Sport

Accuracy and fitness decisive

TYRONE'S senior footballers collected two valuable points from their first visit to Clare with.a deserved five point victory

Mon Feb 12 1996 - 00:00

TYRONE'S senior footballers collected two valuable points from their first visit to Clare with .a deserved five point victory. Going into the match, Clare's hopes of retaining Division One football were slim indeed. They held the visitors to a four point draw in a spirited first half, but try as they might, they could not match the accuracy and fitness of the visitors in the second.

Tyrone were without Ciaran Corr in midfield and Stephen Lawn at full forward, but they had able deputies in the Gormleys, Jody and Damien. In a fast flowing first, half, Clare, were on top for the first quarter. They were two points ahead after four minutes from Martin Daly and Francis McInerney, but a solid Tyrone defence held out, aided by some glaring misses by the Claremen. After six minutes Gerard Calvan opened the scoring for the winners with a fine point and a minute later Peter Canavan added another.

Clare midfielder Ciaran O'Neill put the home side ahead again with a point. A fast passing movement by the Clare midfield and forwards sent Francis McInerney clear with the goal keeper unprotected. His blasting shot from close in skimmed the crossbar for a point when it should have been a goal. Minutes later, Martin Daly cut through the winners' defence and shot inches wide with Finbarr McConnell beaten.

Coming up to half time Tyrone took the game to Clare and two quick points from Gormley left the sides level at the interval.

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TWO minutes after the restart, a Peter Canavan point put Tyrone a head for the first time in the match. Clare fought back but a goal from Adrian Cush set Tyrone on the road to victory.

In the final 10 minutes Tyrone were 1-1 ahead and they can thank their goalkeeper for a fantastic save, which could have turned the match.

John Leahy, a Clare substitute, took a pass from McInerney and his driving shot from the edge of the square was smothered by the goalkeeper McConnell.

With three minutes left, McInerney scored a point from a free to reduce the margin to a goal, but Tyrone took over, stretching their winning margin with points from Fergal Logan and Canavan.