Christy Ring Cup round two Derry 2-26 Tyrone 0-13
DERRY eased their way to a second win of campaign at home to Tyrone in perfect conditions on Saturday afternoon.
Johnny McGarvey’s rampant side were 10 points clear before Tyrone scored and led by 16 points at half-time.
In a change of tactics, Derry began with Ruairí Ó Mianáin playing up front. His movement gave his side a different dimension, with John Mullan playing deep and Meehaul McGrath taking over at midfield.
Tyrone lined out with four players out injured and had Cormac Munroe deployed as sweeper.
In their reshuffle, it allowed Paddy Kelly to sit free in the Derry defence.
With Darragh McGilligan on form in the middle sector, it gave the home side the platform to pick Tyrone apart with an array of sprayed balls forward.
Cormac O’Doherty (2) and Corey O’Reilly had Derry three ahead before they struck for the first goal.
It was Dara Mooney on the end of a slick move with McGrath applying the final pass for Mooney to rifle home a third goal of the season.
McGilligan continued to orchestrate play in the middle third for Derry, who had Ó Mianáin as an effective target man.
It took 14 minutes before Tyrone got their first score but the game was already slipping away with Derry having 1-7 on the board and firmly in control.
O’Reilly, McGilligan and Sean Cassidy all lamped over from long range to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
The home side’s second goal, just before half-time, summed up everthing about their play.
A diagonal ball from McGilligan reached Ó Mianáin, who fed John Mullan who finished to the net as Derry went 2-15 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Tyrone went direct with their first attack of the the second half. It was repelled by Mark Craig with McGilligan swinging over another score seconds later.
Aidan Kelly was Tyrone’s main scorer but they never looked like nicking the goal they needed to properly lay a glove on Derry.
Derry rang the changes with O’Doherty and Ó Mianáin called ashore but it made no difference.
Kelly hit four points in a row late on but it was Richie Mullan (2) and Paul Cleary who saw the home side with a scoring finish.
Derry O O’Doherty, P Kelly, M Craig, N Farren; S Cassidy (0-2), R Mullan (0-2, 1f, 1 65), A Duffin; C O’Doherty (0-8, 6f), M McGrath; C O’Reilly (0-4), J Mullan (1-0), D McGilligan (0-5); R Ó Mianáin (0-3, 2f), D Mooney (1-0), P Cleary (0-2)
Subs C O’Kane for C O’Doherty (45), T Brady for M Craig (49), S Kelly for R Ó Mianáin (55), C McNaughton for P Kelly (61), P Nelis for D McGilligan (62)
Tyrone C McElhatton; D Rafferty, F Devlin, M McClean; R Devlin, C Munroe, A Crossan; R Weir, B McGurk (0-1); L Devlin, A Kelly (0-11, 6f), M McCann; C Taggart, S Duffin (0-1), T Mullin
Subs C McKee for M McCann (41), M Corry for T Mullin (52), J McCann for R Devlin (58), R Maguire for C Munroe (58), C McGuigan for S Duffin (61)
Yellow card R Devlin (9)
Referee J Connors (Donegal)
