11:TYRONE and Antrim headed in opposite directions following yesterday's Ulster derby at Healy Park. The Red Hands took the spoils to move up to the relative safety of mid-table, but the Saffrons are in danger of being cut adrift after their third defeat in four outings.

In a game delayed from the previous evening due to a snow-covered Healy Park pitch, Mickey Harte’s men found enough fluency in the second half to secure the win without difficulty.

Kevin Hughes laid on a midfield masterclass, hitting four superb points from play, while there was a 1-3 contribution from Seán Cavanagh, who has hit a goal in each of his last three games.

Throw in the return of the McMahon brothers, Joe and Justin, who came in as substitutes for their first league action of the year, and Tyrone appear to be heading in the right direction.

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The Saffrons led by two points at half-time after playing with a strong wind in their backs. Paddy Cunningham swept over a handful of frees, and even after Colm Cavanagh had sent older brother Seán in for a 24th minute goal, they hit back with a 1-3 salvo, including a stoppage time goal from substitute Tomás McCann, to lead by 1-8 to 1-6 at the turnaround.

But a transformed Tyrone outscored their opponents by 10 points to three in the second half, with Hughes, the Cavanagh brothers, Stephen O’Neill and Penrose all adding to the total.

Late points from Mark Sweeney and Cunningham were never going to make a difference for Antrim, who face a four-pointer against fellow strugglers Sligo next weekend.

TYRONE: J Curran; Seán O’Neill, D McCaul, D Carlin; D Harte (0-1), C Gormley (0-1), R McMenamin; K Hughes (0-4), A Cassidy; C Cavanagh (0-1), B McGuigan, S Cavanagh (1-3, 0-1 free); M Penrose (0-3, frees), S O’Neill (0-2), O Mulligan. Subs: Joe McMahon (0-1) for McGuigan, Justin McMahon for Carlin, M Donnelly (Hughes).

ANTRIM: C Kerr; A Healy, A McClean, K O’Boyle; T Scullion (0-1), J Crozier, T O’Neill; K McGourty (0-2), S Burke; A Gallagher, K Brady, C Murray; P Cunningham (0-5, three frees), K Niblock (0-1, free), B Herron. Subs: C Brady for McClean, T McCann (1-1, 0-1 free) for Dougan, M Sweeney (0-1) for Brady, R Johnston for Murray, A Douglas for O’Boyle.

Referee: C Branagan (Down).